Chris Black has returned to the Strategist with a monthly column to answer all of your burning questions, from super-specific style predicaments to workout and tennis recs to foolproof host-gift ideas that will get you invited back to the beach house.
Best men’s sweatpants?
This is a loaded question with many answers. Some people even think men wearing gray sweatpants is “slutty.” You may have seen the classic image of Steve McQueen lifting weights shirtless with his gray sweats hanging loose around his hips cited as an example. “Slutty” or not, at least McQueen was wearing cotton! Low-quality exercise gear has slowly crept into the daily wardrobe of many guys, and it’s a problem. Sitting on Zoom calls while drinking Stok cold brew with a splash of oat milk doesn’t require sweat-wicking material. Anyway, I am here to recommend some high-quality sweatpants so you can avoid rocking Vuori joggers.
LWC is making the best basics money can buy, and these straight-leg mid-rise 13-ounce cotton sweatpants are no exception. They have an open bottom, which looks better with every shoe, a back pocket, and a simple classic drawstring closure. Sometimes, people can actually improve the classics.
I have a pair of navy-blue ones, and they are built like a tank. They come in 11 different colors (I would stay away from orange, but that is just me). You can wear them solo or over shorts en route to the gym on the coldest day of the year and be fine. The pockets feel extra deep, and the pants come in a wide range of sizes.
If styled wrong, these could feel a little like a TikTok fashion guy with too many rings on, so be careful not to pair them with UGGs. That being said, for the price, you can’t beat the generous cut. Stick to the solid colors. No one needs to see you in leopard-print sweatpants at Whole Foods.
I usually try to avoid logos and insignias unless they are classics like the Lacoste Alligator or Nike Swoosh. I put the Thom Browne 4-Bar into that category. These fit a little slimmer, but the details are great, especially the pockets lined with striped Oxford cloth.
If you bought bitcoin in the early 2010s or are merely independently wealthy, these are the sweatpants for you. The cashmere kings at Loro Piana are not too loose and have an open hem. They are made from the best cashmere and then given a dégradé effect so they don’t look too dainty. Dry-clean-only sweatpants aren’t for the faint of heart.
What are some travel essentials for someone who’s at the airport quite frequently for work?
I am frequently in the airport and uniquely qualified to answer this question. You should always have a book or two, but I am not going to prescribe new books in this column (this one is very good, though). Don’t worry. I will not recommend an eye mask or a Temu portable pillow; I recommend useful stuff only.
These changed my life and are worth every penny. I am not a weird Apple diehard (I am looking at all my friends who watch the Apple Keynote events live), but these are indeed the best in class. The noise canceling is so intense that it allows you to concentrate on a noisy flight, and they fit perfectly while having a nice weight to them. I would never use these anywhere but on the plane, but if you are on the plane a lot, they are a must for your carry-on. Just don’t add stickers or a Bottega Veneta case.
I am sure you have gotten Instagram ads for mouth tape, but when I am on a long haul, I like to throw one of these on before I try to get some sleep. You wake up feeling much more refreshed; that recycled air should go through your nose rather than your mouth.
The plane air makes my hands look like cracked concrete, so I need to moisturize often while flying, especially before deplaning and returning to polite society. What they offer in the bathroom or the amenity kit usually doesn’t smell how I want it to. I keep one of these with me because the “Herbarium” scent (think “wild flora”) is comforting no matter where in the world I am.
I don’t like reusable water bottles, but I am passionate about hydration. They have become ugly and ubiquitous objects that are everywhere you look. People buy them in obscene colors and decorate them with stickers. I’m not waiting on line to fill a bottle in the airport. That said, we recently got a Berkey Water Filter for our house, so I had to find something that would work for me. Leave it to the good people in Japan to make a beautiful logo-free 32-ounce bottle. I took it on my 19-hour flight to Singapore and had the stewardess fill it up constantly, which saved me from feeling like a shriveled-up grape when I landed.
J.Crew, which I work with, makes my favorite affordable cashmere sweater. I always give them as gifts and have several different colors in my closet. I always throw a navy-blue crewneck in my carry-on. I run hot but am no match for Delta Airlines air-conditioning, and you don’t want to show up to your destination freezing or sick.
Do you have any good recommendations for coats?
What a big question! The options are endless. Let’s narrow it down.
There is nothing more classic than a tweed-checked overcoat. This one from Copenhagen’s Mfpen is fully satin-lined, has raglan sleeves, and hits right above the knee. It’s also made from dead-stock fabric.
Stussy has made a well-priced alternative to the typical mid-weight puffer jackets you see on every guy on the street. It’s warm but also comes in fun colors like brown and lime. It is practical while still having a little fun.
Japan’s Auralee is the hottest brand in the world, and this coat only solidifies that title. Perfectly oversize and double-breasted, it is an investment you can wear for years. Big enough to throw over a suit or blazer, the wool is supple, and the cut is flattering.
This is some big-boy shit, but I love how it looks. It’s made from thick Cordura and is fully waterproof; every seam is taped. I love the reflective flashes and the removable hood. It looks like you are being airlifted to save lives in Antarctica. The Gorp trend might be over, but a well-done technical winter coat will never go out of style.
The combination of navy wool and black leather really works for me. If you aren’t familiar with this style, it is regarded as a typical jacket of the British manual laborer, particularly the navvies that worked on donkey engines. Drake’s has done a premium version, but the details are true to history.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
