It began as a pandemic necessity, a concession to the Zoom-era demand for comfort, but the Spring/Summer 2025 collections have codified the vest-and-jogger combination as a legitimate, high-margin challenger to traditional tailoring. What we are witnessing is not merely a lingering attachment to athleisure, but a calculated "Sporty Luxe" evolution that is driving 18% of LVMH’s ready-to-wear growth. From the polished runways of Dior to the utilitarian chic of Ganni, the industry has declared that the suit is dead—long live the satin windbreaker and the tailored track pant. This is the new uniform of the hybrid workforce: a $456 billion market segment that blends the nostalgia of Princess Diana’s off-duty aesthetic with the ruthless efficiency of modern luxury supply chains.
The Evolution of "Slouch": From Gym to Boardroom
To understand the dominance of the vest and jogger trend in 2025, one must first dismantle the misconception that this is simply "sweatpants 2.0." The silhouette dominating the street style of Paris and Milan is a refined, almost architectural reimagining of gym staples. We are moving away from the heavy cotton fleece of 2020 and toward technical satins, recycled nylons, and structured knits.
The narrative tension here is palpable. It is a clash between the relaxed ethos of American sportswear and the rigorous standards of European luxury. Where the pandemic era prioritized slouch, the SS25 season prioritizes structure. Vests are no longer just puffers; they are stuffed, sculpted gilets that mimic the protection of armor. Joggers have shed their elastic cuffs for tailored hems and pintuck details, effectively bridging the gap between the pilates studio and the corner office.
This "Sporty Spice meets office chic" aesthetic, as noted by industry analysts, signals a permanent shift in how we view power dressing. The stiff blazer feels archaic in a world of remote work and digital nomadism. In its place, the vest offers mobility, while the elevated jogger offers a rebellious kind of polish—a signal that the wearer is too important to be uncomfortable.
Runway Intelligence: The Key Players
The confirmation of this trend across the SS25 collections was resounding. While 22% of major shows featured sporty elements, the execution varied wildly, proving the versatility of the look. Dior and Fendi leaned into the "luxe" aspect of the equation, pairing slim tank silhouettes—once reserved for the weight room—with fluid, satin track separates. The juxtaposition of a utilitarian windbreaker vest over a sequin dress or midi skirt has become the season’s defining styling cue.
Lacoste and Ganni took a more pragmatic approach, utilizing the trend to push sustainability narratives. Lacoste’s collection, heavily featuring recycled nylons, claims a 40% recycled content rate for SS25, a critical differentiator in a market flooded with virgin synthetics. Meanwhile, Bottega Veneta—under the masterful eye of Matthieu Blazy—continues to subvert expectations, rendering what looks like nylon joggers in ultra-fine leather, a "trompe-l'œil" of casualness that costs as much as a small car.
The materials are the message. The shift to 60% nylon/satin mixes on the runway is not accidental. These fabrics catch the light, read well on camera (vital for the Instagram economy), and justify a higher price point than cotton. A cotton jogger is loungewear; a satin jogger is an evening trouser.
The "Diana Effect" and Cultural Momentum
Culturally, the trend is fueled by a massive resurgence of 1990s nostalgia, specifically the "Princess Diana 2.0" aesthetic. Social media platforms have been ablaze with archival footage of the late Princess of Wales styling biker shorts, oversized sweatshirts, and puffer vests. This historical anchor gives the trend a sense of timelessness and legitimacy, countering the "elevated sweatpants fatigue" voiced by some critics.
The numbers support this cultural obsession. On TikTok, the hashtag #VestJoggers has amassed 2.4 million views in a single week, while #SportyLuxe engagement is outperforming traditional trends like plaids by 15%. However, a generational divide is emerging. Gen Z is remixing the look with streetwear sensibilities—opting for cropped vests and parachute pants—while older demographics dismiss the look as a relic of lockdown lethargy.
Influencers like @dietprada and @susiebubble have championed the look as "effortless power dressing," validating the trend for the high-fashion consumer. It is a rejection of the "Quiet Luxury" trend that dominated 2023. If Quiet Luxury was about whispering wealth, the Vest and Jogger trend is about shouting vitality.
The Financial Engine: Why Brands Are All In
Behind the aesthetics lies a compelling business case. The global athleisure market is projected to hit $456 billion in 2025, up 12% year-over-year. For luxury conglomerates like LVMH, these "hybrid" pieces are high-margin heroes. A pair of Ganni joggers, retailing at €300, can yield margins upwards of 25%, significantly higher than complex tailored pieces.
Furthermore, this trend serves a strategic purpose in inventory management. There is a "Hidden Angle" here that few are reporting: the vest-jogger boom may be masking an inventory glut. Following an overproduction of athleisure in SS24, brands are rebranding stock, utilizing supply chain pivots to Asia-sourced recycled nylons to cut costs by 15%. By elevating these pieces with "luxe" marketing, brands can move volume without diluting their prestige image.
This is a critical pivot for brands facing a slump in eveningwear sales. The 18-35 demographic, which drives 70% of trend consumption, demands versatility. They want clothes that work for a morning flight, a Zoom meeting, and a dinner date. The vest and jogger combo is the only silhouette that currently answers all three demands.
Timeline of the Trend
- 2020–2021 (The Incubation): The Zoom era explodes sweatpants sales by 500%. Early luxury hybrids appear via Dior windbreakers, prioritizing comfort over style.
- 2024 (The Street Style Shift): High-end street style begins adopting satin upgrades. The silhouette slims down; the "slouch" becomes "drape."
- SS25 (The Runway Codification): The trend is formalized on the runways of Milan and Paris. Vests become structured; joggers become trousers. Materials shift to technical luxury.
- Late 2025 (The Mass Saturation): High-street adaptations from Zara and Nike x Luxury collabs hit the market, democratizing the look but potentially eroding its exclusivity.
Future Forecast: Saturation or Evolution?
What happens next? The trajectory suggests a deepening hybridization. As we look toward 2026, forecasts indicate a 40% runway overlap where vest-joggers will merge with more traditional patterns like stripes and plaids—a "Preppy Rebellion" that fuses nautical heritage with track-field aesthetics.
However, risks remain. The "fast fashion" cycle moves at breakneck speed. As Shein and Zara flood the market with polyester copies, the "luxury" pricing power of a $1,200 nylon vest becomes harder to justify. This "cannibalization risk," estimated at 30%, is the primary threat to the trend's longevity. Brands will need to double down on material innovation—specifically verifiable sustainability and proprietary fabrics—to maintain the gap between the runway and the rack.
Ultimately, the vest and jogger trend is more than a passing fad; it is a symptom of a permanent restructuring of the modern wardrobe. It signals the end of compartmentalized dressing and the dawn of the era of the "Anywhere Garment."
Written by Ara Ohanian for FAZ Fashion — fashion intelligence for the modern reader.
