Over four years ago we started an unconventional path to express an artistic critique of the fashion industry founded on the basis of quality and industrial design. In 2020 I tested new pants from Universal Standard, as well as men’s and women’s budget-friendly sets from Old Navy and Target, following the same test process.I come before you today with an overwhelming amount of pride and gratitude. I washed, slept in, and spent the day lounging in two different pairs, in both women’s and unisex sizes.

In 2019 I tested one additional brand of pajamas, the Hanna Andersson PJs, which became our new print pick. He also did chores around the house, walked the dog, and ran errands in them. I often slept in them, and I encouraged our main male tester to wear his test pairs often. For an entire month, I wore them pretty much every weekday-in every work meeting, out to walk the dog, and sometimes even to school pickups or the grocery store.

Then I lived in the women’s pajamas and pants. I looked at everything post-wash to see how it all held up, and I considered our other testers’ impressions of the feel and fit. I noted which flannels were warm and soft, which silks felt super-luxe, and which cottons were softest and draped the body best. In our original testing, I examined every pair of pants and pajamas for stitching and construction, and I compared fabrics. So if you don’t want to wait for a restock of the women’s version, you can pick up a pair of the men’s and simply go down a size or two. The materials and cut of the men’s and women’s versions are the same the men’s sizing just runs bigger (I wear an XL in women’s but an L in men’s, for example). Uniqlo’s customer service confirmed to us in January 2022, however, that the style had not been discontinued in regular sizes yet is frequently sold out. Availability for the women’s version has been an ongoing problem throughout the pandemic. The Uniqlo pants are cuffed at the ankles, so if you are on the shorter side, they’re easier to wear (unlike some other styles we tested). Both the men’s and women’s versions have pockets, and both come in more sizes than most other pants we researched (but the sizing isn’t as inclusive as that of Universal Standard’s lounge pants, which we love). They’re also the warmest pant recommendation on our list-even thicker than the L.L.Bean flannels. They’re comfortable, flattering, sturdy, and cheap.

We think many of Uniqlo’s lounge pants are perfect for that, but we especially liked the men’s and women’s sweats. Why they’re great: Many of our staffers said they like to lounge and sleep in relaxed sweats and a T-shirt.

Mens red button down pajamas