There are a nearly infinite number of battles on the Internet, but we at Outside get fired up over some more than others. The latest? The recent debate about whether sweatpants are poised to replace leggings, ye olde Millennial staple, as peak athleisure wear.
It’s a tale as old as time. The up-and-coming generation on whom the nation seems to be focused rejects the clothing of the generation that preceded it, choosing their own style that makes whatever came before seem hopelessly lame and outdated. In this case, Gen Z is opting for looser, baggier clothing—even at the gym.
For the uninitiated, take Billie Eilish’s plaid sweatpants as the paradigm of what’s cool right now. Then read the subreddit r/bitcheswithtaste, where redditors debate getting rid of their black leggings forever.
So, are leggings actually out? Who works out in sweats anyway? Because we at Outside pride ourselves on asking the big questions, we put two staffers head-to-head on the issue. Here’s what they had to say.
Sweatpants Are Definitely the New Leggings.
First, an admission: leggings do have a place in my life, and…
