Tracksuits are one of the big controversies of the fashion world. Not a deep and serious controversy, but a fun, relaxed and cool one.
Designed primarily for sporty activities, track suits are sometimes worn by people as casual everyday clothes. This is something that divides people into more camps: is it stylish to wear a tracksuit or is it a fashion faux pas? Creative directors, fashion editors, designers and stylists are all one side or the other of the topic.
For example, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld famously said that “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.” On the other hand, Vogue fashion editor Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele has always voiced her opinion, which is contrary to Karl’s, saying that tracksuits make you look empowered and sexy. Alexander Wang, Jenna Lyons and others did their best to make this point as well through their work.
And, we have to agree with Carlyne on at least one thing, which is that a well-fitting tracksuit definitely makes anyone look great.
A leather tracksuit by Bally. Really exquisite.
The main issue when it comes to this controversy on tracksuits in many cases appears from what we think of when we think of tracksuits and sweatpants.
If we think of a loose, worn-out pair of pants that look like a rag with an elastic, then yes, you shouldn’t be seen in sweatpants or tracksuits outside of the gym. But otherwise, if we think of a well-fitted, high-quality tracksuit or pair of sweatpants it can make for a great look.
Therefore, tracksuits can be seen as the fashion item that exemplifies the number one rule of dressing up: your clothes must fit and be made of great materials. If your clothes fit description, everything else, such as the colors, the prints, etc., comes in a secondary position.
From the Astrid Andersen spring 2017 collection
Of course, it’s needless to mention that in most cases tracksuits should be kept for casual settings and not be mixed with dressy pieces, although there have been many designers and stylists who have created truly state of the art outfits mixing items such as tuxedo jackets with sweatpants. Talk about having an eye for aesthetics!
In short, it can be said that sweatpants and tracksuits per se are neither good nor bad, it’s all in how they look, how you look in them and the context.
In closing, as a side note, to showcase how much of an impact the tracksuits and sweatpants controversy has entered the cultural landscape, we want to share a quote by John Boardley, a famous graphic designer and typography expert who said “Helvetica is the sweatpants of typefaces”. This is definitely a true statement, but in the vortex of opinions about tracksuits and sweatpants, what his stance of the matter is, is definitely not clear.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
Style and comfort: 4 advantages of wearing a hoodie
How to wear sporty men’s sweaters: 10 tips
The basic guide to men’s loungewear
A great collection of menswear quotes
P.S. We want to hear from you! On which side of the debate do you stand? Do you believe tracksuits are suitable as casual wear? When and how do you wear them? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
