The 14 Best Sweatpants to Kickstart Hibernation Mode

As I Slacked Hannah Baxter, MC's beauty director, earlier this week when she asked for sweatpants recommendations: I want to be buried in my Aritzia Sweatfleece. I own these in heathered gray, and they are deliciously comfortable. I wear them with the retailer's matching zip-up hoodie as a no-thoughts-head-empty airport outfit when traveling. Aritzia offers these wide-leg sweatpants in three different heights (petite, regular, and tall), sizes 2XS to 2XL, and—drumroll, please—24 different colors.

I've watched the rise of the balloon pants trend from the sidelines, yet to find a pair worth making space in my wardrobe. Then, I stumbled on Free People's, and a switch went off in my head: The bubble silhouette is a natural fit for my assortment of comfy clothes. FP Movement's balloon pants are designed for added ease and mobility, so you can work out without feeling restricted (or flop around the house without complications). Dare I say I want to wear them with a leather bomber jacket and ballet flats?

I didn't have swenim (sweatpant denim) on my 2025 fashion trend bingo card, yet here we are. Rag and Bone's Miramar sweatpant jeans are a fixture on fashion TikTok, and two fellow fashion friends have tried, tested, and fallen in love with the hyperrealistic-printed cotton sweats. As for styling, I'd treat them just as I would a standard pair of barrel jeans, with a kitten-heel boot and crisp button-down shirt.

Oh, Gap, how I love you so. There's a reason I've been wearing the mall brand my entire life: It excels at reliable, affordable, and uncomplicated basics (not to mention supreme designer collabs). These high-rise joggers in fire engine red cotton-blend fleece are a textbook example of why I'm still shopping from the retailer even as someone who studies luxury fashion for a living.

A similar sentiment applies to J.Crew, though the American retailer is more preppy-minded. These side-stripe and velvet-trimmed sweatpants are a case-in-point example of the prepster aesthetic it has perfected over decades. The scuba-kit sweats are inherently sporty but still lend themselves to a fashion-y slant. I can see them looking very chic with a white button-down and low-heeled pump—Jenna Lyons circa 2010.

I'm a sucker for a waffle knit. The teeny-tiny squares add texture and weight, and Alo Yoga's jogger looks like a wearable version of my favorite, anxiety-erasing weighted blanket. These are definitely more on the casual end of the style spectrum, but I can see myself wearing them with a black leather trench coat and lug-sole loafers.

Yes, you often see Skims in the news for its, erm, eyebrow-raising drops (bush underwear and face wraps, for example). But don't let the hubbub and headlines distract from the fact that Kim Kardashian's loungewear line really does make very comfortable clothing you can wear for years. I, for one, still have my three-year-old cotton fleece sweatpants from Skims in constant rotation.

If you, like me, have an inbox full of fashion Substack newsletters and treat them like your personal shopping guide, you're familiar with the brand La Ligne. Founded by formerVogue fashion editors, La Ligne is a favorite among industry insiders and is best known for its Breton stripe shirts. I argue that the brand's wide-leg, 100-percent cotton Colby pull-on sweats are worth just as much hype.

As an unathletic fashion editor, I was also surprised that I fell head over hem for the track pant trend. But I found that the sporty bottoms are surprisingly neutral and easy to style. A navy pair like 4th and Reckless' would look smart in a cardigan outfit, with either a cherry red cashmere knit or a chunkier camel-colored button-down sweater.

These side-striped sweats from Tory Burch's Fall 2025 fashion show were what initially brought me around to the track pant trend, so it's only fair to include them here. They're made of double-sided, soft-brushed Japanese fleece—speaking of: did you hear that fashion girls are reclaiming fleece jackets from tech bros?—and I imagine they feel like wearing blankets on your bottom half.

It's in the name: Beyond Yoga's Easy pants are exactly that. Made from a poly-elastane blend, this elastic waist, pull-on pair is comfortable enough to almost count as wearing no pants at all. They'd work well with designer sneakers as a very relaxed, easy-going outfit, but a structured, square-toe boot could also put these sweatpants in a more polished direction.

These sweats from Varley are another top contender for my travel wardrobe. I can see myself wanting to wear them in a loungewear set, and might have to scoop up the corresponding quarter-zip. Otherwise, I think they'd make for the right unexpected complement to a colorful cashmere sweater and structured top coat.

For these black Favorite Daughter joggers, I'd call on Katie Holmes' sweatpant hack, which is to wear the comfy-casual bottoms with simple ballet flats. It's a simple combination that works well when the actress is off-duty and running errands around downtown New York City. I'm delusional enough to think I can pull it off, too.

I didn't buy into the cargo pants trend when it first resurged a few seasons ago. No matter which pair I tried, they all exuded a "contractor looking for work" vibe, and I couldn't muster up the strength to give it a go. But cargo sweatpants, like this dark brown pair, are less outwardly utilitarian and more relaxed. I'd consider wearing these with a more form-fitting top, either a slim polo shirt or a fall shacket.