January is a holiday period for many, and it’s around this time when a lot of people tend to slop around the house in their scruffiest clothes – partly because they want to hide the Christmas rolls, and partly because they’re on holiday and don’t want to make an effort.

I have to admit I’ve always had a problem with the notion of having one of type of look for work, and a completely different (much daggier) look for home. Why should we make less effort for the people we care about the most?

Sure, you can argue that they will love us, no matter how we look. But is that really fair? If we’d be ashamed to go out to the shops in our old tracksuit leggings, why should our partners or children see us in them?

I’ll come straight out and say it. I think we should look nice at home. But there’s no reason why we can’t make it a comfy nice!

So, in summer, I can usually be found in my house wearing an attractive, cotton dress (usually accompanied by a cardigan, as I live in Melbourne). For me, dresses are the most comfortable garment available. You can choose your own style but, with so many stretch fabrics around these days, you can even do the sexy look and be comfortable.

But perhaps an even more important staple in your wardrobe is a nice pair of pyjamas. There’s a scene in the movie Coco Before Chanel, where Boy Capel finds Coco lying on a lounge in her pyjamas, reading a book. ‘You are very elegant,’ he tells her, and it’s true. Her silk pyjamas are flattering.

I always make sure I have a nice pair of pyjamas (or two) to swan around the house in, morning and evening – silk or cotton is best and they shouldn’t be too fitted. If I’m not wearing slippers, I’ll put on a pair of Maria Peron loafers – preferably the flat Annikas, because they are the perfect casual summer shoe.

You don't need to be a scruff for the people you live with this summer. Honestly, you can be elegant and comfortable at the same time. You just have to find the right pair of PJs.