The Most Stylish Sweatpants.
Yes, you read that correctly.
As evidenced by my recent Today Show segment, sweatpants are not only cozy, but, when styled correctly, also quite fashionable. Personally, this is something that I could not be more happy about, given my penchant for anything with an elastic waist.
First check out this slideshow of my 10 most favorite (read: most flattering) pairs, then read below for the simple style tricks to set yourself up for sweatpant success.
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1: Size. Either go with something snug or a tad drapey. It sounds weird, but what we consider to be a "perfect fit" is not always the most flattering in fit in sweatpants. Rather, choosing a style that sucks in your thighs a bit and ruches tight around the calves, or one that hangs off the body in an effortlessly relaxed way tends to be infinitely more stylish.
2: Footwear. If you want to stylize the sweatpant, you should really wear a heel. The only exceptions would be a neutral ballet flat, an of-the-moment slip on, or a throwback sneaker like this Adidas or classic Converse, or a fashion sneaker like a Superga. But if you want to style safe, I say opt for a wedge sneaker (the chunkier the better), a boot with a chunky heel or a classic polished pump.
3: Accessories. The most foolproof way to guarantee that you don't look like you just left the gym is by accessorizing your sweats in a thoughtful way. Ideally, with borderline over-the-top glam baubles for the office or a night out, or with well-fitting layering pieces for daytime. The former adds interest via the law of fashion opposites (grey terry sweats with one of these jewel-encrusted statement necklaces, anyone?) and the latter creates a structured silhouette.