The sweatpant trend is currently at an all-time high, seen on everyone from college kids to NBA All-Stars. In fact, they're the core tenet of the "New Rules of Streetwear" and are in general a super-chill way to avoid wearing rock-hard denim or ball-busting suit pants. And, best of all, they're easy as hell to make look cool. (Everything from hoodies to sport coats looks great with a pair of finely tailored fleece sweats.) As for jogger pants—the often woven-fabric-y cuffed-pants cousin of sweats—well, those are a much more hazardous endeavor. The wrong shoe or shirt can instantly take you from style expert to overgrown kindergartener. Here's how to wear them the GQ way.
Simply Put, Khaki Is Whack
It seems that most jogger-pant stylings start to look junior when guys reach for them in a twill chino fabric with a simple Scrunchie-ish cuff at the bottom. (See: This terrible outfit.) We prefer joggers that are done up in more elegant fabrics like tweed, wool, and even corduroy. If you must sport them in a standard khaki hue, at least make sure they come with an athletic-inspired cuff like these.
Slip Out of Those Slip-On Shoes
Jogger pants already have youthful undertones. Wearing sneakers without laces with them makes it look like you're actually trying to dress like a six-year-old.
You're Tucking Right
Wearing a button-up shirt (and that's a casual plaid, oxford, or denim version, not your work-week spread-collar) with joggers is an easy way to make them look a little more cleaned-up. But leaving your shirt untucked will undo all of those good, put-together vibes. This rule applies double if you're wearing joggers with lace-up shoes or loafers.
Styled to a T(-Shirt)
Of course, joggers are at their most natural when worn with a T-shirt. But to ensure grown-man-level style, reach for a solid or striped tee over your beat-up band T-shirts.
Ask Yourself the Essential Question: Why?
Did you just buy a pair of joggers because it seems like all the cool kids are doing it? Or are you simply looking for a quick way to show off your latest sneaker purchase? If you answered yes to either of these questions, maybe you need to re-evaluate if you're ready for this style swerve. As a general rule, we'd like to see guys nail their traditional pant style, like jeans, chinos, and trousers, before embracing something more advanced. Even when getting dressed, you've got to walk before you can jog.