7 Australian creatives show us how they style trackpants
WORDS BY FASHION JOURNAL
“I love wearing trackies outside of the house. They are the perfect minimal-effort closet staple.”
First invented over 100 years ago for purely athletic purposes, over the decades trackpants have steadily grown in popularity, eventually becoming a mainstay of hip-hop and R&B and the streetwear scene.
While styles like Adidas’ three-stripe trackpants were huge during the Britpop era and Juicy Couture’s iconic velour trackies were the go-to pants for It girls in the early 2000s, from the mid-2000s onwards trackpants (at least, trackpants worn outside of your lounge room) became less common.
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But in recent years, they’ve been back with a vengeance and are now a core component of comfort-focused fashion girlies’ (and guys’) wardrobes. Below, we asked seven Australian creatives to show us how they style their go-to pair.
Kirsten Biacsi, HoMie’s Creative Producer
The literal minute I saw these snap-pant trackie bottoms in our range plan, I knew these press studs would be the perfect way to easily (and finally) be able to accessorise pants – cue this morning sitting on my bedroom floor tying baby blue ribbons on the legs like a coquette cowboy fringe. Paired with chunky sneakers, a vintage kilt (with an extra denim button hammered in so it sits like a babydoll dress) and the cult-fave Pop Top long sleeve from Oats The Label in a super delicate ivory lace.
I’ve found throwing my Clingy bag on too means I can pose with a little attitude without resorting to a classic millennial-style hand on the hip – it runs deep! Styling tracksuits for winter is a literal no-brainer, especially if it means I can wear them to work (an actual cosy dream) and feel good knowing that 100 per cent of the profits go toward HoMie’s mission to support young people affected by homelessness or hardship.
Toby Wright, Monphell founder and designer
I never used to be a trackie guy at all, I always got weirded out and thought I looked like I was wearing my pyjamas outside. But this winter I have literally turned into that trackie guy. These new Monphell trackpants are pretty lush as they are made from Australian wool.
The thing I love about trackies is you can wear them bumming around home or you can dress them up as I have with this trench coat. The trench coat and trackpants are Monphell and the slides are Maison Margiela.
Geneva Topp, textile designer
I’ve been wearing my Briar Will trackpants with either a simple tank top in warm weather or enjoying a more formal structured cotton poplin top to clash with the casual pants. These pants have also won the longstanding competition of cool comfy pants for airports and long-haul flights.
Zemira Whitehead, writer and model
Personally, I love wearing trackies outside of the house. They are the perfect minimal-effort closet staple and I find myself wearing them out and about at least once a week during winter. Catch me at work, uni, running errands or at a casual breakfast/drinks wearing them.
When styling trackpants I usually go for a tighter fit top and a less casual shoe to feel as though I have put some amount of effort into my outfit, when in reality I have probably just rolled out of bed.
Here I am wearing black Adidas trackies paired with a white Uniqlo singlet layered over a black racer tank, a thrifted red leather trench coat from eBay, a black headband so as to avoid having to style my grown-out fringe, baby alpaca gloves I crocheted and Tabi flats. Today the sun was shining enough that I got away with fewer layers but if that wasn’t the case I would wear some thermals under my trackies and throw on a scarf for a bit of added warmth!
Nina Lee, hairdresser and founder of Extra Silky
I absolutely love wearing trackpants in winter! I actually pretty much live in an assortment of trackpants year-round. I am on my feet all day, every day, so I have to be comfortable. I love finding different brands’ tracksuits that have a cool design or print to them so they look fun and professional, not like I’m just at home on the couch. There’s a fine line! I also think if I’m wearing trackies I make sure I have a nice bag and shoes on, to offset the comfort look.
Today I’m running errands and it’s freezing so I am wearing my favourite Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp trackies, teamed with my new faux fur jacket I picked up the other day at an op shop, my Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp black merino bunny ears to keep my ears warm, some trusty mary jane ballet flats from Steve Madden and finally my fave Balenciaga Le Cagole bag that comes everywhere with me. Ready to take on the day!
Cait Emma Burke, Fashion Journal‘s Editor
I’m a big fan of Briar Will’s screenprinted designs and I’m a sucker for comfort-focused pieces, so the label’s teal trackpants have been on high rotation lately. I recently wore them with a Briar Will screen-printed singlet and a vintage coat and heels to the very fancy MONA Gala in Tasmania. The theme was high and low class, so wearing trackpants with heels felt like an apt nod to this.
Emma Cutri, Sister Studios founder and designer
I’ve never really leaned into comfort trends before. I usually don’t care how uncomfortable I am if my outfit is cute – I will suffer for the look. Then I discovered just how nice rocking around in trackies can be. Last season, Sister did a snap pant in black that I didn’t take off all winter. So this year we altered the same pair and made the side seams a lace detail instead of snaps.
I have been wearing mine ( along with the rest of the world) with ballet flats. I like to style the pants with my gold strappy ones and some thin socks, I feel like this makes the look more feminine and takes it out of the sportswear realm. When I go out I chuck on a pointy mule and my bomber jacket.
For more trackpants styling inspiration, head here.
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