"Proud Supporter of Messy Hair and Sweatpants" reads the front of a T-shirt found in several modern boutiques. Girls and boys alike are finding it more and more acceptable to wear sweatpants, yoga pants, and other forms of athletic pants and shorts in a casual, public setting. Style change is inevitable and something that can be vividly outlined throughout history. However, the newest trends would make decades of our ancestors roll over in their graves. "Sunday Best" is almost a thing in the past. Church goers now are seen in everyday clothes, often times much more casual than what they would wear to work. What was once considered a place for dresses and suits is now okay with jeans, T-shirts, and even the occasional pair of sweatpants.
It is no secret around the world that Americans are becoming increasingly lazier and the epidemic has taken over our fashion industry, as well. With a constant effort to be comfortable, where should the line be drawn for public attire?
As for my personal opinion, I feel so uncomfortable and sloppy when wearing sweatpants outside of my house. I can't fathom the thought of going shopping, out to eat, to class, to work, or to church in a pair of sweatpants. My yoga pants are something I save for the gym. When I go out to a sit-down restaurant, I prefer a dress. A casual day for me is a pair of jeans or even a simple sun dress, but more often than not, my peers question how I am comfortable. Just a few years ago, someone would wonder if their friend was feeling ill if they showed up to school or class in a pair of sweatpants with an oversized T-shirt. It seems to be quite the opposite now.
I genuinely enjoy dressing "nicely." It makes me feel good about myself, but people like me seem to be criticized. "Why are you all dressed up?" and "Who are you trying to impress?" are questions I hear regularly. So I'm going to answer for you.
I'm dressing for myself.
That's right. I said it. Don't roll your eyes and say I care about outside opinions or that I have a self-confidence issue, because I don't. And no, I'm not trying to get a boyfriend. I've been in a relationship for over two years now. I hear "I have no one to impress in class, plus my boyfriend doesn't even go here," from girls way too often. I'm not dressing to impress strangers, I'm not dressing to impress my boyfriend (who loves me in a dress and who loves me in sweatpants). No, I'm dressing for myself. I feel happy loving the clothes I'm in. I see girls shopping at the mall in sweatpants but buying cute shirts and I can't help but wonder when they will ever wear them. Personally, I spend too much money on "regular" clothes to wear a pair of $10 sweatpants instead. I also love my style. Like most girls, I spend a lot of time picking out which clothes to buy and what pieces express myself and I am not sorry if I am wrong for wanting to show those off. Sweatpants are what they are, comfortable pants for wearing around the home on a lazy day and that's not what I am. I'm not a lazy person and I don't want my clothes to say I am.
I also have a problem with those who assume my outfits are "uncomfortable." News flash: Jeans are not a weapon designed for torture. They really aren't that bad and I've never found myself so uncomfortable in a pair of jeans that I would decide to never wear them again. If your jeans are putting you in pain, it's probably time for a new style or size. What about dresses? Most comfortable thing I own. A flowy sundress to me feels better than a pair of stretchy yoga pants.
What is in the future for American's closets? More sweatpants? Or will there be a rebel group who can guide the lost back to decent clothing choices?
Yoga pants and running shorts have their place - in the gym, at a park, on a track. Over sized T-shirts and sweatpants have their place, too - inside the house. To say I have never worn these items in other places would be a lie, but to say I would wear this type of clothing on a daily basis in a public setting will never be true. Excuse me if you think I'm "trying too hard," but I'm going to continue to enjoy my jeans, my skirts, my dresses and everything else. Just please don't make me feel uncomfortable or in the wrong.
And to everyone who agrees with me: I'll be accepting sign ups for a team of individuals who cringe at a generation of Americans too lazy to look presentable.
