For better or worse, sweatpants have been legitimate sportswear for nearly a century. From NASA astronauts to Sylvester Stallone in Rocky to Patrick Swayze in Road House, sweatpants were worn when there was serious training at hand. When Frenchman Emile Camuset of Le Coq Sportif invented sweatpants in the 1920s they came in one color – gray – because they were intended solely for working out.
Sadly, at some point – maybe in the ‘80s – that sweatpants began to be worn outside the gym an into the world as “active wear.” This allowed people with no intention of sweating to enjoy the comfort of pajamas and the adjustable waist while still pushing the illusion of teetering on the precipice of a tough and sweaty workout.
At this point, we have to accept that people are going to wear sweats outside the gym. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dress them up a bit. Betabrand has accomplished that by creating dress sweatpants that look like any other pair of fine charcoal wool trousers.
They’re actually made from high-end French terry fabric, which has a subtle heather texture that’s similar to fine suit cloth. So while they look sophisticated, they feel like pajamas. The boardroom-style, bedroom-comfort pants are available directly $90.
