# 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:** 7
### Author:  [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/121 "2010-05-14T14:05:21Z")
> [@StusBlues](#):
>
> You’ve not been paying attention, have you?
I have been hoping it would just go away…:eek:
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### Author:  [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/122 "2010-05-14T20:28:37Z")
> [@jjimm](#):
>
> I’m gonna dissent even further: I can’t stand them even in the house. My roomie is sitting opposite me wearing them right now and it grosses me out. That and a gross fleece are all she ever wears when at home, citing comfort. I don’t get it - how uncomfortable are jeans or slacks really, if you’re a normal shape?
I don’t understand how people can wear jeans. They’re so stiff, I can’t move in them! And before you say I’m getting the wrong size, I’m not. People also say that you need to break them in and you’ll feel more comfy. I can barely stand to break in shoes, which I require, whether or not a style of pant. Most of my wardrobe is pyjama pants for home and slacks for outside.
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### Author:  [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/123 "2010-05-14T20:36:13Z")
> [@kushiel](#):
>
> I don’t understand how people can wear jeans. They’re so stiff, I can’t move in them! And before you say I’m getting the wrong size, I’m not. People also say that you need to break them in and you’ll feel more comfy. I can barely stand to break in shoes, which I require, whether or not a style of pant. Most of my wardrobe is pyjama pants for home and slacks for outside.
Soak your jeans in some fabric softener in your bathtub for a while - then wash them. They won’t be so stiff.
Not that I’ve had a lot of problems with stiff jeans - most of mine are pre-washed.
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### Author:  [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/124 "2010-05-14T20:50:37Z")
As a followup:
For those who have said or implied that I’m being dictatorial about this: I don’t generally tell Oni no Husband what he should wear. I _do_ ask him, nicely, to please put on different pants if we’re all set to go out into the world and he’s in sweats. He generally rolls his eyes and does so. The reason I started this thread is because he feels that I am unique and unreasonable in thinking that sweats give a negative impression. I wanted to find out if that was accurate or not.
I have not shown this thread to Oni no Husband, though I probably will next time we have that discussion. However, I did show him the Comedy Central skit that someone linked to.
We’ve got another appt for another apt tonight, and when he dropped me off at work he promised me (without me asking!) that he would be dressed appropriately and not in sweatpants.
So it’s all good.
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/125 "2010-05-14T20:55:38Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#):
>
> Soak your jeans in some fabric softener in your bathtub for a while - then wash them. They won’t be so stiff.
>
> Not that I’ve had a lot of problems with stiff jeans - most of mine are pre-washed.
Don’t most jeans have a little stretch to them these days? At least, women’s do.
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### Author:  [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/126 "2010-05-14T21:14:16Z")
> [@kushiel](#):
>
> I don’t understand how people can wear jeans. They’re so stiff, I can’t move in them! And before you say I’m getting the wrong size, I’m not. People also say that you need to break them in and you’ll feel more comfy. I can barely stand to break in shoes, which I require, whether or not a style of pant. Most of my wardrobe is pyjama pants for home and slacks for outside.
😕 So then don’t buy stiff jeans. It has nothing to do with sizing, but material. None of the jeans I have owned have ever been that stiff harder denim.
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### Author:  [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/127 "2010-05-14T22:44:53Z")
> [@Oni no Maggie](#):
>
> . (I should perhaps also mention that he’s overweight - about 5’6", 235.) We had a little bit of time before the appointment, and rather than going to get food which had been our initial plan, I made him go home and change. \
> What do you think? Are my predjudices against sweatpants unreasonable?
Holy blazes, I hope the man’s at home during the day running circles around the apartment complex. He’s not overweight - he’s almost morbidly obese.
Which I guess means he’s okay to wear sweatpants - like **Push You Down** indicated is acceptable for these people.
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### Author:  [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/128 "2010-05-14T23:08:23Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#):
>
> Holy blazes, I hope the man’s at home during the day running circles around the apartment complex. He’s not overweight - he’s almost morbidly obese.
>
> Which I guess means he’s okay to wear sweatpants - like **Push You Down** indicated is acceptable for these people.
I hope you don’t pan on applying for the Diplomatic Corps in the near future. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)
#### Post date: [May 14, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/129 "2010-05-14T23:30:07Z")
Somebody has to stand up to this outrage.
I wear track pants (not sweatpants) regularly on weekends and in the evenings. Clarifacation:
Work: Suit (custom, tailored, French cuffs).
Evenings out: Blazer, silk shirts, dress pants or sometimes nice jeans.
Yard work: jeans that once were nice (I always own two pair - one for gardening, one still nice).
But if you knock on the door, or catch me coaching soccer, or running a quick errand, or at the farmers market - I have on a t-shirt, track pants, Birkenstocks, and a baseball cap. The ONLY reason I wear the cap is that I already have my first cyst on my cheek, and I don’t want another one (and I hate sunscreen).
So do I find sweats bad? Nope - though the lack of desire to dress up at all could be an issue.
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### Author:  [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/130 "2010-05-15T00:43:26Z")
Yes, sweatpants are sloppy. No adult should wear them outside the house.
And that includes working out. There are much better options that don’t make you look like a slob.
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### Author:  [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/131 "2010-05-15T01:10:36Z")
> [@Cicero](#):
>
> I hope you don’t pan on applying for the Diplomatic Corps in the near future. 🙂
No kidding. :eek:
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### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/132 "2010-05-15T01:42:57Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#):
>
> Holy blazes, I hope the man’s at home during the day running circles around the apartment complex. He’s not overweight - he’s almost morbidly obese.
>
> Which I guess means he’s okay to wear sweatpants - like **Push You Down** indicated is acceptable for these people.
Young **lindsay** , it would appear you haven’t read my SDMB to Everyone-Else-in-the-Universe translation dictionary. “5’6” 235 lbs" in SDMB means “a bit overweight.” In Everyone-Else, it means “very seriously obese.”
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/133 "2010-05-15T02:42:28Z")
Mariah Carey in sweatpants outside
[http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/what-were-they-thinking/3861?nc](http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/what-were-they-thinking/3861?nc)
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### Author:  [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/134 "2010-05-15T03:37:27Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> Young **lindsay** , it would appear you haven’t read my SDMB to Everyone-Else-in-the-Universe translation dictionary. “5’6” 235 lbs" in SDMB means “a bit overweight.” In Everyone-Else, it means “very seriously obese.”
Oh man, this _killed_ me. You’re absolutely right, though. Could you look up for me the solution to your SO not properly loading the dishwasher? I think the correct answer is “Divorce”, _not_ “talk to them in a non-heated way about the situation”.
**Cicero** and **gravitycrash** , tis the truth. And worth noting, considering we’re talking about personal comfort here.
Back to the OP: are we distinguishing between yoga/track pants and actual sweat pants? You’d have to pay me to be in public in sweat pants or pajama pants, but yoga/track pants I wear to grocery shop or on the way home from the gym.
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/135 "2010-05-15T04:32:12Z")
On the weekends I do jobs around the house. I wear old sweats and dirty T-shirts exclusively.
When I go to Lowe’s or Menard’s, I fit right in. Except for the tattoos. I don’t have any tattoos, which makes me a minority at those places.
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### Author:  [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/136 "2010-05-15T04:59:23Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#):
>
> Just need a bit of clarification from the OP. You say hubby is 5’6" and 235. Is the excess weight in the form of a beer gut? If so, when he wears the sweat pants, does he place the waist line of the pants at his waist or below the gut? The answer could change my opinion to your OP question.
> Well not really, but I’m curious about it anyway/
Ah, the great “Texas or Florida” conundrum…
And _in re_ baseball caps, wearing one can also mean “I am a fan of the Indians or the Unversity of North Carolina or the Thrashers” or whatever.
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### Author:  [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/137 "2010-05-15T05:36:43Z")
I wear track suit pants around the house, but only bogans wear them to shopping centres.
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### Author:  [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/138 "2010-05-15T06:50:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Screw you guys. I heart flip-flops and I will continue to wear them everywhere I go. Well, except work. They get grumpy when I do that.
>
> But sweatpants? Ew.
Were you wearing non-crappy flip flops and otherwise dressed nicely, that could get a pass from me. Otherwise, not so great.
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### Author:  [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/139 "2010-05-15T07:06:22Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#):
>
> Holy blazes, I hope the man’s at home during the day running circles around the apartment complex. He’s not overweight - he’s almost morbidly obese.
>
> Which I guess means he’s okay to wear sweatpants - like **Push You Down** indicated is acceptable for these people.
The guy is unemployed and it sounds like he has stopped caring about his appearance - sounds like at least a touch of depression to me. It’s not uncommon for that to be accompanied by weight gain. If there’s one thing people need when their depressed it’s other people insulting their weight and suggesting that their lazy. Good work!
FWIW, I don’t wear sweatpants in public except for quick errands or dog walks, but if I do see someone wearing sweatpants at the store or even in class I don’t really think anything of it. I’m not sure why it matters - as long as they are clean and covered up not smelly or whatnot I don’t see why it matters what other people are wearing.
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### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [May 15, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/140 "2010-05-15T12:31:23Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> Mariah Carey in sweatpants outside
>
> [http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/what-were-they-thinking/3861?nc](http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/what-were-they-thinking/3861?nc)
Well the heels certainly do dress things up a bit.
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