How do I wear sweatpants stylishly?
Model Gigi Hadid adds swish to trackΒ pants while out in New York earlier this year.Credit: Getty Images
A new generation of style leaders is determined to prove the late Karl Lagerfeld wrong by wearing sweatpants with Γ©lan. The Chanel designer was, of course, as famous for his bitchy comments as his tweed jackets, including this assessment: βSweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.β
Since his death in 2019, a lot has changed, though, and supermodels such as Gigi Hadid, a former Chanel muse, are exercising control of their image by wearing sweatpants in unexpected ways. On a date night in New York with Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper recently, Hadid made silvery sweatpants a sartorial success.
The key to translating this everyday item from a symbol of perspiration to one of aspiration is as simple as pairing it with unexpected accessories that make it clear that the only exercise you plan on doing is raising a wine glass or lifting your purse. Start by swapping out sneakers for statement flats. While Hadidβs sister, fellow supermodel Bella, has worn stilettos with sweatpants, the combination can be jarring. A mesh flat, on the other hand, offers evening appeal without sacrificing comfort or being reminiscent of a backing dancer in a β90s rap video. Accessorise further with jewellery that would look completely out of place on the treadmill. The same goes for handbags: no backpacks, please.
Play with proportion by pairing fitted denim jackets and T-shirts with roomy sweatpants. Stop short of a matching jacket, though: a complete tracksuit for date night will have Mr Lagerfeld spinning in his grave.
Got a style conundrum? Email damien.woolnough@nine.com.au
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