10.14.2012

foundations: sneakers & sweats

via garance dore

remember the conversation between Jerry and George in the Seinfeld pilot? where he tells George: 

“You know the message you're sending out to the world with these sweatpants? You're telling the world, 'I give up. I can't compete in normal society. I'm miserable, so I might as well be comfortable.'”

well, au contraire.

if i had to give one major reason for why Isabel Marant deserves major props, it would be her uncanny ability to come up with iconic twists on the classics. Marant at her best really excels at translating what women want to wear into a chic and easy uniform. see: the über-versatile dicker boots

these days, i'm switching them up with the Marant-inspired sneaker wedges (reviewed here). i got this awesome sweatshirt from a Gilt sale, and it's probably one of my favorite purchases ever. paired together, and it's slouchy comfy heaven. 

while cleaning out my closet last week, i realized that i've amassed a small collection of sweatshirts of various shapes and sizes: old university ones, thin drapey Olsen-esque ones, and a few j.crew variations in interesting cotton knits. the humble sweatshirt is just such a classic, and i love that designers like Isabel Marant, Alexander Wang and Soonjin Park have all done their versions in recent seasons. 

kai-aakmann sweatshirt, j.crew tank, uniqlo jeans, steve madden sneakers

what about you? do you have a stash of slouchy comfy staples? how do you wear them?

13 comments:

  1. I love, love comfy and stylish sweats. I accumulate them shamelessly - I just bought another sweatshirt that I hope will be "dressy" enough to wear to the office. Love your kai-aakmann piece!

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    1. thanks Katherine! i think your enviable collection of gorgeous handbags will dress up any sweatshirt :)

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  2. i do think isabel marant is absolutely brilliant on her take on comfy basics. recently my school just launched a whole collection of actually attractive schoolwear, which im sure will make up the bulk of my sweats.

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    1. i don't think my university had much in the way of 'attractive' schoolwear, alas!

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    2. haha they apparently collaborated with http://www.leaguecollegiatewear.com/08-09/ them and they trendier things. so my school has some nicer but still classy A&F type things :P

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  3. ahh - so true! just goes to show price isn't always everything!

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  4. My favourite sweatshirt is a hoodie from last season's GAP collection, with a giant reaper-like hood, so comfy! Others don't look very dressy, maybe because they're from the men's section haha.

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    1. reaper-like hood! lol. that sounds super cozy for blustery days. what's your take on it's quality? i haven't bought anything from GAP for years...

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  5. I have a good collection of hiking/slob Sunday/6 am dog walk sweatshirts, but I recently bought the first one I might actually consider wearing to work. I think I might have missed the mark in regards to both size and shape though, we'll see. There's always 6am. Trial and error :)

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  6. Very cute sweatshirt!

    Is it wrong that I like my actually like my workout gear to be chic?! It makes me that much more excited to get back in the gym or dance studio.

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  7. It's brilliant proof that comfy can be elegant! I also have a few sweatshirts, sneakers and sweatpants! But I'd never wear all 3 added up in an outfit: it's sneakers with "smart" pants, sweatpants with a jacket, sweatshirt but with leather.

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  8. Seinfeld was wrong sweatpants (comfy clothes) are awesome:p

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