What to Wear When You’re Exhausted (A Guide From Someone Who Gets It)

There are days when getting dressed feels like climbing a mountain. Not a metaphorical one. An actual, full-on, where-the-f**k-is-my-energy mountain.

If you live with a chronic illness, you’ll know exactly what I mean. For me, on a bad MS day, I lose function in my right arm, stringing a sentence together feels like hard work, my vision is messed up and things that most people don’t even think about — having a wash, brushing your hair, making food — just aren’t possible. It’s like someone’s flipped a switch and drained every last drop of energy from your body in one go.

Getting dressed on those days? That’s a whole mission.

The Dressing Gown Guilt Is Real (But It Shouldn’t Be)

A lot of exhausted days start — and end — in my dressing gown. And honestly? That’s okay. But I also know that staying in it all day makes me feel meh! There’s this weird guilt that creeps in, like you should be doing more, being more, wearing more.

So if you’re reading this at 3pm still in your dressing gown, here’s what I’d say to you if you texted me right now:

Did you get downstairs today? Did you make a brew? Did you read a page of a book, send a text, rest when your body was screaming at you to? Then that is a day well spent — listening to your body and honouring how you feel.

The outfit is the least of it. But if you do want to get something on, here’s what actually helps me.

The Accidental Glamour of the Exhaustion Dress

Here’s a thing not enough people talk about: a dress is actually the laziest item of clothing in existence.

One piece. No waistband negotiation. No buttons. No zip. Just… on. Done.

The funniest thing is, the days I’m most exhausted are the days everyone thinks I’ve made an effort. Oh you look nice, where are you going? Nowhere, mate. I’m going to the sofa. I’m just too tired for trousers.

If you haven’t tried the exhaustion dress yet, consider this your permission slip.

What an Exhausted Wardrobe Actually Needs

After years of MS teaching me exactly what my body will and won’t tolerate, here’s what I’ve learned:

Soft or nothing. Fabric has to be gentle. If it scratches, stiffens, or generally has opinions about being worn, it’s out.

No faff. Buttons, zips, anything that requires two functioning hands and a level of coordination I don’t always have — no. I once bought a fishnet top to layer under a t-shirt for a festival. The thought of getting my fingers through those holes on a bad day made me want to lie down. Gave it to my daughter. She didn’t wear it either. It was too much hard work. Fishnet = banished.

Nothing that fights back. Jeans are the enemy. Tough fabrics, tight waistbands, anything that feels like wrestling a bear just to put it on — gone. Clothes that won’t fight with you are the only clothes worth keeping. Don’t get me wrong I have a big baggy pair of jeans that are dead soft and I love them but I have to have the energy for them!

Loose is everything. Big and baggy means your body can breathe, move, and exist without being argued with. Especially in warm weather — a massive soft t-shirt and a pair of shorts is genuinely all you need.

The Something Profound Approach to Exhausted Dressing

This is literally why I built this brand. Because I needed it.

Our loungewear is designed to be lived in. The shorts for summer, the joggers for winter, and our t-shirts — honestly, go two or three sizes up. Wear them loose. Wear them big. They’re basically a daytime nighty, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment.

Soft GOTS organic cotton, no scratchy bits, no crap. Just something that feels like a gentle hug when your body has had enough.

Because on the hard days, your clothes should be the one thing that isn’t making it harder.

Little Wins Are Still Wins

If today was a dressing gown day, that’s okay. If you made it into a big soft t-shirt and shorts and called it dressed — awesome. If you put on a dress and accidentally looked like you had plans — iconic.

Rest is not laziness. Listening to your body is not giving up. And wearing something soft and easy on a hard day is not a failure of ambition.

It’s just dressing like someone who knows what they need.

And honestly? That’s one of the hardest things to learn.

Something Profound makes soft, ethical, inclusive clothing for people who need their wardrobe to work with them, not against them. Shop the live-in-loungewear range here.