Sweatpants are a casual type of soft trousers designed for comfort or athletic purposes, but they are now used in a range of contexts. They may be worn as underwear under other clothing. The word "sweatpants" was originally coined by Mary Ellen Mark who wrote an article about them for The New York Times Magazine in 1992. She described them as "a pair of sweats that has become popular among young people as a casual wear item." Today, "sweatpants" can be seen as a form of informal dress and are commonly worn by men and women. They are usually made of cotton or polyester and often have a woven label inside the waistband. People sometimes use the term as a disparaging adjective to describe someone who is not dressed appropriately for the weather or their occupation. For example, one might say that it's hot out so everyone should be wearing shorts instead of jeans or pantsuits. This usage of the word is similar to that which originated with the expression "dress for success," which became common during the 1980s. Since then, the phrase has been adopted as an idiom for any situation where one should be prepared to look good but isn't necessarily required to wear clothes that would be considered appropriate for special occasions.