Item of the week: the sweatpant

What it is:

As the epitome of comfort, the sweatpants were an integral part of lockdown
life during the pandemic, replacing jeans as a cosy alternative for the
long days indoors. However, while restrictions are now alleviated and the
world has gone back to a sense of normalcy, it seems the impact of the
sweatpants has not died down. In fact, the relaxed pant style was a
significant part of the AW23 runways and has continued being broadly
favoured by consumers. The sweatpant itself typically refers to a baggy or
loose-fit design, often made unisex in a knit material.

Why you’ll want it:

As arguably one of the more popular forms of loungewear, the sweatpants do
not fall into one demographic of consumer, and are instead an item that
individuals of any age or gender can enjoy. For this coming season, the
piece has been elevated through modernised iterations of retro styles or in
new cuts that can be seen in oversized, flared or straight-legged shapes.
While these could all be seen for AW23, sweatpants as a whole, no matter
what style has been adopted, tend to not be restricted to one season.
Instead, the look remains popular year round, either as a form of fitness
gear, an item to lounge in or a piece to sport for casual occasions.

Where we’ve seen it:

Sweatpants were seen in all forms on the AW23 runways, from the staple grey
styles seen at Victor Virgile to all-over prints such as Ahluwalia’s
galactic pants. One way in which sweatpants were styled by designers was
through the use of layering, as seen at Heron Preston, where velour-like
pants were paired with a fitted cargo skirt. In contrast, Luar layered
oversized brown sweats under a heavily embellished midi packed with
sequins. Oversized styles could also be seen at Sinéad O’Dwyer, displayed
with a lace up bodysuit, and Mowlola, which contrasted the relaxed look
with a tailored shirt.

How to style it:

While sweatpants are typically associated with loungewear, and are
therefore often seen paired with other styles from the category, such as
sweatshirts and t-shirts, for AW23 the look was elevated by designers,
bringing them into a new realm. In terms of tops, the style can be paired
with tailored print shirts or lingerie-inspired pieces, such as panelled
bodysuits, dressing up the item for eveningwear attire. For outerwear
pieces, mix the look up even more with the addition of oversized blazers or
structured leather jackets with their own prints. Shoes can also be cause
for experimentation, with the option of sneakers for more casual wear or
strappy heels to further refine the outfit.

The sweatpants are a loungewear item that has outgrown the category to
become something suitable for almost all occasions. Updates of the staple
trouser style have seen it transformed as a garment to take you throughout
the year.