The Rise of “Fake Jeans” (a.k.a. Printed Denim Sweatpants)

It’s sweatpants masquerading as jeans, folks.

The gold standard, the Rag & Bone Miramar denim sweatpants, were on sale at the Nordstrom Anniversary, the nSale, (still going on now!) but I could not justify the price point. Or drag myself to the Rag & Bone store in the Meatpacking district to try them on before buying them. My new $50 Gap pair is a low‑risk entry point to the trend of denim sweatpants.

I could justify getting the similar, lower-end Gap pair given how casual my lifestyle is now.  Post‑pandemic comfort dressing, designer irony, travel practicality. The look, the comfort, the trend — without the $200+ price tag. Popularized around 2022–2023, they’re no longer a trend, they’re a category.

The “3‑D print” effect is what makes these pants look like jeans from a distance. Rag & Bone’s version is more dimensional — the print has depth and shadowing that tricks the eye. Gap’s version is flatter but still convincing enough for casual wear. While “3-D print” won’t take over fashion, you can see its design influence with these “3-D jeans” being the perfect example. Illusion dressing, we will be seeing more and more.

Good to ask what’s the real difference with each purchase, because you get what you pay for, in most cases. The Rag & Bone pair does utilize higher grade French terry material, more precise printing, a more refined waist brand and stitching than the Gap pair. They’re well made. Check them out on Amazon:  https://amzn.to/4vTEEpQ

The Gap pair is apparently better for petites and slim hips. Durability? We’ll see with washing. But The Gap of my youth seems to have made a comeback and the stigma against pull-on pants has changed.

And yes, Rag & Bone does make Miramar‑style pants for men, though the selection is smaller and rotates seasonally.

Photo Credit: Brooke Balentine, Unsplash


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Uh oh! So many leaks all over the place….

Image
but not with these Mason Jars with lid and straw that are super fun. You can infuse different fruits and juices, add ice, syrups, and spices, have your iced coffee or tea.   No more leftover fruit hanging around the crisper, just chop and throw in, reusable straw, the straw attachment lid is easier to use than an original mason jar. Summer’s Coming. Time for drinks.  https://amzn.to/4eeRxoQ https://amzn.to/4eeRxoQ This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them. It helps support Greens Water at no additional cost to you.  
Read more

Are you ok? The K‑Shaped Economy

Image
If you’re trying to understand all the K‑shaped economy talk, here’s the simplest way to picture it: the standard K chart tracking time and performance is an inverted, backward K tilted roughly 90 degrees to the right.  Sometimes you’ll see an upright K instead:   One arm goes up (winners). One arm goes down (strugglers).  Hanging off the upper K arm like the “Hang In There Kitty” posters of yore? You are not alone. There are some interesting K charts out there. Which arm of the K are you on? In good economic times or bad, there are cookies. Tate’s Bake Shop, from near Greens Water’s hometown, are cookies with a dedicated following:   https://amzn.to/3yqz7tO Photo from Unsplash, the “crowd‑sourced library of high‑quality free‑to‑use stock photos.” Credit: markus‑spiske‑53AIdxedO9g‑unsplash. When life gives you lemons. 🍋 And: @on_trees13711 This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission if you purchase through th...
Read more

One Day Barista Training at the New Jersey Coffee School

Image
Such a special experience and a reminder that most of the time, it’s later than you think.  New Jersey Coffee School at the Monroe Center is closing in Hoboken after a 3-year run. They are now offering on-site training to their hospitality clientele, still a successful business, but no longer serving as a stand-alone training space. I enrolled in Day One of their 3-Day Barista training just before the closing was announced. I have probably done “the 10,000 hours” in food but my experience in beverages is limited.   Specifically, I am looking to purchase an at home espresso maker and taking the class provided me with an overview of the equipment. Coffee’s definitely got its fix on us.   I gained a better understanding of the history of coffee, farming, and the coffee production process, from bean to first sip. Matcha and Chai have reached a tipping point in the States with the class also exploring these relatively newer entries to the U.S. beverage scene.   We mad...
Read more