Originally a piece of sports clothing, joggers have undergone their revolution in recent years. It is more fitted, flirts with beautiful materials and is adorned with tailored details , thus facilitating its integration. We're a long way from the days when iridescent Adidas models were the main option
Streetwear has become ennobled. A bit like the hoodie , it was only a matter of time before the piece underwent its transformation. It now constitutes a solid alternative to jeans and chinos, which we appreciate for their great comfort.
Following the launch of our version
Inspiration: how to wear joggers?
Joggers can't just be worn with a t-shirt, fortunately!
In fact, it will look particularly good with tailored pieces. I know, it's not an association that we think of spontaneously. But you will see, the union of the two styles can be of interest...
The use of fleece clearly anchors the piece in sportswear, as does the use of light gray on the top and bottom. The fitted line of the joggers compensates for the more generous cut of the sweatshirt: the volumes are harmonious. The straight coat contrasts with the casualness of the rest of the outfit, in addition to structuring it with sharper lines. As for colors, you can't go wrong with gray and camel!
A step above now. We find the jogging pants / sweatshirt combination, ultimately very spontaneous, but the contrast goes further than in the previous look: herringbone coat, gloves worn as a pocket, hat ... Why does it work? In fact, the outfit is generally based on two palettes. On one side, the pale gray sweatshirt and the white t-shirt. On the other hand, the pants, accessories and coat create a shades oscillating between burgundy and brown. We thus avoid introducing “too much information”, allowing us to remain coherent despite a risky bias.
We return to a more dressy style, with joggers with clean lines and wool. Suddenly, it becomes easier to build your outfit around elegant influences. In the middle of the coat and the turtleneck, it becomes the “unexpected” element, the twist touch. It's the perfect kind of piece to liven up a look and change up classic flannel pants. If our good friend chooses to wear sneakers with a very sporty line (Nike Air Force), we could imagine a thinner pair for more subtlety. Up to you !
Let's change the atmosphere! Given its origins, joggers will always be combined with the queen of casual materials : denim.
We return to more spontaneous associations. Here, the joggers are paired with a denim shirt, worn open over a white t-shirt: a good way to break up the monochromy of the outfit. Where possible, vary the shades of blue used.
The joggers/denim combo is all the more interesting if the pants are made of wool. We thus contrast the softness of one with the rigidity of the other. To go further, don't hesitate to wear a top in a worked material, such as a mottled wool knit. Here, no piece has the same hand: the mix of textures enriches the look. Otherwise, there is nothing very complicated.
For a change from the denim jacket, try a bomber or Harrington jacket . The result will also be effective.
If you have been following along, you have noticed that all the examples in this article are based on more or less fitted joggers. But what happens if you opt for an oversized model?
In this look from the AMI A/W 2017 fashion show, joggers are completely reinvented. Cut from very thick wool, its shape is reminiscent of a jodhpur. For this reason, the ribbing at the bottom of the leg is obligatory if you want to be able to control the fall. Once again, we find a denim jacket, with a woolen collar this time. The imposing volumes give a certain “stature”. Note that the denim jacket – again – is left open. Thus, despite the play of proportions, the silhouette remains legible. Even if the outfit is finished with sneakers, we could totally imagine a pair of combat boots with such a heavy material.
This look is interesting in its concept of layering: wide, long pieces, high collar, stack (pile of fabric at the bottom of the leg), black color... For once, the silhouette is completely deconstructed. The work is not done on highlighting the body: on the contrary, it is completely “blurred”. Once again, to bring a little structure to the whole, we find a good big suit piece with the long coat. Without advising you to do the same, I encourage you to look towards this type of approach for the richness of their construction.
The shopping corner
We move on to the selection!
- Suitsupply : for intermediate budgets, the brand offers a striped and dressy version with pleats, in a fairly classic Vitale Barberis material. There is also an off-white summer model in cotton and linen, which is more intended to be the equivalent of chinos.
- Wings + Horns : for the more adventurous among you, and in a higher price range, the Wings + Horns brand offers military version joggers, in a solid olive-colored cotton/linen.
- a more casual and quite wintery model , the high-end brand dedicated to “Made In France” offers a looser but luxurious vision, in thick Italian wool flannel.
The model from DeBonneFacture.
- a more faithful version of classic jogging. We could instead speak of “sweatpants” to distinguish them from more fashionable pieces. Note the cut which remains worked, in particular with a very marked fuselage on the ankles.
- the “Lay Pant” , whose work focuses more on color and small pocket details.
- Velva Sheen : Still in the vein of "beautiful jogging", there is obviously the Viper Pant from the Velva Sheen brand, known for its fleeces and jerseys, on tees and sweatshirts in particular.
The Velva Sheen brand model.
The final word...
Like many pieces of its kind, joggers have been modernized to the point of becoming everyday clothing.
To start, choose it with a fitted leg (or a ribbed edge at the bottom), just to get rid of its overly sportswear image. More and more materials are also available, from traditional fleece to heather wool.
Don't hesitate to wear it in varying styles: it's a versatile piece creating beautiful contrasts, particularly with dressy looks.
If you want to move towards more daring looks, nothing is stopping you from attempting a foray into the world of oversized or even patterned joggers.
The rest is up to you!
