Big & Tall Style Guide: Why I'm Embracing Luxury Designer Sweatpants In My Wardrobe
Sweatshirt (similar styles) RECREATE, Black Faded Heavyweight Lounge Pants (similar styles) LES TIEN, Gray 574 Sneakers (similar styles) NEW BALANCE, Coat (similar styles) JW ANDERSON.
I never thought I'd see the day when the sweatpant would be a quintessential part of my daily wardrobe. In high school --where fashion week was Monday through Friday from 8 am to 2:40 pm-- and throughout my twenties, you couldn't pay me to wear a pair of sweatpants. At that time in my life, the effort put into getting dressed, the uncomfortableness endured to get the look off, and the desire to "dress like a fashion editor" was as important as the look itself. For me, sweatpants were for the gym, and thanks to the now defuncted Modell's, I never paid more than $30 for a pair and donned Rag & Bone, AG, and Public School denim for what I call my "real outfits."
Sweatshirt (similar styles) RECREATE, Black Faded Heavyweight Lounge Pants (similar styles) LES TIEN, Gray 574 Sneakers (similar styles) NEW BALANCE, Coat (similar styles) JW Anderson.
But oh, how times and my definition of dressing as a fashion editor have changed. I'm 30 years old now, and while it would be a stretch to say I hate denim, I'm prioritizing track pants, trousers, cargo pants, and my old fashion faux pas, the sweatpants, into my wardrobe. As a bigger guy with legs, hips, and body fat, denim doesn't offer me the comfort or range of motion I want while on set styling features and cover stories of Kolor Magazine or pounding the pavement walking these New York City Streets like other pant styles too. Also, for bigger sizes (I can range between 38 and 42 waists with jeans) men's luxury designer brands I want to wear are more likely to have a size XXL in sweatpants than a size 38+ waist size in denim, playing a huge part into other pant styles storming my wardrobe.
SHOP THE LOOK
All of my Paris Fashion Week looks were denim free, so I decided to continue the trend for New York Fashion Week. For the Naeem Khan Fall 2023 show on Valentine's Day, I decided to wear a pair of faded black heavyweight lounge pants from Les Tien that I bought from the ssense.com sale. True to your standard sweatpants, the trousers have a baggy fit throughout with a drawstring elastic waistband and ankle cuffs, and two side pockets. Though the pants go up to size XXL (that's the size I'm wearing) in my opinion, there's enough give for my size 3XL brothas to size down if you're interested in buying these pants. I paired these Les Tien pants with an old grey Recreate sweatshirt from Yoox, my old JW Anderson Fall 2015 runway coat (US size 42, JW Anderson tends to run a little oversized) from Barney's New York (RIP), and a pair of New Balance gray 574 Sneakers.
Sweatshirt (similar styles) RECREATE, Black Faded Heavyweight Lounge Pants (similar styles) LES TIEN, Gray 574 Sneakers (similar styles) NEW BALANCE, Coat (similar styles) JW Anderson.
I felt equally well-dressed and super comfortable in my luxury designer sweatpants, but what are your thoughts on wearing sweatpants every day? Would you wear sweatpants to a fashion show? Check out my outfit reel below and share your thoughts on Instagram.