Original Coverage & Source Attribution: grazia.sg
There’s a universal relief that comes with peeling off stiff trousers and slipping into your comfy pair for sofa hours. Whether it’s drawstring tapered joggers, fur-lined sweatpants with plenty of legroom, or velvet flared tracksuit brought back to life by the Y2K revival, we are here for it. Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for a structured fit or a tailored piece, but soft trousers capture our hearts with their versatility and, above all, their ease.
The question is whether we can wear them out—not just for an after-work corner-shop run or a half-awake dog walk where you hope no one sees you, but to look decent enough for photos you’ll want to keep on your grid. A well-fitted pair of jeans sounds convenient, sure, but sometimes all we want is to slip into the softest trousers without worrying about walking 20,000 steps in them or having to unbutton them after a feast.
The rise of athleisure has made this easier, and with our favourite trendsetters as the best spokespeople, these pairs are shaking off their unserious reputation; at best, these homey trousers have earned a position in an edgy streetwear wardrobe. So if you’ve been wondering how to take your trackies from couch to brunch and beyond, these celebrities show exactly how it’s done.
Big Bottom, Little Top
While the bagginess of these lounge trousers is exactly why we can’t part ways with ours, the key to a good ensemble is avoiding looking overly frumpy—we want effortless, not shapeless. And the solution is to have a big bottom with a tiny top. It could be a bralette like Bella Hadid or Ning Ning from Aespa; a no-fuss crop top, as seen on Winter for her recent New Balance ambassadorship announcement.
A simple black bandeau like Katseye’s Daniela would balance off the striking red track pants as well, whereas for those who want to jazz it up, a cropped polo like Hailey Bieber’s is a nice touch. To take it up a notch, style your crop top with a bold-printed pink bra, as Tzuyu from Twice did.
Go Big or Go Home
There are, of course, moments when we want to go big or go home, and that’s where texture comes into play. Milk Pansa’s voluminous fur coat over the baggiest trackies is a prime example. While the animal print adds depth to the outfit, it helps no end that Milk opted for trousers with ruched details that catch our attention immediately. More is certainly more here.
Proportions play a huge part too, so if baggy-on-baggy is your cup of tea, jersey shorts will be right up your alley. GRAZIA Singapore cover star Orm Kornnaphat is living proof, especially how the actress also finished the look with chunky boots. Felix from Stray Kids too, pulled off the big-on-big silhouette effortlessly, pairing his sweat shorts with an oversized zip-up hoodie and looking thoroughly cosy and plush.
One Colour Fits All
When in doubt, monochrome it out. This is for days when you want to look put together without frying your last brain cell. Joggers and a hoodie in the same colour will always be the safest choice, and a pop of bright, cheerful pink seems to be the crowd favourite at the moment, with I-dle’s Yuqi and Le Sserafim’s Chaewon both decorating the streets in their saccharine sets.
Those who prefer a subtler palette will appreciate TXT Yeonjun’s blue set and Wonyoung’s all-black look, adorned with Y2K-inspired prints. Monochromatic sets can thrive beyond colour. We are taking cues from Thai actress Baifern’s Onitsuka Tiger set, with a slightly cropped top sitting perfectly on her midriff, while Itzy’s Yeji and Lisa sandwiched a lace-trimmed top in between their sets, throwing some textural excitement into the snuggly look.
Bolder wearers can look to our street-style golden children—Jennie, plus Jihyo and Momo from Twice—for references, all of whom spice up their monochromatic looks with a high-leg leotard that gives them side hip cut-outs.
Clash It, Don’t Match It
That said, contrasting elements are a cheat code for livening up a boring outfit. With soft trousers, the easiest route is a dressier top—a striped shirt, as worn by the king of “tour fit” J-Hope, or a denim top, as seen on Stray Kids’ I.N. or Hyunjin. Leather touches too, will instantly give the trackies look an edge—Katseye’s Yoonchae in a leather jacket, for instance, or Minnie throwing a thick leather belt over her slouchy joggers. A contrasting pair of suave leather cowboy boots is another fine addition to an otherwise casual look, which Chaewon definitely nailed.
But if all that sounds like “too much effort” for a trackies day, a fun pop of colour—V from BTS in vibrant citrus orange, say, or a kaleidoscopic paisley print like Itzy’s Chaeryeong—is enough to brighten both the day and the look.
Comfy trousers are not a one-trick pony, and they’re certainly not made only for lounging; the styling menu is gloriously open, and the comfort levels stay sky-high. Dress them up, dress them down, add a belt, wear a boot, throw in a bit of sparkle, and let the trackies do the heavy lifting. Because the best outfit is the one you can actually move in, eat in, and pose in without plotting an escape from your waistband.
This article first appeared on GRAZIA Malaysia.
