Decidedly Summery Ways to Wear All Those Sweatpants You Stocked Up On

They’re the obvious hero piece of at-home ensembles and probably the coziest thing in your closet, so let’s give sweatpants the sartorial attention they deserve. For too long, sweatpants have been reserved for lazy days spent binge-watching your favorite TV show, but this year has truly brought them into the forefront of our wardrobes. Now, it’s time to accept the fact that sweatpants aren’t just the article of clothing you throw on when you’re feeling too tired to put on real pants; they’re actually a totally acceptable start to any outfit. So to pay our respects to this comfy and wonderful pant, we’ve created some plus-size summer sweatpants outfits that’ll get you all the way through the season—and even into fall.

It’s no secret that sweatpants can be a little difficult to wear when the temperatures are ridiculously high. Even if you have the AC blasting, snuggling up in an oversized sweatshirt and some trendy tie-dye sweatpants can still be a bit uncomfortable. (Especially if you tend to run hot—which, same.) There are, however, plenty of ways to style your favorite sweatpants so that you don’t end up sitting in a puddle of sweat this summer.

So, before you tuck away all your coziest sweatpants, consider just switching things up a bit. Rather than a sweatshirt, pair your fave sweats with a cropped graphic tee and sneakers. Or, opt for a bodysuit and sandals. If you’re really burning up, forego the top all together and sport a cute bralette. You’d be surprised how well some of your cutest casual summer tops work with sweatpants, but they’re what makes this cozy loungewear piece wearable during the hottest months of the year.

To give you a little bit of inspiration, we’ve styled a few plus-size summer sweatpants outfits for you to peruse below. You can likely find ways to create these ensembles with pieces in your closet, but if you’re in need of a little bit of retail therapy, no worries. Each outfit is totally shoppable, so go ahead and treat yourself to cute and cozy outfit you’ll want to live in for the rest of summer—and beyond.

Here at Unruly, we’re committed to featuring plus-size pieces we genuinely love and want to share with you. We’re connected to an affiliate revenue program, which means we might make a small commission when you buy products through our shopping guides. This in no way affects the pieces we choose to feature, and it never will. (Confused? We’d love to answer any questions you have about this. Email us at beunrulyinfo@gmail.com!)

1. The Graphic Tee & Sneaks

There’s nothing like a good cropped graphic tee and sneakers combo—and the pair works ridiculously well with your favorite cozy sweatpants. Keep yourself (and your outfit) cool this season with a classic crop top, some solid sweats and fashion sneaks. Add a pair of Instagram-worthy sunnies to top it all off, and you’re set.

A plus-size outfit collage, featuring a pair of sweatpants, a T-shirt, a pair of sunglasses, and a sneaker.

shop the look

sweatpants — $31 from Old Navy
top — $22.75 from Torrid
shoes — $85 from Nike
sunglasses — $79 from Crap Eyewear


2. The Bold AF Bodysuit

Who says you can’t make sweatpants into a going-out ensemble? OK, so maybe you won’t want to wear them to a bar, but they’ll totally work for going to grab ice cream this summer. Pair some cargo sweatpants with a bold bodysuit and chunky sneakers, and you might never go back to jeans.

A plus-size outfit collage, featuring a pair of sweatpants, a bodysuit, and a sneaker.

shop the look

sweatpants — $24.99 from H&M
top — $12.99 from Forever 21
shoes — $60 from Topshop


3. The Tie-Dye ‘Fit

There’s no denying that tie-dye is trending in every aspect of fashion these days, and that includes loungewear. Grab a pair of tie-dye sweatpants, then add a neutral graphic tee, some slide sandals and a funky phone case for an at-home look that’s perfect for a few mirror selfies.

A plus-size outfit collage, featuring a pair of tie-dye sweatpants, a T-shirt, a pair of slip-on sandals, and a phone case.

shop the look

sweatpants — $59.50 from Torrid
top — $12.99 from Forever 21
shoes — $20.65 from Torrid
phone case — $45 from Casetify


4. The Minimalist’s Dream

Sometimes you just want an outfit to be cute and simple—and we hear you. If you’re looking for a neutral and minimalist summer sweatpants ‘fit, simply pair some gray sweats with a black bralette top. That’s it. That’s the outfit. You can also add some oversized sunnies if you’re feeling yourself.

A plus-size outfit collage, featuring a pair of sweatpants, a bralette, and a pair of sunglasses.

shop the look

sweatpants — $31 from Old Navy
top — $30 from Pennington’s
sunglasses — $41 from Revolve


5. The Yes, Camo is Back

We don’t make the rules, OK? The fact of the matter is that camouflage is back, and it actually looks cute in sweatpants form. To keep your ensemble from looking too third-grade-boy-in-camo-Bermuda-shorts, add a solid bodysuit, cute sneakers and a pair of fun sunglasses.

A plus-size outfit collage, featuring a gray bodysuit, a pair of camo sweatpants, a sneaker, and some sunglasses.

shop the look

sweatpants — $36 from Old Navy
top — $14 from Missguided
shoes — $65 from Converse
sunglasses — $99 from Crap Eyewear