Are Sweatpants Acceptable?

So the other night Cocktails with Patrick was talking about whether or not it was acceptable to wear sweatpants in public. I was all set to call in and voice my two cents (which I never do) but I had a meeting to get to... so no calls for me. But that is why I have a blog. I can talk my two cents as much as I want!

So the jest of the conversation was - is it acceptable to wander around town wearing regular old sweats. My thought - unless you are going to the gym - NO.

I don't like looking sloppy and there are plenty of comfy alternatives to sweats.

1. Loose jeans - you don't have to wear your favorite skinnies to go running about town (although they are practically as comfy so I don't know why you wouldn't)... but you could wear a loose fit jean and a nice top.

2. Leggings - I was so anti-legging for awhile but they combine the comfort of a nice pair of tights or exercise pants with fashion. Throw on a longer top or a sweater and a pair of flats - very Audrey.

3. A dress. So overlooked but I think there is nothing more comfortable than a great fitting dress. I often fly in a black sundress - throw a sweater on in the winter (and summer actually if the plane is cold) - and flats. Its effortlessly chic and super comfortable.

Now some don'ts....

1. Sweats - Lets throw out the matching sweat suits and any pants with the ankle band. Ok to wear to the gym but not anywhere else.

2. Cocktails was talking about people wearing PJ's in public. Gross. It makes me think you didn't shower.

3. Big unflattering t-shirts. I'm ok with wearing these to the gym or to sleep in but not out in public under any circumstance.

4. Anything too tight, too short, too young, too old, etc. Look in the mirror before you leave. Did you comb your hair? Is your outfit a bit too Jersey Shore (ie too tight, too trashy, too short) then maybe you should think about giving that outfit away and changing. My biggest advice is to buy something in your size - whether you're an xsmall or an xxlarge. No one is looking at that tag but you! If it bugs you cut the tag out. Hoping you're a size 2 and you're really an 8 will only make you look bigger.

What are you pet peeves? Let's talk comfy clothes for now... we'll do another post on dress/work.

Jersey Shore

So have you seen the new MTV show? It's called The Jersey Shore (website and episodes here). First off, let me explain for anyone who has never been to or does not live in NJ. I'm not from there but I lived there for almost four years and the people on this show are a NJ stereotype. They are what you typically think of when you say NJ: turnpike, factories, loud-mouth, trashy, big hair, I could go on but you know... The thing is most people are not like that (I never really met anyone like that). The people on The Jersey Shore aren't even from NJ their bio's say NY and RI (and one NJ girl).

I like the show though. Its so deliciously entertaining - like a train wreck you can't look away. It's kind of like the Bravo Housewife TV shows - I'm sure most women in the OC, NY, NJ and Atlanta don't act like those women either. Part of it is probably show and part of it is a select group of people acting the way they normally would. TV shows need outgoing, loud mouth personalities. They aren't going to film a bunch of kids sitting around drinking soda and playing board games.

The reason I'm mad about this isn't even really about the show (although there are a lot of people mad about it read here)... they were talking about it on Cosmo Radio - Wake Up With Taylor this morning. Taylor said the Jersey shore (the beach not the show) was and I quote "like gift wrapping a poop". I don't know what beaches Taylor has been to but the beaches I went to are nice (nicer than a lot of other beaches, certainly nicer than some VA Beaches I've been to). The cast of the Jersey shore are living in Seaside Heights. Which is probably not one of the classier beaches in NJ. Taylor and the crew had valid points about the cast - they are too tan, they dress slutty... I'm not arguing with that. I'm arguing with the fact that NJ people aren't all like that and the NJ Shore (the beach) is not a poop!

Second, this brings me on a side note that Wake Up With Taylor has been annoying me a lot recently (I use to love it they were so honest and funny) now they are excuse me for saying typical NYC people - snotty, self-centered and name/label droppers. "Oh my boyfriend went to such and such school... its posh." I don't really care. I don't know you're boyfriend and even if I did that is just super annoying. She also makes fun of NJ a lot - I know its one of those states like WV that its socially acceptable to make fun of... its just not that funny. It's like your mother jokes - we get it my mom's fat (not really). I get it Taylor, you and your friends are too cool for NJ - but I can guarantee you are probably one of those annoying people that camp out in a summer house on the shore and think you own the whole town. The show just isn't as good as it once was and I've been kind of hoping Cosmo will cancel it and put Cocktails with Patrick on twice a day.

Anyway... back on topic The Jersey Shore - so I think you should check it out. It's super trashy and the people are annoying but it's super funny. It's like Spencer on The Hills - I can't stand him but I can't look away either. I take it with stride - this is for entertainment not representative of NJ, the shore, Italian-Americans, etc. As I keep watching I'll post more on the subject.

Photo from MTV.com