So you’ve got an Aime Leon Dore sweatshirt, or you’re about to buy one, and now the real question shows up: what goes on your legs? Dark straight jeans are the safe pick, and honestly they look good. Pleated or straight trousers are the sharper pick, and that’s what I’d go for most days. Below I’ll go through both, then colors, shoes, sizing and how to wash the thing so it doesn’t turn into a fuzzy mess after three months.

So what is this sweatshirt, exactly?

I should say first that ALD is short for Aime Leon Dore. The label comes out of Queens, New York, where  https://aimeleon.us/ Teddy Santis launched it back in 2014. Old Ivy League clothes meets what the guys on his block wore, that’s roughly the whole idea, and you can spot it in almost every piece.Now the sweatshirt. Mine is a heavy cotton fleece, crewneck, cut a little boxy, with a small stitched logo up on the chest. Nothing printed big, nothing shouting at you.It’s the kind of top that looks plain on a hanger and good on a person.

Jeans or trousers, which one?

Depends on your day, really. Jeans if you’re running around, grabbing food, sitting in a car for two hours. Trousers if you’d like people to think you made an effort (even if you got dressed in four minutes).Fleece and denim are both casual, so that pairing needs zero thinking. Trousers are a different game. The top is soft and the bottom is sharp, they pull against each other a little, and honestly that’s why it works.

Which jeans suit an Aime Leon Dore sweatshirt best?

Go for straight-leg or relaxed jeans in dark indigo, black or washed grey. Those suit an Aime Leon Dore sweatshirt best, because the leg has enough width to sit properly under the roomy body.Skinny jeans are where it goes wrong. Big top, tight legs, and you end up looking like a lollipop. I’ve seen it plenty of times and I’ve never seen it work.Go easy on rips and heavy fading too, since they fight with the embroidery. And check the hem before you leave the house. A small stack at the ankle is fine, a clean crop is fine, a heap of denim sitting on your sneakers is just messy.If I had to choose one wash, I’d take raw indigo.

Trousers with an Aime Leon Dore sweatshirt: my honest take

Trousers win. I know that’s not what most people say.Think about it for a second. Sweatshirt and jeans is what every person on the street is wearing right now, so nobody looks at it twice. Put that same sweatshirt over a pair of charcoal wool trousers and suddenly it looks like a decision.Charcoal or camel pleated trousers are my go-to, with the sweatshirt left out so the hem lands just below the waistband. Stone or olive chinos are easier if you wear this every week. Brown corduroy gets closest to the brand’s own photos, so if you want the full ALD feel, start there.One rule: keep the leg straight and let it touch the shoe with a slight break. Super slim trousers look wrong under something this loose.

Colors, without the overthinkingQuick table, because this is one part where a table really does help.

Anything outside the table can work too. Just don’t wear two loud things together.

What shoes go with an Aime Leon Dore sweatshirt?

New Balance sneakers are the usual answer with jeans, especially the 550 that ALD made together with them. Clean white leather low-tops are a fine backup.Trousers change the shoe. Loafers, suede derbies or a slim leather sneaker all work. Chunky runners under pleated pants look off to me, unless the trousers are cropped short enough to show some ankle.Socks, quickly: white with loafers feels sporty, dark feels dressier. That’s all.

Sizing and washing

Look at the shoulder seam. That’s the first thing I check on any sweatshirt. If it drops far down your arm, you’ve sized too big, and ALD’s cut is already generous, so most people should stay true to size, or even go down if they’re slim.Wash it inside out, cold water. Dry it flat if you’ve got the space. Heat and harsh detergent are what make fleece pill. Also, try not to shove the sleeves up all day, because the cuffs stretch and you can’t really undo that.

Try both this weekend

Wear the sweatshirt Saturday with dark jeans and sneakers, then Sunday with trousers and loafers. By Sunday night you’ll know which one felt more like you, and that’s the one to build around, rather than buying random pants and hoping for the best.

FAQs

Can you wear an Aime Leon Dore sweatshirt with jeans?
Yes, and straight or relaxed dark jeans look best.

Do ALD sweatshirts work with dress trousers?
They do, as long as the trousers are clean and straight-cut. Soft fleece over sharp pants is what gives the outfit its edge.

Which size should I get?
Stick with your normal size, then check that the shoulder seam lands near the edge of your shoulder. The cut is roomy already.

What shoes work with an Aime Leon Dore sweatshirt?
Clean leather sneakers or New Balance with jeans, and loafers or suede derbies with trousers.

How can I stop the sweatshirt pilling?
Turn it inside out, wash cold and air dry it flat. Hot water and strong detergent are the usual culprits.