Six ways you can dress up sweatpants for non-casual occasions
To me, being comfortable in your clothes means having the confidence that comes with wearing a bespoke suit. I own more tassel loafers than I do rubber-soled shoes, more ties than I do tees. Which is why I remember the first time I sidelined one of my beloved wool plaid suits for a cotton trouser of another kind: sweatpants. (They were a pair of navy joggers by Bally, and it was the first day of New York Fashion Week in fall 2012, by the way.) Yes, wearing sweatpants in public is now a thing.
To clarify: when I say sweatpants, I am talking about tailored fleece trousers, not sweats - as in the activewear you sweat in. The former, which can be seen on the likes of Kanye West (not that that's a strong validation) and the runways of designers such as Todd Snyder and Michael Bastian, are more fitted. They are meant to be worn as a substitution for your other varying casual bottoms - like jeans, chinos, and cords. The latter (think of a roomy track pant, or Everlast boxing pants), on the other hand, are basically the male equivalent of yoga pants. In other words: cannot and should not be "dressed up" under any circumstances (including brunch).
I know this is a tricky trend, and I don't want you to be that guy at your Christma-hanu-kwanza-kah (that covers them all, right?) party who tries to pair his saggy-bottomed Abercrombie sweats from the undergrad years with a slim-fit leather jacket. So, below, I have compiled some styling tips, followed by my six current favorite pairs from around the market. Confidence not included, but you'll need it.
Pro-Tips
The Fit: Tailored, of course. Make sure they are mostly fitted through the leg, paying special attention to the amount of fabric on your bottom and at your ankle. Both should be slimmed-down. In fact, there should ideally be an elasticized cuff to achieve the desired fit. Fitted or drawstring waistbands are both acceptable, believe it or not.
The Fabric: Cotton, fleece, wool-blend, 30 percent polyester, jersey, cashmere. I endorse anything but leather, actually (unless you're a more fearless sartorialist like Kanye, or member of the NBA - in which case, carry on).
The Details: Heather gray with a clean front is fine - but to amp it up a bit, look for subtle details like tonal stitching, quilting, bonded paneling and slant pockets.