THE JOURNAL

Photograph by Ms Christine Faraji, styling by Ms Joanna Polatynska
Slouch on the sofa in style with our pick of the most comfortable (and cool) tracksuits around.
A particularly sharply dressed employee of MR PORTER recently confided to The Daily team that, though he spends all week dripping in Gucci, Berluti and Tom Ford, he prefers the company of sweatpants at the weekend. And why not. There’s no shame in it. Though it’s tempting to roll one’s eyes at the fashion-i-zation of joggers and hoodies in the past decade, it’s just as easy to see this as a moment of male emancipation. In fact, maybe it’s time to reappreciate our conception of stylish behaviour altogether. Too hungover leave the house? Well, what’s that but thoroughly elegant. Spending Saturday with a pizza in front of Netflix? If anything, a refined choice. At least, it can be. Just make sure you choose your sweats with the same discretion you choose all the other clothes you wear in the non-secret segments of your life. The below edit, featuring a few of our favourite high-end loungewear pieces of the moment, is a good place to start.

The hoodie
New York designer Mr Thom Browne has built his empire by creating a range of essential menswear staples, each of which is more or less the ultimate version of that particular thing. This hoodie, made in Japan from tactile loopback cotton, finished with a sturdy double zip and embellished with retro-styled raglan sleeves, is a prime example of this lucrative philosophy. Of course, you have to pay for the privilege of having the best. But we challenge you to find a more comfortable, perfectly detailed and stylish hoodie than this. A great hoodie deserves to be worn with an equally great tee – try this striped example from British expert Sunspel.
The sweatpants
Los Angeles-based designer Mr John Elliot does a great line in sweatpants that transcend the usual Sunday-morning fare by being both exceptionally comfortable and stylish to boot. This grey pair comes in a stretchy but sturdy loopback cotton, with a particularly wide waistband and chunky drawstring to keep them firmly in place. The fit is sleek and streamlined, tapering below the knee and finishing just above the ankle in elasticated cuffs. Throw on a denim jacket, and they’re more than acceptable pub attire. Wrap yourself in a blanket instead (and slip on some wool socks) and you’ll have the perfect uniform for hibernating during these final months of winter.
And the rest
And now for the items that are not, strictly speaking, sweats, but very much part of the whole, treat-yourself, me-time mentality that they represent. A pair of plain white sneakers from impeccably minimal Swedish brand Spalwart should do you well if you do have to actually – shudder – leave the house. If not, though, another fine pursuit during sweats-time is to doze off listening to your favourite album, or a nice audiobook. Opting for wireless, noise-cancelling headphones, like these from B&O Play, makes this whole process so much easier.
Keep up to date with The Daily by signing up to our weekly email roundup. Click here to update your email preferences.