Sweatpants are the most comfortable thing in the wardrobe, and also the easiest to get wrong. The good news is a few small choices turn them from loungewear into proper outfit pieces.
Start with the pair
Look for these:
- Heavier fabric that hangs well rather than clinging
- A straight or slightly tapered leg
- Clean, minimal branding
- A hem that finishes at the ankle, not pooling over your shoes
Dark colours like black, charcoal and navy are the easiest to dress up.
Pair them with structure
The trick is balance. Soft bottoms need something sharper on top.
A zip jacket. A plain black zip jacket with sweatpants is the easiest smart-casual look there is.
A collared shirt. Tucked or untucked, a shirt on top of sweatpants sits between relaxed and put together.
A knit and a coat. Fine knit, long coat, dark sweatpants and clean trainers. Warm, soft and sharp.
Choose shoes that help
Chunky running trainers can push sweatpants toward sport. Clean white or black leather trainers, or minimal boots, keep it grown up.
What to avoid
- Matching hoodie and sweatpants when you want to look smart. Split the set.
- Sweatpants that are too long or too baggy at the ankle
- Faded or bobbled fabric. Replace them when they tire.
Wear them out
With the right pieces on top, sweatpants work for the shops, a long day of travel, a casual dinner and more. Just save the oldest pair for the sofa.
The one we made
Our Amoure Sweatpants are made to be worn out as well as in. Heavy enough to hang properly, simple enough to match anything.
Find them in our shop.
Our Amoure Sweatpants are £55, and you can see the full range in hoodies and sweatpants.
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