The Sunday Best

The incomprehensibly named Dress Pant Sweatpant from Betabrand (which seems to make clothes in the insufferable “clever” category:

At first glance, Betabrand’s latest creation looks like pair (sic) of fine charcoal wool slacks. Which they are, except for the wool part.

Now look closer; better yet, slip on a pair. They’re made from high-end French terry fabric, which has a subtle heather texture that’s similar to fine suit cloth. They look sophisticated, but they feel as slumped-on-the-couch comfy as your favorite pair of old sweats.   

First of all, they don’t look like a pair of fine charcoal wool slacks. They look like a pair of weirdly articulated, slouchy hiking trousers. Second, a pair of pants get their shape not only from the cut, but from the material out of which they are made. Jersey or terry fundamentally lacks the tensile strength necessary to maintain that shape; within a week these pant pants will have the same baggy look as anything college students wear for studying.

And I don’t understand this idea that good looking clothes somehow feel bad. Good clothes feel good. I have a pair of gray flannel pants that are easily some of the most comfortable things I own, and, should I want to, I can definitely splay myself across a bed and fall asleep with my shoes on, knee bent to demonstrate the give of fabric around my ass.

On a related note, I bought a pair of these Burgundy Joggers from Topman and, with my friends laughing the entire time, took to wearing them out, even though these are clearly labelled lounge wear. Is this hypocritical? No, because I’m not walking around in them, pretending I’m engaged in “sartorial subterfuge”.  In fact, if you describe your clothes as sartorial subterfuge you are doing it wrong.