THE ISOLATION LOUNGEWEAR SURVEY
With the help of some friends we explore the style, comfort, aesthetic and versatility of the softgoods helping us through COVID isolation.
Brands can come to us with their indoor cycling collections and new pieces in the hope of injecting a bit of wanderlust into our current housebound lives, but in trying times like these there is only one type of kit that truly, truly matters:
LOUNGEWEAR! LOUNGEWEAR! LOUNGEWEAR! LOUNGEWEAR!
With the help of some friends we’ve put together this survey of our preferred soft-clothing options, a list curated through trial and error, experimentation and repeated use since the start of COVID-19 isolation. If the mainstream cycling media can release a 3000 word article discussing the finer details of socks without bothering to mention the worthiness of the Kmart bundle pack, then we sure as shit can put together a study into the only kit we’ll be found in.
I: A TRADITION OF STYLE
As far as Australian amateur cycling teams go, we’d be willing to bet on ourselves as sitting top of the leaderboard when it comes to lounging. This relaxing past time is woven into the very fabric of our crew, and goes well beyond just the act of doing, but is intertwined with very nuanced choices of apparel, accompaniments and attitudes depending on the context.
Since our humble beginnings there have been many private and public displays of Soup-branded lounging in its various stages of glory. There have been times where a day spent riding through the mountains finishes with a perfectly justified lay down, while we have chosen to arrive at the same outcome after a mere 8km commute. Hell, we have even taken the opportunity to lounge mid-ride during the heart of winter.
No matter the season, we have the act of lounging, and the clothing that is associated with such a pastime almost down to a fine art, as seen in some of these archival photos from yesteryear.
Now, onto the isolation fits…
REVIEWED BY:
CHRIS PANOZZO
II: TLD SPRINT PANTS
“ELEGANCE IS NOT STANDING OUT, BUT BEING REMEMBERED.”
It was Giorgio Armani who said that. To live that quote is to rock Troy Lee Designs Sprint pants – in red. Why? Because no-one forgets full length Red Pants. Especially when you wear said pants in every environment you can think of. The hug of hugs for your legs, these are the most comfy things on the planet. They give you the confidence of a tailored suit, with the comfort of your favorite trackies, which is exactly why I wear them everywhere – from my couch to 100k+ rides.
III: A MAN OF MANY FITS
“DRESS LIKE NOBODY IS WATCHING.”
– Mark Twain (probably)
When lockdown first got announced my daily brief for dressing myself became “dress like nobody is watching”. Which basically meant I asked myself the question: how fucked could I make myself look and still remain cool?
What you’re seeing is the future of fashion and the setting of global trends. The golden rule will always remain: when wearing your hoodie you must always tuck it behind your ears. Always tuck. It’s what Eddy Merckx would have wanted.
IV: AUSTRALIAN CLASSICS
“GOOD DESIGN IS AS MUCH COMFORT AS POSSIBLE.”
– Alternate Dieter Rams
Iso-kit during Bright’s Winter is all about function, and not at all about fashion. I have abandoned any style I once had and have dived into new depths on what is appropriate to wear, both at home and in public. Enter: my home attire.
The tracksuit is BONDS and honestly I’ve worn a couple of these on rotation for the last three months. My wonderful next door neighbour gave me this dressing gown (that she originally bought for her daughter) and it’s from Target and honestly the most sublime thing I have ever worn. It’s also a reminder of how small communities look after one another, especially during tough times – a concept that I think has long been forgotten in the city. The slipper boots are from the Bright Pharmacy and I had to get them as my bed socks weren’t doing enough anymore.
If I want to dress this up so that I can venture out in public, I simply swap the dressing gown with a puffer jacket, and wear bed socks and Birkenstocks instead of the slippers. The Magpie is wearing a tux.
V: THE BEST IN CLASS
“ELEGANCE AND COMFORT ARE NOT INCOMPATIBLE, AND WHOEVER MAINTAINS THE CONTRARY SIMPLY DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT."
– Salvatore Ferragamo
With 20-odd tracksuits in the cupboard it’s fair to say my wardrobe was made for quarantine. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a constantly rotating roster of suits, with fabrics, fits and styles for all contexts: lounging, essential grocery runs, morning walks and post Kickr recovery.
It made the choice of picking just one all the more difficult, but after careful consideration I landed upon this limited edition Diadora x Lyle Scott number – a recent addition to my collection. The top half is a pure expression of comfort, with a half zip that allows breathability when the Bialetti comes to the boil.
The pants are parachute material, which may leave you questioning their comfort, but the mesh lining, and the gentle hug of an elastic waist and cuffs give you a sense of security and closeness. As I begin to move around the house, the subtle noice of the parachute material throws me back to tracksuits of my younger schooling years, the nostalgia and childhood memories just the antidote for all the stress 2020 is throwing down.
Finally, I normally opt to round the outfit off with a pair of warm socks, typically these Rapha Lombardia socks made of Merino. Trust northern Italians to ace comfort and warmth.
VI: THE SUIT WITH THE THREE STRIPES
"BOYS GOT FABULOUS RHYMES, AND HE’S GOT AN ADIDAS LINE."
– Stormzy
For my Track/Lounge wears my top tier is always the classic Adidas 3 stripe tracksuit in blue with white stripes. The material isn’t as nice as some other examples I own but it’s still very comfy and wins in the tech department where simple choices have a big impact.
The track pant pockets are notoriously shit, so having zippers to hold ya phone and cash in when you cop a squat or need to leg in are essential. A slim fit and tapered cuff at the ankles are the perfect combo when it comes to fit and function. Hard to say there is a bad track pant out there but this is truly a cut above for me.
VII: BODY ARMOUR BUT COMFY
“ALL RIGHT. FALL IN, MARINES. STAY FROSTY.”
– Lt. Vasquez (COD4)
Most of my isolation has been conducted shredding Warzone on Playstation, so a warm but versatile fit is key. Because it needs to be adaptable, I go with two main pieces, and adjust the rest of my loungewear accordingly.
The first of two key pieces I go for are a fluffy Zara coat that I was gifted – it’s warm, I can wear it opened or zipped up and still look hot, and importantly it’s stealth, so if I’m jumping into a server with a silencer, I know that I’ll be sitting pretty under the radar. Finally I round my loungewear fit with a pair of Doggy slippers. I don’t know how but Dean seems to rate them, and best of all my dog Ruby is happy enough with her range of toys, so she doesn’t try to eat them.
VIII: LOUNGING WITH RIGO
Finally we finish with arguably the king of professional cyclists when it comes to lounging – Rigoberto Uran. We haven’t really kept tabs on the lockdown situation in Colombia of late, but we can only image he has taken his outfit game to the absolute next level. It begs the question: why aren’t more pro’s embracing the tradition of lounging?
Look back through photographic archives of decades gone by and you’ll see weird promo shoots of pro teams testing out mattresses and pillows, man like Eddy Merckx relaxing in a Molten tracksuit, Fausto Coppi with his feet up rolling around the velodrome, caffé in one hand, Gazzetta in the other. You don’t see them on Zwift.
Last but not least we’d love a chance to add to this list further. If you think you’ve got your isolation fit dialled in nicely, if you think there is a chance for reflection, or for critique of our choices, we’d love to hear from you. Click the button below to get in touch with us.