Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a pair of pants joggers?

The cut: a slim, tapered leg that finishes at a cuffed ankle. Reader's Digest's sweatpants guide by Megan McCarty, updated by Sean Tirman (September 2024), puts it in one line: the word joggers describes the cut of the pants, while sweatpants describes the fabric. In CNN Underscored's joggers roundup, stylist Alyssa Sutter calls them a slimmer, more tailored take on sweatpants, usually with a higher rise, a drawstring waist, a tapered leg and an elastic hem at the ankle, so the joggers meaning that matters at checkout is shape, not sport. On this page, the Pink Glitter, Blue Slim Fit and Green Animal Skin Print pairs all follow the leg down to a cuff, with an elastic drawstring waistband and pockets.

What makes sweatpants comfortable enough to wear all day?

Soft fabric and a cut that suits your day. Reader's Digest's guide by Megan McCarty and Sean Tirman (September 2024) names cotton as the most common natural fabric in sweatpants, lists lounging, running errands and exercising as their three usual jobs, and says the right cut for your body and preferences is what delivers comfort and style together. Wikipedia's sweatpants entry describes them as soft pants made for comfort or athletic use that now show up well beyond the gym. If comfortable sweatpants are the goal, the olive green Pigment Wash pair brings a 100% cotton face on a ring-spun cotton and polyester mix, 80% cotton to 20% polyester, an elastic waistband with adjustable drawstrings for a comfortable fit, and jersey-lined slash pockets.

Are fleece sweatpants warm enough for cold weather?

Yes for chilly, dry days, because fleece holds heat with trapped air. Wikipedia's polar fleece entry explains that it is a soft, insulating polyester fabric with a napped surface, that high loft fleece is warmer because it traps tiny pockets of air, and that it loses most of its insulating quality once wet. The same entry warns that hot washes and tumble drying can damage it. Inside the Pink Glitter and Blue Slim Fit joggers on this page sits brushed fleece under a smooth face, and the pink pair's care note asks for a cold machine wash inside out, then hang or tumble low.

Are cotton joggers for women a good everyday choice?

They are, since cotton is soft and breathable against the skin. Wikipedia's cotton entry says the fiber makes a soft, breathable and durable textile, and that it is often blended with synthetic fibers such as polyester. Reader's Digest's sweatpants guide by Megan McCarty and Sean Tirman (September 2024) adds that many pairs mix cotton with polyester and sometimes spandex for stretch. Here, the Blue Slim Fit and Green Animal Skin Print joggers each wear cotton-blend on the outside and brushed fleece against your legs, a slim fit and an elastic drawstring waistband, in XS to 3XL.

How do you dress up sweatpant joggers?

Add one sharp piece on top and let it carry the outfit. In Who What Wear's joggers outfit edit, senior editor Anna LaPlaca (updated July 2022) suggests a blazer for a casual-yet-polished contrast, a crisp button-down to polish them up, or a longline coat to finish the look, and tucks the hems into chunky-soled boots for street style. In CNN Underscored's joggers roundup, stylist Alyssa Sutter keeps casual days simple with a basic tee, a chain necklace and your favorite sneakers. On this page, the Blue Slim Fit pair is the quiet canvas for a blazer, while the Green Animal Skin Print pair brings the drama before the jacket even shows up.

What colors go with pink sweatpants?

White is the safe bet, and brown, blue, orange and yellow are the fun ones. Who What Wear's color guide by Dale Arden Chong (updated September 2021) says you can never go wrong pairing white with pink, calls a deep, warm brown an unexpected contrast, suggests vibrant royal blue for a look that pops and orange for a tonal effect, and pairs pink with yellow when you want to be noticed. Lime green gets a nod too, for an extra punch in fall. On this page, the pink pair is the Pink Glitter Joggers, mid pink shot through with paler streaks and a fine glint, so a plain white or chocolate brown top lets the print do the talking.

How do you wear spandex shorts outside the gym?

Treat them as the statement and keep everything else polished. Who What Wear's cycling shorts guide by Jazzria Harris (updated May 2025) says the easiest way to smarten them up is a chic jacket such as a blazer or trench coat, and suggests a denim jacket over a ribbed tank or an oversized top with sneakers for easier days. Wikipedia's spandex entry says the fiber can stretch to as much as five times its length and still spring back into shape, and became especially popular in mid-thigh shorts worn by cyclists. Both pairs here are spandex shorts in 82% polyester and 18% spandex: the Leopard Print pair in a four-way stretch microfiber, and the Glitter Print Green pair with a double-layered waistband and a back pocket for your phone and keys.

What do you wear with high waisted shorts?

A crisp poplin layer, stripes or a sharp blazer. Who What Wear fashion editor Sierra Mayhew's shorts outfit edit (July 2022) leans on a relaxed poplin shirt, a denim shirt for travel days, a striped tank for layering and a faux leather blazer for a model off duty look, then finishes with platform sandals, knee-high boots or patent pumps. She also suggests belting your shorts for a whole new look. On this page, the Glitter Print Green pair has a high-waisted fit and a butt-lifting cut in XS to 3XL, so with that much sparkle below, a plain top keeps the outfit balanced.

Bottoms

Some mornings start with a plan. Most start with a stare into the closet and one burning question: what goes on the bottom half? This edit of women's bottoms answers it with sweatpants that sparkle, joggers with a cuff and a mission, plus shorts, jeans, pants and skirts for every invite your calendar throws at you. Fair warning: someone will ask where you got them.

Sunday errands, celebrity edition

Sunglasses on, iced coffee in hand, zero plans to be photographed. Our olive green Pigment Wash pair hands you that off-duty star look in sweatpants with a relaxed fit and a garment-dyed finish, so every pair lands on its own shade of faded. A 1x1 rib hugs each ankle, and the sewn eyelets and fly detail add a little swagger.

Need a home for keys, lip gloss and the receipt you will never file? Two front pockets plus one at the back make these sweatpants with pockets for women who refuse to carry a bag to the mailbox. Sizes run S to 2XL.

Slim, cuffed and a little extra

Love the cozy without the baggy? Cut slim through the leg, joggers keep your sneakers in the spotlight. Ours come three ways: blue for the minimalist, dark green animal print for the girl who wants a conversation starter, and pink with the glitter printed straight into the fabric.

That pink pair reads as textured in daylight and starts sparkling the second the lights drop, and since nothing is glued on, you leave the party with your glitter intact. All three are cuffed sweatpants at heart, with a drawstring waist, pockets and sizes from XS to 3XL.

Wide leg, zero couch energy

Craving the sweatpant shape minus the rolled-off-the-sofa look? Here, wide leg sweatpants trade fleece for a smooth four-way stretch knit in 90% nylon and 10% spandex, so they drape like proper pants and skip the pilling. A high elastic waistband with a front drawstring rests at your natural waist, and the leg falls straight and wide to the floor.

Six colors keep the mood flexible: coffee, pink, navy blue, gray, black and white. Add a fitted top and flat shoes, and the desk-to-flight commute stops looking like a pajama situation. Sizes run S to XL.

Hot forecast, hotter shorts

When the weather app says scorcher, shorts take the shift. Pick green with an all-over glitter print or leopard in a stretchy microfiber with an elastic waistband that stays put, both sized XS to 3XL.

Dinner plans, denim and a hemline that hugs

A table for four and a strict no-boring policy call for jeans with a personality. Think pale denim printed with white daisies, a pair hung with gold charms shaped like keys, hearts, stars and suns, a two-tone wash with button straps across the thigh, and light blue denim with cream crochet lace running down each side. Want pants that shine instead? A silver metallic pair flows from a high waist, and black sequin skinnies bring an elastic waistband for a night of dancing.

Skirts bring the curves to the party: bodycon midis with a hidden back zip in yellow, green, red, blue, khaki, white and black, mermaid hems that flare like a tail, and a blush metallic pink skater cut that stops at mid-thigh.

Plus size bottoms get the same red carpet treatment. Two palazzo styles, one in leopard chiffon and one in black metallic shimmer, come in XL to 3XL with a hidden back zip, and skinny high-rise denim with a double-button waistband runs from size 26 to 40.

Still building the outfit? Browse the full pants edit, twirl through our skirts, slip into leggings for second-skin days, or find the cropped partner for your top half.