Ever since athleisure entered mainstream fashion, it’s made comfortable style possible. And while sweatpants have always been considered a lazy Sunday staple, you don’t have to limit their wear to just your house. Celebrity fashion stylist Anna Lavo tells PEOPLE you can actually look fashionable in sweats, and her tips will let you take them from the couch to drinks with friends.
“Sweatpants only lose their style when they’re worn without purpose,” she says. “When you dress with intention and choose cuts that flatter your figure, they transform from casual comfort into a timeless, versatile staple.” The key, in her opinion, is choosing silhouettes, fabrics, and proportions that complement your shape, and then pairing them with polished pieces that makes the look “both effortless and refined.” Incorporate sleek accessories, tops, and layers for added sophistication.
To help you stock up on stylish options, we used expert tips from Lavo and found sweatpants you can dress up or down from Amazon’s fashion store and more brands, as well as some styles to avoid. Shop bottoms starting at just $20 below.
Stylist-Approved Sweatpants
- Best-Seller: G Gradual Ankle Joggers, $35; amazon.com
- BP. Baggy Wide-Leg Sweatpants, $30 (orig. $40); nordstrom.com
- Fixmatti Matching Sweatsuit, $32 with coupon (orig. $46); amazon.com
- Rare Deal: AirEssentials Pique Straight-Leg Pants, $49 (orig. $128); spanx.com
- Athmile Wide-Leg Sweatpants, $20 with coupon (orig. $30); amazon.com
- The Off Duty Barrel Pant, $62 (orig. $88); everlane.com
- 50% Off: Caslon Drawstring Terry Pants, $30 (orig. $60); nordstrom.com
- SuperSoft Fleece Wide-Leg Pant, $45; quince.com
- Serenity Wide-Leg Sweatpants, $128; aloyoga.com
- BeCalm Oversized Mid-Rise Pants, $98; lululemon.com
NEED TO KNOW
Lavo references the scene in Sex and The City: The Movie when Carrie Bradshaw runs to Miranda Hobbes’ apartment on New Year’s Eve, wearing matching sweats. “She elevated the look with a fur coat, heeled boots, a beret, a mini bag, and a long pearl necklace, explains Lavo. “That moment proves that even the most casual pieces can feel glamorous when styled thoughtfully and worn with purpose.”
G Gradual Ankle Joggers
“As a stylist, I gravitate toward sweatpants that blend comfort with a refined silhouette,” says Lavo. That includes a tapered jogger, which she adds also “flatters most body types.” This cropped style shows off your shoes and has a waistline that defines your body shape. To complete the look, she recommends styling joggers with a blazer, a trench coat, and heeled boots to give off a “smart casual” vibe.
BP. Baggy Wide-Leg Sweatpants
Wide-leg sweatpants are ideal if you want a more modern, fashion-forward look, according to Lavo. It’s essential to avoid overloading the outfit with athletic pieces like gym sneakers, hoodies, and sporty logos if you want to keep it polished. Instead, opt for a longline coat and chunky sneakers or high heels to “keep proportions clean.”
Plus, if you combine the relaxed sweatpants with luxury textures like a silk blouse, cashmere sweater, or fur coat, Lavo adds that the “contrast makes fall sweatpant styling look intentional, not lazy.”
Fixmatti Matching Sweatsuit, $32 with coupon
Lavo says a matching sweatsuit like this style will instantly look cohesive and refined, especially in neutral or tonal shades like cream, grey, camel, or black, or deep shades like burgundy, chocolate brown, or cognac. She suggests layering statement outerwear over it such as a leather jacket, oversized blazer, or maxi wool coat for a dressier aesthetic. Each piece can be worn separately or together, so you can incorporate other tops and accessories into the look for more outfit options, too.
Shop these sweatpants using the above tips for a cozy yet refined outfit, and check out more bottoms below that check off Lavo’s requirements.
Spanx AirEssentials Pique Straight-Leg Pants
Athmile Wide-Leg Sweatpants, $20 with coupon
Everlane The Off Duty Barrel Pants
Caslon Drawstring Terry Pants
Quince SuperSoft Fleece Wide-Leg Pants
Alo Yoga Serenity Wide-Leg Sweatpants
Lululemon BeCalm Oversized Mid-Rise Pants
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