How to wear sweatpants without feeling "defeated"
Nine decades after the first pair of sweatpants were designed by French brand Le Coq Sportif, Mr. Karl Lagerfeld declared them “a sign of defeat.”
Weird how we’ve associated laziness and inertia with a piece of clothing literally meant to absorb sweat from moving our bodies. But, for all the talk of sweatpants symbolizing giving up on life, I gotta say—they have the opposite effect on me: they make me feel active, unconstrained, and ready to tackle whatever the day brings. The farthest thing from feeling defeated.
As is often the case with trends the mainstream eventually deems cool, sweatpants were first embraced in America by Black culture. Breakdancers utilized them for their flexibility, allowing for fluid, dynamic movement:
while hip-hop artists, R&B singers, and performers incorporated them into their looks, pairing them with sneakers and oversized jackets:
Then, in the late 80’s, Princess Diana wore sweatpants tucked in cowboy boots to attended a polo match at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor:
in the 90’s, Julia Roberts wore them to walk around New York City:
so did Rachel Green on that Friends episode:
In the 2000s, Paris Hilton wore the ubiquitous Juicy Couture sets:
Then Rihanna came along to show us how it’s done:
And you know what happened next:
Pinterest, Instagram, reality TV…it all contributed to sweatpants becoming as common as jeans or leggings.
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Sweatpants weren’t common in tropical Barranquilla, where I grew up in the '90s. When I moved to the U.S. in the early 2000s, I never thought to get a pair, even though every girl in college wore them to class. Even during their pandemic peak, I didn’t bother buying any.
It wasn’t until around 2023 that I truly felt the need to jump on the bandwagon when I saw a woman at the Miami airport wearing huge sweatpants with an even bigger blazer and sneakers. Nothing about her sweats was groundbreaking, except for the way she wore them. Even in a “big/big/big” outfit, that woman looked astonishingly cool—as a true rule-breaker usually does.
Silly me came home and tried to imitate the inimitable:
but after some trial and error, I found ways to wear and love sweatpants that suit my height, my body, and my lifestyle.
As a staple "chair outfit," I fell in love with the idea of casual pants offering more versatility. Like leggings, they don’t feel overly precious but can be easily dressed up. Unlike leggings, they are unstructured, don’t display my exact leg shape at times when I don’t feel like it, and actually give me a chance to play with interesting proportions.
They’re all I’ve been wanting to wear lately, which inspired me to share ideas and possibilities (instead of restrictive fashion rules) on how to wear them without feeling… “defeated.”
Silly Karl.
Idea numero 1. Try the good old trick of mixing sporty and classic elements:
2. Think about the thing around your waist:
3. Consider long knits and coats in lieu of matching sweatshirts:
4. Or wear them with matching sweatshirts but add a leather belt:
5. Consider Jalil’s wrong purse theory:
6. Try a fancy, unexpected shoe:
7. Consider a jacket tucked-in:
8. Or tuck the sweatpants in your boots like Lady Di:
9. Last but not least important: keep it simple but play with proportions:
Thank you for staying until the end🐬Hope you found it helpful!
💚, Laura.
Everything (but especially the outfit with the yellow sweater as scarf) but also can we talk about your daughters getting you that bag because they know you would like it 🫰🏽😭
I love how you’ve highlighted the versatility and history of sweatpants, transforming them from a symbol of defeat to a fashion staple. A bit of creativity and sweatpants can be both comfy and stylish. Thanks for sharing your journey and these great styling ideas! 💚 I loved reading your article.