Reader:

Hey SB, absolutely love the site. Quick question: do you ever wear sweats anymore? As a former college athlete there must be times when you say “f*ck it, I justwant to be comfortable”. Any tips on wearing sweats as a grown-up and not looking like a total slob or fraternity brother?

Thanks, and please keep it coming!

SB:

Thanks for the compliments, and good question. You are certainly not the first to inquire about sweats. We’ve been meaning to do a post on the topic.

For the most part, after college I updated my casual wardrobe by trading in most of my team-issued Nike sweats (which were always at least two sizes too big) for some soft denim and chunky sweaters.

From time to time, however, yes there are days when I just want the soft comfort and stretch of fleece – but that doesn’t mean I’m rolling out of bed in head-to-toe Columbia gear.

The trick to not looking sloppy is to invest in proper-fitting sweats with an updated silhouette and mixing them with other pieces from your wardrobe.

Here, some comfortable but not sloppy looks incorporating fleece pieces.

1. “Tailored” Sweat Pants

Same sweat pants, different shape. Slim, tapered, trouser waistband with fly, hemmed, 2″ cuff.

These look similar to flannel trousers, but feel more like pajamas. With a pima cotton t-shirt, cashmere sweater and unlined cotton jacket it doesn’t get much more comfortable than this – while still looking stylish and presentable.

Bonus Tip: These are the same pants that I throw on when I roll out of bed Sunday morning, but because of their fit they can be repurposed for a number of occasions.

…For those long-time followers, you might remember these pants from the very first time that I published a photo of myself on the site (which I used to write anonymously). See the old post on the original version of thestyleblogger.com HERE.

Bonus Tip II: Mixing very casual pieces (like these pants) with sharper ones (like this unstructured jacket) can make for a unique and visually interesting look.

Bonus Tip III: If the inseam is hemmed and the leg is tapered properly you can pair your sweats with more than just sneakers or sandals. Try boots, loafers, or even lace-ups as shown here.