Office Yoga Pants Take Business Casual to a New Level

Jan. 15, 2014— -- Think of it as a way to keep that new year's resolution to work out on your lunch hour.

A new pair of pants, called the Dress Pant Yoga Pants, are in production and ready to ship in February.

Marketed as an "office appropriate yoga pant" the pants, like traditional yoga pants, are made of rayon, nylon and spandex. Unlike traditional yoga pants, they have a straight-leg cut, faux zippers, a non-functional button at the waist and belt loops.

But is there such a thing as office-appropriate yoga attire?

Sarah James, creator of the pants for the San Francisco-based company Betabrand, says yes. "I feel we're intervening before things get too casual," she said. "I see people wearing their yoga pants everywhere, even the office. But here you're wearing comfortable clothes but still look good."

James came up with the idea after the huge success of the company's Dress Pant Sweatpants (and matching suit jacket) for men. Yes, that's a man's suit made of sweatpants material.

Betabrand uses crowd funding to gauge the potential success of a product. Early adapters can invest their money in a product and if it reaches its goal, they can get that product at a significant discount. If the product doesn't reach its goal, the people who invested get their money back. In this case, the earliest adapters received a 30 percent discount.

Dress Pant Yoga Pant has exceeded its original goal by 552 percent. And, said James, the pants have gotten more comments and feedback than any other product on the Betabrand site.

"We have a strict no-yoga-pants rule as part of our dress code," wrote one woman. "Belt loops are a must. The pockets and even a real zipper would help deceive 'the man' and allow me to sport these awesome yoga-dresspants!"

And while comfortable pants seems to be a trend -- remember 2013's pajama jeans? -- is it really so difficult for professional people to wear actual professional clothing?

Wearing yoga pants to work is "ridiculous," according to Michelle Goodman, author and business columnist. "You wouldn't wear sweatpants or pajamas to work, so why would you wear workout clothes? Yoga pants are not business casual and if you just got back from hot yoga, they probably smell," she said. "Just change into jeans and a nice top or blazer and call it good."

The funding for the pants has three days to go. People who order by Friday will get a 10 percent discount off price and pay just $79.20.