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Jessica Booth
Updated
2020-03-28T16:44:00Z
- Sweatpants that are fitted can make your look appear more polished.
- Adding jewelry or a nice coat can elevate your look.
- Sweatpants that are silk or velvet can add a fancy twist to your outfit.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
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Sweatpants may have once been something to wear to bed or to lounge around the house in, but that's no longer the case — and the runways and street style of celebrities like Gigi Hadid and Kylie Jenner are proof.
You can easily dress sweats up and make them look a lot more stylish than you ever thought they could be, creating an outfit you can rock just about anywhere.
Here are 13 stylish and easy ways to dress up sweatpants.
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Choose sweatpants that are fitted rather than baggy.
If you're looking to dress up your look, the fit of your sweats can make a huge difference. Baggy sweats may be cozy, but they can be more difficult to dress up.
On the other hand, fitted pairs, like leggings or joggers, will be easier to style. Pick a pair that fits well and feels comfortable.
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Pair them with a trendy coat or blazer.
Instead of reaching for a sweatshirt when heading outside, wear your sweatpants with a blazer or coat that will immediately make them look more put together. Think: a belted trench, a leather jacket, or a more casual denim jacket.
The coat will give the sweats a more dressed-up feel than a sweatshirt might.
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Take some time to style other parts of your look, like your hair.
When you're trying to dress up sweatpants, the rest of your look can make quite a difference. An outfit of sweats, sneakers, and a simple top may look more casual if your hair is in a messy bun or loose ponytail.
But if your hair is more styled, it can make the rest of your outfit look more dressed up and intentional.
Wear them with high heels instead of sneakers.
The quickest way to dress up a pair of sweats is to change up your shoes. Pumps or other types of heeled shoes will automatically elevate your look and, from there, you just have to pick a stylish top and the right accessories.
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Choose ankle boots or nice sneakers if you don't want to wear heels.
If you don't want to wear heels, you can still make your sweatpants look a bit fancier by wearing sneakers or boots.
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Try sticking to a monochrome palette.
If you want to keep things simple, choose pieces that match for a monochromatic look.
An all-black look is always stylish and you can even pair gray pants with a gray top in a slightly different shade to keep your look simple and streamlined.
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Add one glamorous piece to your overall look.
A glam accessory or clothing item can instantly elevate your look, even if your outfit is fairly simple and casual. For example, walking around in sweats with a nice handbag on your shoulder could help you to create a more polished look overall.
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Try wearing sweatpants that are made from a different fabric.
If you want to take your look to the next level, you can opt for a pair of sweatpants that are made of a fabric that looks more luxurious than cotton.
Velvet is a cozy choice for colder months and faux silk is a fun choice year-round.
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Treat sweatpants like jeans and wear them with a patterned sweater or a button-down top.
Almost anything can go with a pair of simple sweats, even if it seems like a strange pairing at first. If your goal is to dress up your sweatpants opt for a fitted patterned sweater or button-down shirt.
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Add some jewelry to your look.
Lots of jewelry, or even just one standout piece, can instantly make your outfit seem a bit fancier. Layer a few necklaces on top of each other, or opt for a pair of statement earrings and a bunch of stacked rings.
You can also opt to wear one standout piece, like a big fringed necklace or chunky watch.
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Pair your sweatpants with bright colors.
A monochromatic look is trendy and cool, but bright colors can dress up your look just as much. Pair plain sweatpants with a sweater or top in a color that demands attention, like bright yellow or red.
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Wear your sweats with lots of layers.
Adding carefully chosen layers can help your sweatpants-centric outfit seem more intentional overall. For example, pair a button-down shirt under a sweater or add a scarf and cardigan to your look.
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When in doubt, wear black joggers.
Black joggers are oftentimes the easiest sweatpants to dress up because, when styled correctly, they just look like a pair of trousers.
They can be worn to work, when you go out, or when you head to a party, and, in most cases, no one will even notice you're wearing sweats.
Joggers look great with sweaters or silky shirts tucked into them, plus a pair of heels or ankle boots will really kick the look up a notch. They can also be paired with cropped tops or sneakers.
Read More:
- Stylists reveal the best and worst fashion trends of the year, so far
- What high heels looked like the year you were born
- Stylists reveal 13 mistakes you're probably making when you get dressed every day
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