If one thing’s for sure, adding a hoodie to your wardrobe is a guaranteed way to bring comfort and style in one cosy hit.
The silhouette we know today was originally created by sportswear brand Champion in 1930s America for labourers in the bitterly cold warehouses in Upstate New York, before they developed collegiate designs for athletes to wear in-between game time or practice sessions - a style that’s come right back around as the most popular this year.
Since then, the humble hooded sweatshirt has been on a real journey - from being adopted by hip hop culture in the Eighties, to becoming a symbol for skaters in the Nineties, it even had a stint of association with anti-social behaviour in the UK and a moment in the spotlight worn by Sylvester Stallone in blockbuster movie Rocky. The cold weather essential is now considered a menswear staple, offered by high fashion brands, skate labels, and high street stores alike.
This season, it’s all about the preppy American aesthetic. Look for archive-inspired logos, letterman fonts, vintage embroidery and applique patches for designs that could have been plucked out of an Ivy League campus. Worn with a boxy blazer, oversized trench, or simply with straight leg jeans, a quality hoodie is an easy way to look slouchy yet pulled together in an instant.
Channel your inner Balboa and invest in one of our carefully selected designs below.
Gant Archive Shield Hoodie - Plumped Red
Home of all things American prep, Gant’s shield hoodie wouldn’t look out of place worn swanning around an Ivy League campus. Cut to a regular fit, it’s brimming with vintage appeal thanks to the archive-inpsired shield logo, deep red colour, and old school embroidery. Pair with a boxy blazer for a smart casual look.
Buy now £120.00, Gant
Axel Arigato Dual Hoodie
If comfort is the key to your heart, it’s Axel Arigato’s hoodie that should be in your basket. Designed in a loose relaxed fit using super soft organic cotton, it features subtle logo embroidery at the chest and a retro two tone design. Paired with straight leg jeans, it’ll make the perfect Sunday strolling outfit.
Buy now £270.00, Axel Arigato
Ami Paris France Logo-Print Cotton-Jersey Hoodie
Ami founder, Alexandre Mattiussi, created his label out of the desire to make clothes his friends would like to wear - real clothes for real people, with an added dash of luxury - and this hoodie fits the bill. Crafted from a medium weight stretchy cotton, this collegiate style, that’s emblazoned with the Parisian brand’s decal and provenance, is cut to a relaxed fit for a super chic style that would look great walking along the banks of the river Seine.
Buy now £285.00, Mr. Porter
Acne Studios Franklin logo-print cotton hoodie
Stockholm-based label Acne Studios is the place to go for minimalist pieces with elevated design details. Extra oversized with no ribbed hem at the waistline for a slouchy relaxed aesthetic, it’ll be your go-to for days when you want to make minimal effort - but still look like you have.
Buy now £350.00, MatchesFashion
Lamarel off-white hoodie
Founded in 2018, Lamarel is an independent Swiss brand offering vintage-inspired responsibly-made designs that are simple yet stylish. With slouchy tracksuits in a range of colours, as well as a selection of T-shirts and shorts, there’s something for everyone. Crafted from fleece-backed organic cotton, this off white hoodie is a snug design for the chillier days.
Buy now £82.90, Lamarel
Reception Hooded Sweat Deception - Athletic Grey
This brand is rooted in the joys of togetherness, personified with the motto ‘It’s All About Food and Socialising’, printed across most of its designs. Reception pays tribute to places where people have shared precious time with one another, like specific eateries in far flung corners of the world.
Crafted using a grey marl brushed fleece, this hoodie sports the brand’s collegiate logo for a vintage preppy vibe.
Buy now £135.00, SNS
Samsøe Samsøe Norsbro hoodie 11720
Oozing in Scandinavian simplicity, Samsøe Samsøe’s hoodie is a smart minimal design perfect for strolling around the city on a crisp winter’s day. Founded by the Samsøe brothers in 1993, the label creates premium basics at an affordable price point with designs that will last far beyond just the season.
Buy now £130.00, Samsøe Samsøe
Lo-Fi Garden Logo Hoodie Cream
For all the green-fingered men out there, Australian skate brand Lo-Fi’s hoodie features a playful nature-inspired design on the front and back. Designed in a relaxed silhouette with dropped shoulders using a snug fleece-backed cotton jersey, you’ll never want to take it off.
Buy now £119.00, Couverture & The Garbstore
Champion 1919 Collegiate Logo Organic Cotton Blend Hoodie
As the inventors of the hoodie, no edit would be complete without Champion. Worlds apart from their original style that was designed for labourers in 1930s New York, this raglan design pulls on an trackside aesthetic for an archive-inspired design that would look great worn with a pair of vintage running shorts.
Buy now £32.50, Champion
Wood Wood Ian Double A Popover Hoody
Contemporary Danish lifestyle label Wood Wood’s aesthetic is equal parts fashion forward and laid back with collections packed full of easy-to-wear pieces that feature elevated design details.
Featuring the label’s signature double A logo, this slouchy hoodie is a cosy classic that will work season after season.
Buy now £145.00, End Clothing
