Have We Lost Ourselves to Athleisure? How NASA training gear became a go-to for grocery runs.

There was a time when sweatpants had one clear purpose: to help athletes sweat. The early versions were simple and practical, designed in the 1920s by Émile Camuset for the French sporting brand Le Coq Sportif. They were never meant to be fashionable. They were tools just like a stopwatch or a jump rope.

By the mid-20th century, sweatpants were found in locker rooms, Olympic training camps, and, most excitingly, on astronauts, as NASA used sweatpants as part of their training gear during the space race. Sweatpants were built for movement, not for style with their billowing shape.

But the story of sweatpants didn’t end there.

In the 1970s and ’80s, as culture began to shift, fashion took a more casual turn. Tracksuits and gym-wear became signals of urban style, especially through music and streetwear. The lines between exercise clothes and everyday clothes began to blur. By the early 2000s, that line disappeared altogether.

What was once reserved for private moments like warming up, lounging, or walking from the locker room to the court became public attire. Not just for a lazy Sunday at home, but for the grocery store, the airport, and even dates. Imagine that a bathrobe, purposeful for stepping out of the bathtub, became an every day attire without changing material or tailoring... that is what we have here.

Certainly the pandemic gave sweatpants their final stamp of social approval if it wasn't needed before. As the world went inside, comfort of course became the priority and structured clothing lost its appeal. In Zoom calls, sweatpants were hidden from view and now, athleisure is one of the strongest fashion styles of the decade.

A Classically Feminine Lens

One of the overlooked principles of classical femininity is the quiet discipline of presentation; not in a vain or showy manner, but a cultivated respect for others and for oneself, expressed through how one carries herself.

Clothing is not just functional but a visual form of communication. Think of it as it's own language. How we dress speaks before we do, and for women especially, it has long been a signal of our intention, our attentiveness, and our self-respect.

Anne of Green Gables, 1985, Sullivan Entertainment Inc.

In previous centuries, women knew this instinctively. To be out in public was to be seen, and to be seen was to have a responsibility. One did not leave the home without a hat, without gloves, without her appearance in order. This wasn't done because women were trying to feign the appearance of perfection, but at root, out of a courtesy to those they might see.

Today, that kind of care is often interpreted as inauthentic. Effort is seen as something to be suspicious of, as if putting yourself together means you’re hiding something.

But is it not also a form of love to show up thoughtfully for those around you?

A Cultural Backlash?

Interestingly, we’re seeing a subtle shift. A quiet rejection of sweatpants, not just from fashion critics, but from celebrities themselves.

Eva Mendes once joked that sweatpants are “the number one cause of divorce.” While her comment was tongue-in-cheek, her point was clear. When you stop trying altogether and when comfort becomes the default, it can communicate something that may be mild disinterest.

Eva isn't the only one. On her talk show, Drew Barrymore confessed to wearing sweatpants on dates. Her co-host, Ross Mathews, pushed back saying, “No! That’s not okay.” His point wasn’t about style, but more about thoughtfulness. He argued that showing up for someone else means choosing to put in a bit of effort even when you don’t have to.

Drew Barrymore and Ross Matthews discuss sweatpants on dates, 2024

Khloé Kardashian also recently shared that her mother, Kris Jenner, routinely critiques her for wearing sweatpants too often. Not out of snobbery, but out of the belief that being put together, even on casual days, reflects pride in how you carry yourself. If Queen Kris is looking down on it, there is definitely something changing.

Even in the fashion world, we’re seeing elevated alternatives. Tailored knit sets and polished separates that feel like loungewear but look like something more intentional. We hope that the tide is slowly turning.

Beyond an Aesthetic

The classical feminine approach to dress is not about trends or rules, but the elegance principle of Symmetry- that what you look like on the outside reflects the inside. And that beauty in what you wear respects the moment and the people in it.

When we leave the house looking like we’ve just rolled out of bed, we’re saying something about our values, even if we don’t mean to. When we dress like a slob, we are signaling that we have nothing to bring to others, and that we aren't present or engaged in the moment.

None of this is about being dressed up all the time. It’s not about heels at the farmer’s market, although we do love a heeled espadrille. Rejecting a lifestyle of sweatpants is about refusing to fall into the cultural trap of careless comfort. A classically feminine woman considers the moment she’s walking into and chooses her appearance accordingly... think of it as a way not to perform, but to participate.

Sweatpants, in their origin, had a place. They still do. But they are not the highest standard. They are not what we wear when we want to honor a space or a person.

FIND OUR LIST OF ELEVATED SWEATPANTS ALTERNATIVES HERE

If we want to restore civility, connection, and even delight to our everyday lives, we must begin with the basics. And one of those basics is how we dress.

So the next time you reach for your favorite sweats to run errands, pause. Ask yourself: Is this a moment I can be worthy of something more? Could I elevate this experience, as simple as it may be for myself and others, by choosing to be more present in how I show up visually? Instead of grabbing those sweats, opt for a cotton shirt-dress, matching knit sets, or a classy pair of denim. You'll be glad you did as it may even give you more confidence.

I'll even go so far as to recommend this as an approach to dressing even while spending a day at home. Studies have found that those who dress up to work at home find far more focus, confidence, and sense of power over their decisions.

On a final note, Classical femininity teaches us that we are not individuals on an island. We are women whose very presence shapes the world around us. That begins with how we speak, how we walk, and yes, how we dress in the most simple of moments. And sometimes, the quietest way to honor a space is by choosing not to wear what was meant for training astronauts.