‘I think I owe track pants an apology’: The case for tracksuit pants as a style statement

From Bella Hadid to Hailey Bieber, some of the world’s most stylish stars are embracing the sartorial power of the tracksuit. And Dessert Masters host Melissa Leong says she is one of them.

If you know me at all, you know I love a style moment.

Whether it’s a red carpet or just at the shops, I’ve come to value the time and self-awareness it takes for people to develop a sense of personal style. To that effect, I’m a big fan of people-watching when I’m out and about.

Lately, I’ve spent a fair amount of time in airports and the whole affair has me wondering what it must have been like travelling back in the day. I see old photos and footage of early aeroplane travel: all suits, chic dresses, heels, bad-ass accessories and structured bags.

Things are a bit different these days, where seemingly anything goes.

From arrival hall to gate, it’s a litany of rubber flip flops, singlets, hoodies, oodies and shorts that – while undeniably comfortable – don’t quite have the same classic appeal.

And look, I know the past was the worst, but is it wrong that I kind of yearn for a time when dressing up to travel to faraway places was a bit more de rigueur?

Melissa Leong has made the case for tracksuit pants as a style statement, as seen on Hailey Bieber (above). Picture: Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

I’ll admit, airport fashion has always been an obsession of mine.

For everything from what to pack in your cabin bag to how to build a wardrobe of outfits that gives you the greatest number of options, my Notes app has packing lists for every destination – from quick work trips to assignments in the middle of a jungle or up a snow-capped peak, as well as holidays in far-flung places.

I’m a little more reticent to admit that, from time to time, I love to Google airport arrival photos of iconically stylish women – from Rihanna to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley – for air-travel inspo.

So, what have I learnt? Firstly, that personal style is key … if there’s one place you want to feel like yourself, it’s when you’re literally travelling outside of your comfort zone.

Read Melissa Leong’s full column inside the latest issue of Stellar. Picture: Stellar

Another tip is layers. Airports and planes are a hodgepodge of hot and cold, and the last thing you want to do is feel grossly overheated or freezing when you’re lugging your worldly possessions through security.

There’s also a reason that rolling cabin luggage is the favourite accessory of frequent travellers, because the distance you have to cover as you haul heavy things from your arrival to your gate can be further than you think, and nobody looks good exhausted.

Finally, if you’re Rihanna, the reason you can probably wear whatever the hell you want is because you have an entourage to carry everything for you.

‘Is it possible that comfort and style can coexist?’ Track pants are the ideal airport outfit, says Melissa Leong. Pictured above is a matching set from the Australian brand Atoir. Picture: Atoir

I know I said I’m a fan of dressing up at the airport (Google my name and “airport” for proof, if you feel so inclined), but there’s one piece of clothing I’m beginning to change my mind about.

Tell me if I’m way off base … it’s track pants.

I’m thinking of a classic pair of Adidas Firebirds, or some other emulation of this style – not the threadbare grey ones your dad should have thrown out a decade ago. I’m seeing fashion girlies rocking them with everything from cool sneakers to heels, tees to blazers, and I have to admit, I like the look.

I recently gave it a road test, and wore my track pants with a singlet/blazer/sneaker/tinted glasses combo.

Listen to the latest episode of the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About below:

If I’m honest, I think I owe trackies an apology for writing them off as too casual for public consumption. Is it possible that comfort and style can coexist in the same space, and that space is my body? Possibly!

Is it conceivable that I could be wrong about other clothing items I’ve deemed unwelcome in a stylish wardrobe? Maybe.

Either way, I’m looking at personal style and expression a little differently these days, and perhaps leaving a little bit more room to be proven wrong.

Melissa Leong is a judge on Dessert Masters on Network 10. For more from Stellar and the podcast, Something To Talk About, click here.

The full column can be seen in the latest issue of Stellar, via The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (QLD) and Sunday Mail (SA) this weekend.

Originally published as ‘I think I owe track pants an apology’: The case for tracksuit pants as a style statement