I am absolutely intrigued by the jogger style pant that I am seeing almost everywhere. The concept is definitely attractive: a sweatpant style pant that can work with sandals or heels. But can this type of pant really be dressed up and look appropriate? It looks great on the model and even the hanger but what about in person?

I tried on two different types. One was the J.Crew Seaside Pant which is categorized as a Drapey pant. The other was the Loft Linen Zip Pocket Joggers which are listed under Lou & Gray. Both pants are super comfy and surprisingly flattering. I personally prefer the detail on the Loft jogger. I like the drawstring waist, the zip pockets and the square pockets in the back. I think the extra detail give the pants something that sets them apart from others in this category. The J.Crew pants, while very comfortable, lack any detail in the front. I had slight concerns about the gathering in the elastic waist creating a bubble effect in the front but I found that as long as you find the correct size this is not an issue.

The Loft site shows the pants with sneakers. The J.Crew site pairs the pants with pumps. I think both pairs are versatile enough to be dressed up or down.

The answer to the question of whether or not to purchase these pants probably lies in whether or not you feel confident enough to pull them off as a dressed up pant. They are cute for casual wear but priced a little higher than you might spend on a pair of pants to lounge in. If you think you can pull them off in heels then they would absolutely be worth the purchase. The versatility and comfort level are worth the price tag.