Leather sweatpants: are they dope or nope?

/

(Photo by Ryan Hueglin)
(Photo by Ryan Hueglin)

Surely by now, the entire world knows that Kanye West sees himself as none other than โ€œa creative genius.โ€ Humble is definitely not Yeezusโ€™s middle name, and the rapper reiterated to Jimmy Kimmel in their recent sit-down on Kimmelโ€™s show, โ€œFor me to say I wasnโ€™t a genius, I would be lying to you and to myself.โ€ And apparently, amongst the numerous masterpieces that originated from this self-proclaimed genius are the leather jogging pants.

According to West, in his infamous BBC interview, he had pitched the idea to Fendi six years ago but was rejected off the bat. Whatever the case, even if the original idea did not belong to West, the rapper can undeniably be credited for putting this somewhat absurd fashion item on the map.

Absurd because these pants can look pretty ridiculous for its oxymoronic reputation of jogging-pants-not-meant-for-jogging. Victoria Gee, a fellow Laurier student remarks, โ€œWouldnโ€™t they be weird to wear and sweat in? I mean they might be creative but I wouldnโ€™t say theyโ€™re a genius idea.โ€

Gee certainly isnโ€™t alone in her opinion regarding these pants. Fellow WLU student Daniel Tenchโ€™s thoughts on the pants were simple and straightforward, โ€œThey are hideous.โ€ Sorry Kanye. Like many, you might be on Team Kimmel and believe that leather jogging pants certainly cannot be a trend. But nonetheless, they have become a hot topic and a coveted piece of clothing.

Walk into a Topshop, Urban Outfitters, or even a Forever 21, and you just might see a pair hanging on a rack among the Newest Arrivals. If you search โ€œjoggersโ€ on an online boutique, youโ€™ll discover jogging pants in not only leather or faux leather finishes, but an array of fabrics as well. High-end, designer brands also carry their own variation of the pants and a pair can easily have a four-digit price tag.

However, these pants could be seen as a solid investment if you are able to rock these kinds of leather sweatpants. โ€œI donโ€™t see anything wrong with wearing leather jogging pants as long as you manage to pull it off,โ€ WLU student Moyo Arewa said. โ€œHowever, I wouldnโ€™t wear them because, with the exception of bags and jackets, I find leather hideous.โ€

Luke Bellissimo agrees with Arewa and sees nothing wrong with leather joggers in the context of fashion but said, โ€œAs actual jogging pants, they donโ€™t seem practical at all.โ€

Jogging should definitely be avoided when donning these baggy leather pants because fashion certainly overrides function for this piece of clothing, which seems to be a prevalent theme in the world of fashion. Just because they are called leather jogging pants, does not mean that they will properly function as jogging pants. Keep this in mind when buying them.

Itโ€™s clear that leather jogging pants have many faults but they are shockingly comfy, and make a lazy outfit of a pullover sweater and running shoes look fresh and stylish for all genders. For females, theyโ€™re also capable of being dressed up with a pair of heels and a chiffon blouse for a night on the town if you want to go out with maximum comfort.

You can love them, hate them, or absolutely despise them but with all the attention leather jogging pants are receiving, does it still matter whether theyโ€™re a hit or a miss?


Leave a Reply

Serving the Waterloo campus, The Cord seeks to provide students with relevant, up to date stories. Weโ€™re always interested in having more volunteer writers, photographers and graphic designers.