There are a multitude of fashion trends that have come and gone. The hoodie is NOT one of them. It came in like a thief in the night, it was not easy to wear, and somewhere it went from being just casualwear to something much greater a true fashion statement worn by teens on skateboards and supermodels at fashion shows.
The hoodie won’t push very hard on the wearer. With a bit of planning, the right fit and an understanding of how it plays with your other clothes, you’ll be able to rock it with ease. It provides a greater versatility than virtually any other individual garment that you possess.
From Sportswear to Street Style Royalty
The hoodie started its life as a utilitarian garment for athletic use, stripped of its pretense at being pretty or fashionable. They were worn by athletes (and outdoor workers) because they served functional purposes, not because they looked good!
The hoodie’s role changed in the 1970s and 1980s when hip-hop culture embraced the hoodie as a part of the visual. Then, the clothes got a new meaning and a new purpose altogether. It came to epitomize creativity, street credibility and a sort of urban authenticity that could never be created with traditional fashion marketing.
The march into the future was hastened by sports culture. The fans in their team’s colours came up with a new style of everyday clothing. Wearing a pair of NBA hoodies during the week, not only on game days was a full expression of personal style and team loyalty.
Today it is altogether. The hoodie is at ease in all the categories of fashion ranging from basic fast fashion to luxury ready-to-wear.
What Makes a Great Hoodie Worth Buying
Not every type of hoodie will be good enough to make it into a wardrobe. There are a few differentiating aspects between the one that you reach for every day and the one that is left in the back of a drawer.
Weight of fabric is the most important thing to consider. Cotton fleece hoodie in 320 to 400 GSM cotton fleece feels substantial, won’t get lost in the wash and will deliver true warmth without the weight of an outer layer. Hoodies with lower weights (under 250 GSM) lose their density and shape rapidly after regular use in just a season or two.
The fit is the most important aspect. If somebody is wearing a big hooded sweatshirt with the intent of it being a big hooded sweatshirt, it looks completely different than when a person wears one that is just too big. Become familiar with the brands before purchasing. A regular fit hoodie fits in more scenarios than either extreme and is the best place to start when it comes to establishing a wardrobe’s basic.
The quality is indicated by construction details. It’s the small details that make a difference between a kangaroo pocket with reinforced stitching at the stress points, a lined hood that won’t fall apart, double-stitched seams, and a kangaroo pocket that doesn’t pop open after being stretched.
How to Style a Hoodie for Every Occasion
If you don’t think of the hoodie as a casual item, you will realize the possibilities of its style.
To wear for every day casual wear, think straight leg denim, clean sneakers and a fitted hoodie. Easy, natural and always impressive with no styling required.
To create a smart casual outfit, add a slim fit hoodie to a smart casual structured overcoat or a smart casual wool jacket. The outer layer is sharp, while the inner layer is relaxed, thus creating a deliberate tension instead of an accidental one.
If you’re wearing streetwear style, opt for oversized hoodie and trousers. The outfit that’s making the most noise on fashion sites today is a wide legged cargo pant paired with a relaxed denim with a dropped-shoulder hooded sweatshirt.
Go for a match with a performance hoodie, fitted joggers and training shoes for athleisure. The mix has evolved far beyond gym wear into a real style of its own with a definite fashion language.
The Luxury Hoodie and Why It Makes Sense
It was initially a question that was raised as premium fashion houses began selling hoodies. But is a four-figure price tag for a shirt that is basically just for going to work an acceptable price?
The market responded with a resounding “yes. The luxury hoodie is sold because there’s a difference in quality that is tangible. Heavy weight French terry cotton, accuracy and precision in the garment dyeing, minimum branding and construction of the garment that will last throughout the years, not seasons, are all worth it for the buyers who think more in terms of long-term investment in their wardrobe than they do in a succession of short term purchases.
Final Thoughts
Decades of cultural significance, unparalleled versatility, and an unmatched ability to fit comfortably has left the hoodie as an integral part of fashion. It’s at once the most democratic, and most fashion-flexible garment in any closet.
Buy quality. Choose fit deliberately. And wear it with the confidence that you’re in the latest of all fashions and that it’s certainly not going anywhere.