A hate-wear is when you put on clothing even though — because? — it makes you feel bad. Neither stylish nor particularly comfortable, yet constantly in rotation.
“Pandemic Dressing Takes a Dark Turn”, NYTimes, Jan 6, 2021
In early January 2021 the US’ New York Times ran an article about pandemic dressing in clothes you neither love nor hate, yet you keep reaching for them during this time of uncertainty. For some of us confined to our homes and not going into a workplace, we’ve turned to wearing things we wouldn’t normally. For me, that’s been a Christmas bright red and green tie-dye dashiki styled caftan, over my husband’s olive green plaid pajama pants, topped with an orange/tan sweater someone gave me ten years ago. None of it coordinates, it doesn’t look good, and I *really* wouldn’t want anyone to see me in it. Yet, it’s become my warm, cozy, comforting outfit of choice.

Men’s magazine Esquire followed suit on January 6, coining the term “sadwear”.
Sadwear: comfort blanket menswear that makes happy boys of sad boys
Esquire Editors. January 1, 2021
Here at the Sewcialists, we thought it might be fun to see what other “hate-wear” people have turned to. By no means is this meant to make light of the pandemic, the enormous loss of life, jobs and livelihoods as a result. Thanks to vaccine advancements, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, yet that doesn’t minimize how the pandemic has touched each of our lives in different ways.


Full disclosure, after 10 months of being home, my husband and I drove two days to Florida to hole up in a condo where we could see sunshine and some warmth. I left the sadwear at home and have been dressing like me again. So I reached out to my fellow editors and Anne shared her not-quite-right, but comforting home uniform.

If you find yourself still in an office and out in the world, we applaud and support you! If you dress the same as always whether you’re working from home or in an office, we admire your mindset and discipline. This is just a way for us to have a peak into our fellow Sewcialists’ wardrobes and minds, while keeping us connected. Your share doesn’t have to be hate-wear / sadwear. It can be your standard “house clothes”, the thing you wear when no one is looking. Either way, we’d love to see and hear how you’re dressing in the pandemic.

So, the week of January 24, post join us in our collective ennui and share a hate-wear on Instagram with #SewcialistsHatewear and tag us @thesewcialists on Instagram.
Renee Samuels sews, teaches, and writes about sewing from Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She blogs projects at MissCeliesPants.com and posts more regularly at @MissCeliesPants.
Hadn’t seen/read these articles so this is a new concept. Will look forward to next week’s reveals.
Fingers crossed it’ll be a little laugh.
Haha! I think a little levity is definitely called for. I’m still teaching in person, so regular daywear for me – but I add a cozy flannel robe on top when I’m home. 🙂
It’s been such a draining year (and I’ve not been terribly impacted). So just trying to have a chuckle and a little bonding. My robe and I are in a committed relationship and I see that my house can’t nearly as warm as my office this winter 😄
Oh yeah, my apartment is CHILLY! Old house, no insulation, drafty windows – you’re right, my robe and I are taking it to the next level. ^^ And at work I leave all the doors and windows open. The kids don’t love the cold wind, but each teacher gets to be what I call a ‘coronavirus dictator’ (I don’t say that to the students, ha!), so we’re just gonna be cold and safe-ish, darn it. I’ll thaw out in mid-May!
That is funny. I don’t do this myself, I get “properly” dressed every day in pants and some sort of top or sweater. I do this for me because I tend to feel sadder and sadder if I look sad.
I’ve been away from home and made an effort to bring “real” clothes. It’s been nice to feel a little more normal, but def not as comfortable 😄
I get dressed daily for work as my school is face to face. However, after a couple of self isolation periods due to possible exposure to Covid, my house slippers do need a ‘retread’!
What a great concept! I have a small stable of extra-thick, oversized and elderly RTW hoodies (stolen from my husband) that I kinda loathe but also feel snuggly and warm in. I’ve been rotating these over an array of leggings and nursing tanks most of this year. 🤦🏻♀️ I really miss my dresses…
I love the idea of wearing a christmas tree skirt as a poncho. That’s not hate wear, that’s versatility! Think outside the square and get more use out of items
I am cozy in my 32 degrees black long Johns, and slippers. I will had a plaid flannel shirt to top off my outfit. All which have been washed in Downey Fabric Softener. Feel good clothes! I
“Blanket as a skirt” is going to revolutionize my workday. I’m sitting at my desk. It’s chilly. I have the blanket tucked around my legs and feet. But now I need to stand up and get something, so I throw off the blanket, get what I need, spend 5 minutes getting the blanket tucked back around me. Blanket as a skirt to the rescue!
This cracks me up!