Padel has a look on court. Off court, most men still don't have one. They either stay in their sweaty playing top for the drink after, or they pull on whatever was in the boot.
I'm Dario. I play padel and I design the clothes on this site. I wear them everywhere: the gym, work meetings, nights out in London. So this is how I put an off-court outfit together, written for men who want to look like they made an effort without looking like they tried too hard.
Four things matter. Proportions, fabric, colour, and having a plan for where you're going after the game.
Proportions: one big piece, one clean piece
Streetwear runs on shape more than logos. Get the shape right and a plain hoodie looks considered. Get it wrong and an expensive one looks like pyjamas.
The simplest rule I know: if the top is big, keep one other line clean.
- Boxy top, straight leg. A wide hoodie or tee over loose straight trousers. This is the proper streetwear shape. It works because both pieces fall straight down, so the outfit reads as one block. Our Straight Leg Pants are a thick fabric with a loose, straight leg, which suits this shape.
- Boxy top, regular jogger. A box hoodie over joggers that sit closer to the leg. More relaxed, more weekend. The Heavyweight Fleece Joggers are a regular fit with an elastic waist.
- Boxy top, slim jeans. Fine, as long as the hoodie isn't swallowing you. Wide on top and narrow on the bottom can make your legs look shorter, so keep the shoes simple and the trouser hem clean at the ankle.
What I'd avoid is a big top with trousers that pool around your shoes. Too much fabric at both ends and you lose your shape completely.
Why heavyweight cotton changes the look
Fabric weight is the thing most people never think about, and it's the reason some tees look sharp and others look tired after one wash.
Our tees are 100% cotton at 305 g/m2. For style, weight is really about silhouette. A thin tee follows your body, so it shows everything underneath it. A heavy one keeps its own shape and squares off your frame, which is the whole point of an oversized cut. With good trousers it reads as a proper top, not a base layer.
That's why I started this brand. I've always loved the heavyweight streetwear tees that hang well and hold their structure, and the cheap suppliers I could get at first made tees I wouldn't wear. Everything here had to be heavy.
Two practical points:
- An oversized heavyweight tee looks best untucked, with the hem sitting around the hip. Ours are unisex and cut oversized: size down for a regular fit, or stay in your usual size for the full oversized look.
- With a graphic tee, let the graphic do the talking. Padel & Pints or the Focus eye chart (WAS IT IN WAS IT OUT) is enough going on. Keep everything else plain.
Any two tees in the 2 for £90 range come to £90 at checkout.
How to wear a box hoodie
The Mk1 Box Hoodie is the piece most of my outfits start with, so here's how I wear it.
Know the cut. It's oversized and boxy, with a drop shoulder. That means the shoulder seam sits down on your upper arm on purpose. If you're used to fitted hoodies, it'll feel big the first time. That's the look.
Pick your size for the look you want. Our hoodies run big, so most people size down. If you want it to hang properly oversized, stay in your usual size. Either way, check the chest and length on the size guide against a hoodie you already own.
Sleeves. A box hoodie's sleeves can stack at the wrist. Push them up to the forearm. It tidies the whole outfit and stops the cuffs getting grubby.
Under a coat. A drop shoulder needs room. Under a fitted blazer it bunches. Under a roomy overcoat, a bomber or a big puffer it's perfect. Pull the hood out over the coat collar so it sits flat.
With what underneath. A heavyweight tee. It keeps the neckline clean when the hood is down and you've got a top layer ready when the hoodie comes off.
As a set. Mk1 hoodie and fleece joggers in matching or close tones is the easiest outfit in your wardrobe. It looks deliberate because the colour runs top to bottom. The rest of the range built around it is in the Mk1 collection.
The fabric is 350 g/m2 with a fleeced inside, so it's warm. Keep that in mind indoors and plan to take it off.
Colour: build on neutrals, add one colour
You don't need a colour theory course. Two rules cover most of it.
- Start neutral. Black, grey, navy, oat and brown go with each other and with denim.
- One colour per outfit. If one piece is a colour, everything else is neutral.
Here's how the eight Mk1 colours work in practice.
| Mk1 colour | Wear it with | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Black or grey trousers, black trainers | Clean, easy, goes anywhere |
| Gray | Navy or black bottoms, white trainers | The everyday one |
| Navy Blue | Grey joggers, light denim | Smart enough for a nice pub |
| Brown | Oat, cream or stone trousers | Warm, a bit more fashion |
| Oat Gray | Brown or navy bottoms, tonal outfits | Soft, looks expensive |
| Flower Gray | Black or charcoal | Light without being stark |
| White | Dark trousers, so it doesn't wash out | Fresh, needs looking after |
| Eden Green | Black, navy or oat | Your one colour for the outfit |
Eden Green is a deep bottle green, so it reads darker than you'd expect. If you only buy one Mk1, Gray, Black or Navy Blue will go with the most clothes you already own.
Club to pub: five outfits
Five outfits, built around where you're heading after. Play in proper kit and change after. The clothes here are for the time either side of the game.
1. Sunday social, then a long lunch. Graphic tee, Mk1 Box Hoodie, fleece joggers. Hoodie on for the walk in, off when you're warm, back on for lunch. The tee underneath does the work once the hoodie's off.
2. Weeknight league, then the pub. Change out of your kit. Plain heavyweight tee, Sunday Padel Club Sweatshirt, straight leg pants. Our sweatshirts are true to size, so the shape is tidier than a box hoodie. Good for a pub where you want to look like you came from somewhere.
3. Straight from work to the court. A sweatshirt over a tee with straight leg pants holds up on a video call and in the club bar. Kit goes in the bag. Grab more crewnecks from sweatshirts.
4. Padel trip, travel day. Padel has taken me on trips abroad, and the travel day has its own outfit. Mk1 Box Hoodie over a tee, straight leg pants, and the organic ribbed beanie in a pocket for a cold plane. The hoodie doubles as a pillow and the tee is ready when you land somewhere warm.
5. Summer evening. Heavyweight tee on its own with straight leg pants and clean trainers. In summer the tee is the outfit, so pick the graphic you like best. If the sun's still out, add the organic dad hat. More caps and hats are in headwear.
One thing that lives in every kit bag: grip socks. They're for playing, and they're the one piece here built for the court.
The quick version
- Big top, clean bottom. Watch the trouser length.
- Heavyweight fabric looks better for longer.
- One graphic per outfit, one colour per outfit.
- A box hoodie wants room under a coat and sleeves pushed up.
- Change after you play. Your playing top stays in the bag.
More padel guides are in the Padelism journal.
Everything for men is in one place on the men's collection, and every hoodie is in hoodies.
FAQ
Can I wear a box hoodie with skinny jeans? You can. Keep the hoodie from going too long, keep the jeans clean at the ankle and wear simple shoes. Straight leg trousers balance the shape better.
What colour hoodie goes with the most outfits? Gray, Black or Navy Blue. All three work with denim, joggers and most trainers.
Should I tuck in an oversized tee? No. An oversized cut is made to hang. Leave it out with the hem around your hip. A tuck only works with a thinner, more fitted tee.
What trainers go with a box hoodie? Something with a bit of bulk, so the shoes don't look tiny under a wide top. Plain white or black trainers are the safest bet.
