How to Pick & Style Joggers
THE LOOK
Style Notes
KEY PIECE
Joggers are a great option for trousers in a smart casual wardrobe. However, while other trousers are pretty straightforward to choose, joggers can be a bit tricky because there are a few elements that have a significant impact on the look of joggers.
I’ve given you a breakdown of what to pay attention to below, but here are the key elements of joggers that set them apart from other trousers:
- joggers have an elasticated waist, often with a drawstring. This is what makes them so comfortable! They are a great option for anyone who suffers from bloating or fluctuates in weight/size around the tummy area.
- they can have have elasticated cuffs on the bottom but this is a feature that makes them very casual. Uncuffed joggers look a lot smarter (what style to choose will depend on what you want to do with joggers and how you want to style them). The best length for joggers is above the ankle (except the sporty ones, they are fine draping over the ankle).
- the fit is usually relaxed. Overly fitted or oversized joggers are trendy pieces and will have less versatility to them.
- fabric can be stretchy and non-stretchy. Stretchy materials (as well as sweatshirt material) make joggers very casual while non-stretchy give them a tailored feel and those joggers are often referred to as jogging trousers or jogger-fit trousers.
STYLING IDEAS
I would recommend going for joggers that are a little bit on the dressier side (see below what makes them dressy) as that way you can team them with blazers just as easily as you’d throw them on with a hoodie. That means more options and more wear out of your investment!
There is a huge amount of potential outfit formulas but here are a few to get your creativity flowing:
- joggers + a biker jacket
- joggers + a sweatshirt/jumper
- joggers + a long cardigan + a tshirt
- joggers + a denim jacket
- joggers + a parka/utility jacket
- joggers + a blazer + trainers
DECIDING IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR YOU
Joggers work really well for all body shapes. Tapered leg has quite a slimming effect so will give your silhouette a nice curve.
Joggers will fit well into your wardrobe if you find tailored trousers too structured. They will also be a nicer option for casual wear than leggins or tracksuit bottoms.
They are a no-brainer to mix & match with provided you pick the colour that works well with your wadrobe’s colour palette.
cream joggers
Cream joggers (uncuffed) are a great alternative to cream jeans or cream trousers. They will look a bit more relaxed while maintaining the chic vibe.
To preserve the effortlessly dressy feel, make sure to give preference to structured fabrics as opposed to stretchy or knitted finishes (see below).
STRETCHY JOGGERS
You can see immediately how unstructured soft finishes dress the joggers down. Knitted materials and in general any fabrics with a high percentage of elastane will give joggers a very casual feel.
If you go lighter on the colour, for example, for grey or blush, joggers will look like loungewear. Nothing wrong with that if that’s the purpose you are buying them for, but if you want to wear them in a smart casual way, give preference to more structured materials. Structured knits (like the grey ones in the collages below) will work much better than soft knits if you want to have a casual look but without the loungewear vibe.
PRODUCT DETAILS
BLACK JOGGERS
https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0804732003.html
BLUSH JOGGERS
https://www2.hm.com/en_ie/productpage.0804732002.html
LINEN-BLEND JOGGERS
Linen blends become very common in joggers in summer, but keep in mind that, while they are comfortable to wear in warm weather, the finish of the fabric will always give them a casual feel.
So they will work well for the weekend wardrobe, but if you want a pair that will fit comfortably both in your work and weekend wardrobe, go for dressier finishes (see below).
PRODUCT DETAILS
structured JOGGERS
In dressy fabrics joggers are the type of trousers that can effortlessly give you smart options as well as casual looks. So if you don’t have any specific preferences for what you’d like to style your joggers with, go with the piece that will give you enough flexibility without any limitations.
PRODUCT DETAILS
(Click on the images below to go to the Style Note the look was featured in)
