How Sweatpants Got Their Groove Back

Your eyes creak open as the morning sun slips through the blinds. You reach under your pillow to grab your phone, of course it’s fallen to the floor. The time reads 8:40. You’ve got a Zoom meeting in 20 minutes, but don’t worry about traffic this morning, because It’s Corona time baby and you’re 2 seconds from your laptop/office. You jump out of bed and throw on some coffee while deciding whether if it’s going to be a nicotine for breakfast kind of day, or an avocado toast with Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel seasoning sprinkled over it kind of day (As long as you get your CBD in before the coffee you’re fine either way). Quick glance at the clock, 8:53, almost an eternity until obligations; you’re good. You pour some almond milk into your coffee, finish seasoning the avocado toast, throw a t-shirt on and settle down in front of your laptop while you wait for the call to start. It’s 8:58, and the sudden realization washes over you like when you heard the news that Bernie dropped out; you’re not wearing pants. Even though it’s a video call and no one’s going to see below your shoulders, there’s that eerie feeling when you’re talking to your boss about action items for the week and you’re pretty sure he knows you’re missing something. Better safe than sorry. You rush to the closet, grab a pair of Lululemons, and race back to the laptop. 9AM.

Adjusting to remote life has been a challenge across the spectrum. Whether it’s settling into a new morning routine, sharing a workspace with your partner/roommate, or figuring out how to handle delivery interactions while respecting the work but also not being sure where those hands have been — you hopefully have realized by now that this isn’t an easy time to be in, and change can be difficult. While the world spins around us, it’s important to remember that there will always be constants in your life; concepts or personal items that keep you anchored in reality and focused on the big picture. In 2020, that anchor is sweatpants. What used to be taken for granted as a lazy day,” I’m home for the night” staple, is now playing a pivotal role in how we weave between work and play. Form-fitting yet yielding, comfy yet supportive- sweatpants are the perfect symbol for the juxtaposition that is working from home. Athleisure has been around for years, and by default alongside it workleisure, but never before has straight leisure stood alone on the winner’s podium and rightfully claimed the title of “In”. Forget brands trying to soften their offerings by adding ribbed hems and elastic waistbands to khakis and jeans, it’s time to embrace that 80/20 polyester to cotton ratio and run with it. Levi, Diesel, 7 for all Mankind, it’s going to be okay. No one’s going to judge you when in 6 months you slide into our inboxes and batter us with Instagram Story ads about your new line of “Softies, the Pants for Now”. The modern consumer expects the pivot, and we’re here with open arms.

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