Sweat Suit Alternative
How many of you lovely ladies are consciously or unconsciously taking the advice of Tim Gunn and hunting out your own sweat suit alternative? Personally I’ve never been captivated by sweats, I suppose jeans and a sweater is my sweat suit alternative, but I was recently captivated by this, the crispest-looking active-wear outfit I have ever seen:
eddie bauer brushed fleece jacket and cargo pants
Incidentally, since, as you know, I have no TV, I was delighted to learn via Fashion Me Fabulous, who also posts the entire list of 10 items, this fabulous news:
For the fashion conscience without access to Bravo, you can watch episodes online at BravoTV.com
Now all I need to do is schedule myself a day off.
Update: Sadly, it appears I am too late. If the program ever comes back on, please drop me a line. Also, I am always looking for invitations to watch What Not to Wear. 
Wearing sweats in public seems to be an emotionally-charged topic. What are your thoughts? Do you need an alternative?
uh-there is no picture. . .
This may be in the “too much information” category, but YB and I sleep au natural-so when i get up in the morning I throw on sweats-and I wear them until I’ve got the kiddos all dressed, lunches made, breakfast fed, and out to the bus (yes, I walk princess to the bus stop in my sweats, boots and a parka with the hood up to hide my bedhead. In my defense she boards the bus at 7:30 am). I usually don’t get my shower until around 8:30. But them I’m out of the sweats-I don’t just hang around the house in them, or heaven forbid actually go anywhere in them.
I’m influenced by having lived in Manhattan and Key West years ago. NYC may be a world famous city but it is also your neighborhood. So I have a different set of requirements for neighborhood wear and Other.
Sometimes I extend the boundaries of my neighborhood. If I want to go to Walmart, a long walk or short bus ride away, and I am busy and not feeling social then I may consider *that* my neighborhood. I’ll see plenty of people there actually from my neighborhood wearing their everyday neighborhood clothes.
I guess in my mind, I like feeling like A Local. I got that from living in Key West. So I wouldn’t mind wearing a sweat suit anywhere within easy reach. I don’t however own any sweatsuits or tracksuits just now, anyway.
I just read where in France it is rude to run errands in your athletic wear but since that’s not my neighborhood I don’t mind seeing them at all.
This is what I am wearing today in my neighborhood: loose charcoal grey turtleneck that hubby was discarding (neck too thick for turtlenecks), darker charcoal grey wool knit pull on pants in a slim taper but skimming, not like leggings, over the t-neck is my favorite thing: an olive faux suede vest with one of those zip from either end zippers that’s a huge plus for me (a brilliant find in a sidewalk trash pile), olive ballet flats. Over this if I feel cold or when I go out, a Mexican style hooded jacket with a kangaroo pocket that I slashed in half to make it a cardigan jacket. Stripes of olive, tweedy turquoise and black, tweedy navy and black, tweedy black and white. Over that when it was colder in the morning - the bronze puffer coat! (no fur). Hair in pony tail.
Do I think having a sweatsuit alternative is necessary? No. I don’t mind seeing folks in their sweats. I don’t own any — just a couple of pair of yoga pants. Do I like the idea of having a sweatsuit alternative? Absolutely.
I’m a huge fan of TIm Gunn and find myself looking at my wardrobe through his eyes constantly. It’s kind of given me the courage to get rid of a lot of junk. Since I started watching his show, I find myself very conscious of what I put on to leave the house. I’m like “if Tim and Veronica saw a picture of this, what would they say?” I do wish they would show up at my house soon to do a maternity edition!!
I don’t generally wear sweats outside the house, except on the pool deck.
Jeans and a hoodie, tee or sweater is probably my most casual “out in public” clothing.
I used to wear sweats to class when I was in college and to the grocery store and such in my early twenties, but I won’t be seen in them out of the house now. I rarely wear them for a whole day even at home. I also avoid athletic shoes except at home or while exercising. I do wear jeans and fleece tops pretty often while out and about–I guess that is my sweat suit equivalent. I feel smarter in jeans and a sweater, although I guess that is only marginally more put-together!
Thanks for the blog link!
I wear my sweats and wear ‘em proud! I see no reason not to wear nice looking sweats out and about, and frankly, I see no reason why I can’t even go to the grocery in my sludgy sweats if I’m in the mood. I mean, really. WHO CARES?
And you know I’m pretty uptight about that stuff.
Now, the mall. That is a different story. I like to look respectable at the mall. But to run my daughter to school and go to the grocery store? I’m not dressing up for that.
And by the way, is Tim Gunn’s show back on? I have missed it.
I don’t know that it is. After I posted this, I went to bravo to try - unsuccessfully - to watch it. Hopefully someone with a TV will let me know when it comes back.
In answer to your question, it takes me no more effort to throw on a simple shift dress than it does sweats. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen too many people out in their slippers and jammies, but I think dressing in non-gym clothes says you actually care about people. I hated it when people came in my parents’ store dressed like they just rolled out of bed and proceeded to act like we were all a chore. People aren’t a to do! Put on real clothes!
I wore sweatpants to school in highschool, but hardly ever wear them out now. There are occasional exceptions; for example: if I’m going to get drive through in the midst of a long study session and am wearing sweat pants anyway, I wont bother to change. I totally agree with the “It doesn’t take any more effort to put on [simple dress/jeans/khakis]” argument. Plus, sweatpants are frequently not particularly flattering… they’re often either too tight (VPL and worse!) or to loose (can look like you’re wearing a diaper underneath), both problems that are frequently exacerbated by flimsy fabric.
My “sweat suit alternative”, where sweat suit alternative = an outfit worn out and about for running errands but not for any particularly social activity, is a pair of worn in (but not worn out) jeans, a tee or polo shirt in a stylish cut, running shoes in nice weather, suede casual shoes with a more rugged sole (still smart, not hiking boot esque) or boots in gross weather, and an appropriate casual blazer, cardigan or coat as the weather dictates.
Two thoughts:
1) I wonder if the people who object to sweat suits worn to run errands see it that way because of being more people oriented? Just a random thought based on Jael’s comment.
2) The flimsy fabric is what I dislike. Honestly, it’s best I not wear drapy fabrics on my lower half anyway.
I was struck by Jael’s comments. I think she hit it on the head for me. I battle a lot of social anxiety (though most people who know me would probably guffaw at this) and sometimes have to talk myself into social contact (the store) by doing exactly what she says, making it/them into a chore. I don’t think that’s right on my part and it does conflict with my attitudes toward life. Must work on being less of a sissy.
Thanks very much, Jael.
Since the big appeal of sweatpants is their comfort, all it took for me to get rid of them was to find something equally comfy! I hit the jackpot with a pair of Hanes pants. I guess they are yoga pants, but I bought them at WalMart and “yoga pant” seems too upscale for that store
They are black stretch velour, but cut fairly loose and not clingy. The legs are slightly flared. The black hides any lumpiness, and looks appropriate with just about anything. They fit perfectly, cost less than $13, and they are as comfy as jammies.
Who needs sweats?!? I love these pants.
They also came in several other, lurid colors like lime green and bright red. I like those colors, but not in a pair of pants. For one thing, they reveal serious VPL…
I wear sweatpants at home…on cleaning day
I try to limit wearing my sweatpants out just because I haven’t found any that flatter my hips or rear. I am tempted to get some yoga pants from Old Navy, after they were featured on Oprah, as another jean alternative. I just want to try to be a fashionable mommy 
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I think that you can watch What Not to Wear online as well at TLC.com. They were advertising it a while back. Maybe it comes and goes. I had been missing Tim Gunn. I didn’t know he was totally off the air–is he?? I liked the virtual model that he did with the skirt lengths.
I’ve always thought the term sweat suit alternative is an oxymoron and completely misleading (as much as I like Tim Gunn). Anything remotely like a sweat suit seems like it would be unacceptable to the fashion gurus. And their alternative is usually a 3 piece look with a structured jacket.