I haven't been a big fan of the sweatpant-in-public trend, and up until recently have pretty much ignored it.
However, I started to reconsider when some of the newer iterations of skinny sweatpants came out this Spring (I loved Madewell's version here), and I recently recommended a cool sweatpant look to a reader going on a postpartum road trip.
But the clincher, for me, was when I saw of pic of one of my favorite fashion bloggers, Res Pulchae, in her take on the sweatpant trend (pictured above left).
Res Pulchae has a minimalist-with-a-twist perspective that I admire, and I love her spin on the sweatpant trend. In the pic, she's wearing Rick Owens' Lilies pants, a Helmut Lang tank, H&M Cardigan, with Guiseppe Zanotti sandals and a sword pendant necklace from Etsy.com. LOVE.
I think this is a perfect outfit for end-of-summer mornings - at the park, getting coffee, running errands...or for happy-hour-on-the-porch evenings. I love the laid back vibe, and the fact that she still manages to look put together and, dare I say it? Rather elegant. In sweat pants.
This look works so well partly because of the details - the uber-cool pendant necklace, the fabulous shoes, etc. But the other key element I'd like to draw attention to is the drape of the pants. The Rick Owen's Lilies pants are very thin with amazing drape. Pants like these are much more flattering than bulky fleece (and much more comfortable on warm summer evenings!)
It's actually pretty hard to find thin, drapy sweatpants...unless you are willing to try harem pants. I'm not usually a fan of the super-saggy crotch look, but I came across a few pairs that weren't bad (gray, shown below, or these, to name a few).
So here's how I'd recreate:
Women: Cotton Slub Nicola Cardigan: Cardigans Sweaters and wraps |..., $108
Trouve Draped Knit Harem Pants, $78
Vince Linen Jersey Sweatpants, $168
Dylan Silver Sandals, $30
Tuleste Market Fish Locket, $115
Sale: 1X1 Short Sleeve Drapey Cardigan with Tabs: Sweaters and wraps..., $72
But I haven't completely given up on fleece sweatpants...especially ones with the skinnier shape. I've been particularly inspired by the Kimchi Blue Trouser Sweatpant look at Urban Outfitters, and another that the Nordstroms stylists put together using Splendid's take on the skinny sweatpant trend (both pics below).
To make these looks more mom-friendly, I'd pair them with cute ballet flats. I think it's also important to add a top with some sort of feminine detail, and a jacket that is not fleece. Denim jackets, cord jackets, or even a cotton twill would all work. The idea is to add in a different texture.
But still. At the end of the day...these are just sweatpants. And without the superior bum-styling and shaping of denim...the results might be horrifying. Even a model wearing J.Crew's "un-sweatpant", a wool/cotton blend, has this rear-view:
I think she's bending over slightly. After an hour or two of wear, I'll bet that we'd be left with a saggy, saggy bum. At least with Harem pants you know what you're getting into.
What do you think, readers? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Is the sweatpant trend best left to the easy summer months, or are you going to try rocking them into Fall?
As for myself....the new sweatpant trend might be a more stylish version of my usual post-partum wear (once the baby comes in November).
But I'm still undecided.
xo,
S
