# Are sweatpants considered "sloppy" when worn in public?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 12, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203 "2010-05-12T18:54:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/21 "2010-05-12T19:34:17Z")
I think men typically wear 1 outfit per day if they are not working. Whatever they start out with is it barring some formal event. Women will often change if they leave the house.
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### Author:  [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/22 "2010-05-12T19:35:33Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> I think men typically wear 1 outfit per day if they are not working. Whatever they start out with is it barring some formal event. Women will often change if they leave the house.
So then, you are recommending that he just not put the sweats on in the first place? đ
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### Author:  [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/23 "2010-05-12T19:37:07Z")
What kind of freak doesnât own any jeans?
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### Author:  [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/24 "2010-05-12T19:40:29Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#):
>
> What kind of freak doesnât own any jeans?
Me. Not a single pair.
And I totally agree with the OP: my husband stays home and takes care of his mom, and he would never wear sweats while out.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/25 "2010-05-12T19:40:48Z")
Iâll tell you what bothers me as much as the sweats - itâs the baseball cap. Baseball cap to me means âI couldnât even be arsed to wash/comb my hair.â
But I hate baseball caps with a passion and am so so SO glad my SO doesnât ever wear them.
ETA: For years I never owned any jeans. I still think they are a bit on the casual side, though I will actually wear them now - but I would never wear jeans and a t-shirt to work, for example. If I am wearing jeans on a Friday itâs with a pretty blouse.
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### Author:  [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/26 "2010-05-12T19:42:48Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> Iâll tell you what bothers me as much as the sweats - itâs the baseball cap. Baseball cap to me means âI couldnât even be arsed to wash/comb my hair.â
>
> But I hate baseball caps with a passion and am so so SO glad my SO doesnât ever wear them.
It can also mean âbalding and in denialâ.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/27 "2010-05-12T19:44:03Z")
Re: zoris (âflip-flopsâ, âshower shoesâ). Around the yard only. Iâll wear sandals in the Summer, like [Tevas](http://www.rei.com/product/718917) or a ânicerâ [zori-style](http://www.sanuk.com/product/341032/SMS2892/_/STINGRAY), but only for casual activities and never with sweats.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/28 "2010-05-12T19:50:15Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#):
>
> It can also mean âbalding and in denialâ.
Bald, confident men are sexy. MEN, DO YOU HEAR ME???
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/29 "2010-05-12T19:50:55Z")
> [@Skammer](#):
>
> Everyone in this thread is right (except the OPâs husband). Itâs a miracle! Quick, close the thread!
Post of the day. đ
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### Author:  [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/30 "2010-05-12T19:51:23Z")
People with skanky toes should not be allowed to wear flip-flops. Squicks me out. I donât want to see your nasty toe nails and cracked heels. If you canât do it yourself - go get a pedicure. Even if you are a guy - they will buff off the dead skin and trim your toe nails. But I really, really donât like to see menâs feet in public. Just weird.
Fortunately, my bf wears the one kind of mandals I can stand - where his entire foot is practically covered, just enough space for ventilation.
I should only have to put up with seeing your nasty feet in aquatic settings after Memorial Day and before Labor Day. Ewww!
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/31 "2010-05-12T20:07:04Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#):
>
> It can also mean âbalding and in denialâ.
I wore baseball caps a lot right after I started shaving my head. It prevented sunburn. Gradually, I reduced their frequency in my wardrobe.
Now I wear my Tilley hat when I need a hat.
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### Author:  [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/32 "2010-05-12T20:08:11Z")
Well, the flip-flops are nothing Iâm ever going to convince him to not wear. Heâs Pacific Islander, and all his relatives wear them pretty much any time theyâre not at work and itâs not raining. (Weâre in L.A., so itâs rarely too cold for them.) I donât mind them, though I donât like to wear them myself unless itâs very hot, due to blister-between-the-toes.
I think some of the reason this bothers me so much is the fact that one of the things that attracted me to him many years ago (when we were both skinnier) was the fact that he was a bit of a peacock. Always took care in how he dressed, always in black dockers and button-up shirts (Hawaiian shirts for casual, dress shirts for anything, well, dressy). So thereâs a sense of loss there, mixed in with it - which I thought might be influencing my reaction and making me harsher on the sweatpants than was called for.
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### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/33 "2010-05-12T20:09:28Z")
Okay, I am revising my answer as follows: I reserve the right to be a total slob, and no one should think any different of me because I exercise this right freely. I wear what _I_ feel comfortable in, and if the rest of society doesnât want to join me on Planet Crazy, they are the ones with the problem, not me. Conformists!
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### Author:  [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/34 "2010-05-12T20:11:34Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#):
>
> I wore baseball caps a lot right after I started shaving my head. It prevented sunburn. Gradually, I reduced their frequency in my wardrobe.
>
> Now I wear my Tilley hat when I need a hat.
Thatâs why I said âcanâ rather than âalways doesâ.đ
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### Author:  [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/35 "2010-05-12T20:12:03Z")
Sweatpants should only be worn preparing/during a workout. Iâm not sure I get loungewear either. Sweats/loungewear should not be seen by others.
Thank god he wasnât wearing [these](http://otomix.stores.yahoo.net/rawopa.html). These types of pants are a travesty. I canât believe my eyes when I see people wearing theseâŚin public! Oddly, I see them (too) frequently worn by the scalpers working the corners around downtown.
Mind you, Iâm not one who should be judging. I canât distinguish between the HOT/NOT outfits in my wifes ragmags (US, Hello,People,etc.)
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### Author:  [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/36 "2010-05-12T20:12:35Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> Okay, I am revising my answer as follows: I reserve the right to be a total slob, and no one should think any different of me because I exercise this right freely. I wear what _I_ feel comfortable in, and if the rest of society doesnât want to join me on Planet Crazy, they are the ones with the problem, not me. Conformists!
This attitude is not far from what the kids these days actually think. Replace âslobâ with âskankâ at will.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/37 "2010-05-12T20:14:12Z")
> [@Oni no Maggie](#):
>
> I think some of the reason this bothers me so much is the fact that one of the things that attracted me to him many years ago (when we were both skinnier) was the fact that he was a bit of a peacock. Always took care in how he dressed, always in black dockers and button-up shirts (Hawaiian shirts for casual, dress shirts for anything, well, dressy). So thereâs a sense of loss there, mixed in with it - which I thought might be influencing my reaction and making me harsher on the sweatpants than was called for.
It is also one of the reasons I was attracted to my SO. He dresses so nicely, all the time - button down shirts all the time. Sometime this can be over done, like last night our landlordâs maintenance guy knocked on the door at 7 PM, and I came to the door in a t-shirt and my PJâs - but he changed to jeans and a t-shirt before he came to the door. But I still find the habit cute and endearing and not annoying.
I would be harsh, too, if he suddenly started going to public places in his sweats.
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### Author:  [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/38 "2010-05-12T20:18:23Z")
Unless the Dope is willing to add âwhile out for a late walk around the subdivisionâ to Appropriate Times to Wear Sweatpants, I am in trouble.
But I am hard pressed to come up with an occasion where jeans would be appropriate and sweats would not. I am talking about slop jeans, not the dress kind. And I tend in the direction of over-dressed rather than under.
Regards,
Shodan
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### Author:  [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/39 "2010-05-12T20:18:48Z")
> [@cantara](#):
>
> Thank god he wasnât wearing [these](http://otomix.stores.yahoo.net/rawopa.html). These types of pants are a travesty. I canât believe my eyes when I see people wearing theseâŚin public! Oddly, I see them (too) frequently worn by the scalpers working the corners around downtown.
These are actually âchefâs pantsâ, which I think (hope) is the only reason they are still around. They do have a purpose, but arenât really meant to be seen by the public.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/40 "2010-05-12T20:20:11Z")
At least get him a pair of [these](http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/clothes-workwear/mens/sweat-shirts-sweat-pants/56011.aspx?feature=product_6).
I still wouldnât wear them off-property.
A baseball cap can also mean âI shave my head and donât want skin cancer.â
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