July 11, 2023

Why Business Casual Joggers Are the Uniform of Modern Pros

Joggers, Clothes, Fashion

In the past, “business casual joggers” would have been the perfect example of an oxymoronic term. After all, the 1990s were a time when offices demanded blazers, button-downs, and dress pants, and joggers often looked as baggy as parachute or cargo pants.

However, as dressing for success takes on a new meaning — looking clean, confident, and ready to perform — jogger pants have quickly become the new chinos of the workplace. Modern, slim-fit work joggers offer an elevated everyday look that impresses in boardrooms, while keeping you comfortable at home and behind your desk.

Let’s talk about why the world is obsessing over joggers as workwear right now, and why you need to add (at least) a pair to your wardrobe.

Business Casual Joggers: What’s the Hype?

The evolution of joggers from ultra casual pants to trendy work attire didn’t occur in a day. In recent years — especially since the rise of remote work — many fashion brands have developed polished, chic features that take work joggers out of the realm of sweatpants to perfectly fit the relaxed dress codes of our time.

So what makes joggers better than other work pants? Here are four key features that explain why business casual joggers have secured their place as an ultimate men’s wardrobe essential. We’ll also provide some tips for choosing joggers that live up to the hype.

1. Versatility

Whether you’re taking center stage at a local conference or speed walking to your next meeting, work joggers give you the flexibility and functionality you need to get things done while looking like a pro. While business casual joggers are usually slim-fit, they also offer a bit of stretch for comfort and mobility.

Compared to classic blue jeans, great work joggers offer a more professional look due to their more professional material and clean tapering. But unlike chinos, they won’t restrict your movement while you’re hard at work. Even when the work day is over, you won’t want to take your joggers off — perfect for ambitious people who have no time to waste. You can go straight from the office to your social event of the day.

How to choose versatile joggers

Material matters when you’re looking for the most versatile joggers around. Polyester joggers offer a lot more stretch and durability than cotton-blend pants, making them the ideal option. The best joggers are also breathable and moisture-wicking for the hardest workers who always break a sweat.

To ensure your work joggers are more practical than your average fashion jogger, opt for joggers with plenty of pocket space — including easy-to-access side pockets and a hidden zippered pocket for the items you want to keep extra secure.

2. Comfort

When you have business casual joggers, you don’t need an ultra-casual pair of wide leg pants to maximize comfort. Jogger pants are comfortable enough to double as lounge pants — or even airplane wear for frequent fliers who want to look good in business class.

When paired with a long-sleeve sweater, a relaxed-fit T-shirt, or your favorite hoodie, you can lean into the comfort of your joggers and add a bit of calm to a busy day.

How to choose comfortable joggers
High-quality stretch fabric is, once again, the key to a comfy pair of joggers. However, it’s equally important to look for jogger pants with a well-designed elastic waistband — one with front, rear, and side elastic that effortlessly keeps your pants in place, with or without a belt. An elastic waist also creates a more sophisticated, fitted look than the drawstrings you’d find on your average pair of sweats.
3. Style

You can easily wear joggers when you need to dress to impress. The well-tapered look of modern jogger pants will elevate just about any look, whether you’re wearing it with an athletic fit T-shirt and bomber jacket for a networking event or tossing on a casual denim jacket for date night. They outline the shape of your legs without looking too tight.

Business casual joggers also offer a flattering cut-off at the ankles. This creates a much cleaner look than bootcut, over-the-ankle pants that look baggy over your everyday shoes.

How to choose stylish joggers

Looking stylish starts with finding the perfect fit. When you’re picking out a pair of work joggers, pay attention to the inseam length. Your jogger cuff should sit just above the ankles. Additionally, your joggers should have a slight taper, ranging from your mid-thigh down to the cuff.

Color matters, too. You can never go wrong with a pair of pacific blue or black joggers, which you can dress up or down and match with a variety of hues. Stick to these dependable dark colors to maintain a neat, minimalist wardrobe, but don’t be afraid to try out light neutrals tans and grays if you want extra pairs of joggers to last the whole week.

4. Low-Maintenance

Top performers spend their time making headway toward their goals — that means cutting down on unneeded tasks like trips to the dry cleaner. Thankfully, taking care of quality business casual joggers is simple: Toss it in the wash on a cold-water cycle, then tumble dry with low heat.

Unlike delicate suits and buttoned jeans, you can keep your work joggers fresh without worrying about how they’ll hold up in your machine washer.

Joggers also ensure you don’t have to waste time ironing your work pants. These bottoms are commonly made with wrinkle-free materials that help you maintain a professional look stress-free.

How to choose low-maintenance joggers

Low-maintenance business casual joggers don’t just save you time. You won’t have to throw out your joggers quickly if you choose a high-quality pair that keeps its shape and color no matter how many times you toss it in the wash.

To ensure your joggers offer low-maintenance durability, give the fabric a stretch and check that it falls right back into place instead of losing its natural form. Additionally, you can rub a damp, white cloth on a corner of your joggers to test if your pants are colorfast. If the cloth comes off clean, you can put it in the washing machine with peace of mind.

Wear Comfort and Confidence to Work

When you have a pair of business casual joggers, you can dress sharp and be ready for action every single day. The clean, tapered look of modern jogger pants makes them incredibly versatile closet staples that you can easily mix and match — especially when you stick to versatile dark colors, like black and dark blue.

No matter how stylish they may be, joggers don’t sacrifice comfort. They’re just as comfortable to wear as your favorite sweatpants, but they look more polished. High-quality ones are equally as low-maintenance, too. Great joggers can be machine-washed and tumble-dried with the rest of your clothes, so you don’t need to waste a second of your day.

Get the perfect pair of joggers for your workplace needs by adding the AO Jogger, a CUTS bestseller, to your cart. Once you're checked out, learn more about how to adopt workleisure into your wardrobe to build more outfits that look good and feel good.