Teenage boys and joggers - Can they ever look ok?

[Hazelnutlatteplease]

DS has SN. He has absolutely no interest in shopping and clothes. He can't do buckles and regularly sits for prolonged periods in his wheelchair.

He loved lockdown year as he swapped his expensive uncomfortable school trousers for his £5 primark joggers for day to day wear. This has been a delight for him and I'm now not sure he will go back...

I'd like something a little smarter

I used to get soft denim jogger jeans but I haven't seen many about (mens s-m) and the only pair I did find are too big on the waist, too tight on the leg and marginally too short on the leg (he has grown into a beanpole).so....

Do joggers ever look ok/smartish? I have found a pair of slightly more fashioned shaped joggers I think maybe look better. I just wonder if I'm deluding myself!!

Can joggers every look a bit smarter on teenage boys?

I just typed you a massive reply that disappeared 🙄 basically DS wears sporty type joggers, that almost look a bit like leggings, they definitely look a bit smarter than your standard Primark joggers (which he has plenty of too!)

Does he have to look smart? I mean, apart from any school uniform requirements how often do teenage boys worry about how smart they're dressing?

You haven't elaborated on his needs but if he uses a wheelchair I imagine most people would assume comfort for his legs is important.

Maybe get some quality polo shirts in rich colours to draw the eye instead?

Who gives a fuck, I'd say his comfort is paramount

The boys slimfit cuffed joggers at Next can look loads smarter.

www.next.co.uk/g27448s22/633016

I'd like something a little smarter

It's not about you.

He's not a fashion accessory. Let him be comfortable. Maybe buy him some nicer joggers from somewhere other than primsrk.

He's a teenage boy. What he likes today will likely change tomorrow.

Op, beanpole DS loves Adidas jogger shorts and bottoms. Fancy is Superdry. Kicking back is Next.

My teen boys say the idea of smart clothes is an ”old people idea” and roll their eyes at me if I even suggest jeans!

Ds2 lives in the next ones, though usually slim fit because he is quite skinny and the skinny fit look a bit Norman wisdom on him (and are a pig to peel off when he has an accident)

I'd leave him to it, comfort matters more than how they look to other people of he likes them :)

My Autistic teen is the same, he has 3 pairs of slim Mackenzie joggers (all black) from JD sports that he pretty much lives in when he's not at school.

Let him wear what he wants. He’s not a doll for you to dress up ‘smart’.

For what reason would you like him to look smarter? Do you mean when you go out somewhere as a family? With other people?

I think it's pretty clear that the op is looking for something smart AND comfortable for her son. Not treating him as a fashion accessory. I know where your coming from op. I have the same problem with my dd. Her comfort is paramount, but, yes, I do like her to look smart too. For girls, there are loads of trousers with elasticated waists in the shops at the moment - much more that previous years and I've had some good buys from next. Not sure for boys but good luck on your search.

Rascal do nice joggers too not to slim fitting, nice quality.

Let him wear what he wants.
Why does he need to look "smart"?

Mine teen Lives on the GapFit joggers which are tapered and look a little smarter

here

If he has additional needs and spends a lot of time in a wheelchair surely his comfort is the most important thing?!

I have lupus and can’t stand anything digging in. Underwired bras and non elasticated waists feel like torture. I don’t really care about what others think of me.

If he’s happy let him be.

Is there a reason he needs to look smart? Most of the teenage boys I see around tend to wear joggers.

Op said the joggers had replaced the uncomfortable school trousers. My guess is they are looking for 'smart' joggers for school?.
The next ones look like a good option.

My teens live in joggers. Let your son be comfortable and happy.

I agree that you should just buy him what he likes. Both my DS's (12 and 8) are now refusing to wear anything but joggers or, as they call them, comfy bottoms! Lockdown has made us all realise how important comfort is.

I think it's pretty clear that the op is looking for something smart AND comfortable for her son.

Yes this.

I was kinda hoping to hear "dont worry joggers dont look as bad as you think". Or here is a pair of joggers that look smarter. So thank you to everyone who did that.

Sod what everyone else thinks (ie yes they do look a bit scruffy but hes disabled so why does it matter) is actually about the most upsetting answer going. Wanting your kids to look smart to go see Grandparents, going to a wedding and wearing a shirt or because they are going to be photographed a lot today, shouldn't go completely out the window just because they happen to be a wheelchair user. I dont believe being in a wheelchair/his disabilities should define what DS can/cant do/wear anymore than it absolutely has too. If it is appropriate for him to look a bit smarter I'd like him to be able to do that AND be comfortable given his needs.

Thank you for the recommendations. The next Joggers are sold out. I'm going to check out the Rascal and Gap. We love superdry and have an outlet store just over an hour away. When a bit more of the population is vaccinated so its safer for him we might try and do the trek over.

Aw, sorry @Hazelnutlatteplease, I missed the point along with a lot of other posters. Not because your son uses a wheelchair, but because I've given up on my own kids looking particularly smart now that they refuse to wear anything but joggers! Of course there are are occasions where it is appropriate or preferable for children to look more dressed up.

My younger DS has the Next joggers by sheer chance (I picked whatever was available at the start of lockdown as he had grown out of his old jeans and trousers) and admittedly they do look a bit more 'tidy' than the ones DS1 wears. But, as you say, they are sold out. I wish I had other suggestions for you.

All the teenage boys that I know would wear joggers for seeing grandparents or if they were being photographed. I'd prefer mine to wear something smarter for a wedding and would need to negotiate.

I think teens should be able to choose what they wear the vast majority of the time (and of course have a say when they need to be smarter).