I say it again and again, to make classy sportswear, there are not 36 solutions, there are even only two:
- take sportswear pieces, but with noble materials (wool, etc.)
- take sportswear pieces, but with elegant colors and details of formal pieces (pleat on the thigh, fly, belt loops)
...which you'll have to mix with a good pair of sneakers, you guessed it 😉
The problem is that it's quite complicated to find these kinds of parts. American Vintage did some, but without much success in my opinion, because of the cuts that were too fitted, almost feminine.
We saw some cool things at Wings & Horns and Reigning Champ, but it was overpriced, impossible to find in France and almost too casual. And I’m deliberately not mentioning the Lanvin wool jogging suits costing over €400.
There was therefore a gap to fill for a piece which is very practical , without us necessarily realizing it. For my part, I can tolerate less and less staying in jeans when I get home, and the first thing I do at the end of the day is to take off my jeans to put on chinos, which are much more comfortable, and which allow me to keep sartorial dignity, rather than putting on a banal Panzeri tracksuit.
Duke & Dude, whose story you could discover here and here , tackled this thorny problem: what to wear at home to be truly comfortable, while remaining elegant in case you have to go out shopping ? What clothing to wear to watch a good movie on a rainy Sunday without your girlfriend accusing you of neglecting yourself?
Answer: by making elegant tracksuit bottoms of course!
So here is a test that we are very curious to do, because we have been following the adventures of Duke & Dude, aka Bertrand and Thibaut, our two favorite Toulouse entrepreneurs for almost a year and a half. Finally here are their babies.
The Belleville 
Beautiful finishes with these well-worked drawstrings
The gray of the pants goes perfectly with the red of Lanvin
As soon as I open the packaging (very classy by the way, even with a screen print signed by an artist, I would like to see that more often), I immediately notice these jogging pants in a very thick and elegant wool .
They are cut like normal pants (fly, belt loops, welt pockets) with one difference: two grosgrain drawstrings are present on each ankle.
Everything is high-end : the design, the grosgrain, the zamak of the buttons, the belt loops woven in Alcantara (a material usually found in the interior of a high-end car), and this very warm and insulating wool.
Once the pants are worn, it's a real pleasure, it's very comfortable , and ultimately it doesn't look much like sportswear, because this noble wool gives it a rather dressy look.
This type of pants even goes with dressy pieces.
When you go outside and it's cool, the cotton of jeans will catch the cold and you will feel a sensation of freshness in your legs. Not with these thick wool pants which offer you remarkable thermal insulation .
Cut-wise, it's not particularly slim, but not particularly a straight cut. I would say this is the standard fit of a dress pant, although the ankle is still tapered. It is therefore easy to wear, especially for strong thighs.
That said, I can't imagine pairing these pants with formal brogue or derby type shoes. On the other hand, with a nice pair of sneakers (high-top or not) or work/combat boots, it would be perfect.
Montparnasse
Very good quality thick cotton
Still these three hexagonal buttons typical of Duke and Dude
A play of material between the jersey of the pants and the alcantara present on the belt and on the pocket slot
I try these cotton fleece jersey pants, and then, surprise: they are even more comfortable than the previous pants. But really ! There's a softness inside... Honestly, it's been a long time since I put on pants this comfortable to wear.
The color is well chosen: this light gray brightens up the outfit. As on the Belleville, the fly, the piped pockets, the Alcantara belt loops and the back pockets break the sporty side of the fleece jersey and make it a really nice piece , very casual, but which wears well. It's not with these pants that your girlfriend will criticize you for being neglected in any case!
A really nice piece, with French fabrics and buttons, and so comfortable... The kind of piece that quickly becomes addictive
East and West Baton Rouge
The pants hold with a thick elastic visually designed like a belt
Again this sense of detail with this metal button engraved with a bison
Sporty but elegant pants that can be worn with a shirt
These are two wool models, a little more vintage than the others. The buttons on the very elaborate back pockets and the martingale give a pretty nice old-fashioned touch. On the other hand, these pants are black, and as you know, I don't particularly like black and I never wear it . You will therefore understand that these are not the pieces that I prefer.
Do you recommend?
Generally speaking, these are very good products, the quality and cut are there , all wrapped in very high-end packaging. Coming from a French brand that is launching, that’s nice! If you're looking for a casual piece for the house or quiet outings with friends, this is exactly what you need.
I am also thinking of the youngest who read us (students and high school students), the Belleville and the Montparnasse will very easily find their place in a young and casual wardrobe . For the Baton-Rouge model, I'm less convinced (what do you expect, I don't like black), but our colleague from Jamais sans ma tie wears it very well with a pair of dunks.
How big is it?
Rather wide. I'm a size 30/31 in jeans, and the M is a bit large, enough to know that I have to wear a S. If you're a size 28/29 in jeans, take an XS without hesitation.
If you take a model, leave me a comment, I will be curious to see how you wear it
