Philip FriedmanMack Weldon Ace Sweatpants.
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An ace trumps all. I learned that when I was 10 years old one summer at my grandmother’s house, where my uncle taught me bastra, pinochle, poker, blackjack, and, the easiest, war. Put down an ace or stack of them, and you’re bound to win the game. That’s the rule: The four cards in the deck of 52 that look the least cluttered, the most unassuming, are the mightiest of them all. I was reminded of this lesson when I got my hands on a pair of Mack Weldon's Ace sweatpants.
It was early 2020, the world essentially shut down, and I was bound to my house, festering in the comfiest clothes. At the time, I owned three sweatpants: leopard jacquard joggers from Terez, extra-large blue sweatpants covered in splatter paint from Champion that I owned since high school, and joggers with a serious drop-crotch from Swet Tailor. All are great in their own right, no question. But in April, when I got my hands on Mack Weldon’s Ace in light gray, I proceeded to wear nothing else for months. I wore it to complete exhaustion before I did the same to the aforementioned three. So, why did I start with the Ace? What made it the trump card?
Philip Friedman
The fabric feels like a warm embrace.
At the start of the pandemic, I had a full-blown Mean Girls moment: sweatpants were all that fit me. Grubhub and reruns of Ina Garten were the cause. I then decided to forgo any attempt to get dressed up for the foreseeable future, and I didn’t mind it at the time, because everyone saw me from the waist up anyway. What mattered most was comfort, and the Ace gave me just what I desired. The style is made of french terry that’s micro-brushed to feel even more plush. Every morning, I would glide into each leg and experience the soft texture touching my skin. My body, at least the lower half, felt like it was being caressed by a cloud, which made nonsense Zoom meetings somewhat tolerable. What’s more, it didn’t pill, even after prolonged wear. And it always kept a clean look, even if I didn’t need it to.
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Philip Friedman
Philip Friedman
It’s perfect for going out.
Yes, I was a champ at hibernating. Still am. But when the world began to gingerly open up, I had places to go and people to see. Still do. And if there's a sweatpant that understands the symbiosis of ease and elegance, it is the Ace. The style is a jogger, which means the fit is slim. It tapers down the leg in a way that, at a distance, makes it look like a tailored trouser or jean. The Ace is basically a hybrid, and I put this idea to the test when I wore my pair to a restaurant with a friend, a pretty reputable one that often requires a reservation be made weeks in advance. And let me tell you, no one batted an eye. I didn’t feel at all out of place. If anything, the Ace was way better than what I would have worn normally, a skinny black jean, because it has ample stretch, 5 percent elastane exactly, and a drawstring waist, intended “for daily wear,” that’ll let you move freely and eat to your heart’s content. A note: The Ace is roomy by design, so if you like something more snug, just go down a size.
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Philip Friedman
Philip Friedman
The small details are, well, aces.
Many sweatpants do comfort and softness with panache, sure. But what really gives the Ace the winning hand is in the details. This includes the perfectly situated pockets: one in the back, two in the front, and one on the side, which feature flaps that hide the zippers to keep everything streamlined. The same could be said of the drawstring with metal caps and the ribbing on the back of the hem. And last but not least is the stitching, which sort of looks seamless to the far-off observer. All things said, the Ace is the kind of sweatpant that worked well during the height of the pandemic, but works even better now that things are getting back to normal. It’ll last the long haul. It's something you'll want to stock up on. To paraphrase card dealers, it’s a sure bet.
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Photography by Philip Friedman. Prop styling John Olson for Halley Resources.
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