Introduction
The hoodie is one of the most comfortable and practical items in your wardrobe. It is a modern, loose-fitting, and warm garment that every gent should own. While you can wear a hoodie as a part of a cool, casual weekend outfit if you partner it with the right garments; you can also easily rock wearing it around the house. So, before you head out the door in your sweat pants and hooded jumper, be sure to read this guide. It will tell you everything that you must know about this piece of clothing.
How do Hoodies come in fashion?
The harsh truth is that most menswear pieces were born out of practicality. Hoodies coming into fashion is a signal that we are at peak athleisure. After broaching upscale sportswear successfully in its several forms, it was soon before menswear got its mitts on the hundred years old staple.
The hoodie hysteria is set to continue for some time as everyone from more established menswear heavy hitters (Versace, Balenciaga) to streetwear peddling upstarts (Vetements, Off-White) have begun pushing out high-end versions in their couture collection.
History of Hoodies
Hoodies date back to Medieval Europe. Outdoor workers wore a cape with hoods which were known as chaperon and monks wore tunics with a hood which were known as cowls. It is also believed that short capes or capa were imported to England during the Normal Conquest in the 12th century. The cape was then popularly known as Normandy.
The first hooded sweatshirt- 1930s
The US Company Champion which was founded in 1919 made the first hooded sweatshirts in the 1930s. They turned to make sweatshirts once they had developed ways for sewing thicker materials. Initially, sweatshirts had hoods only to keep the workers warm during the winter season of Upstate New York. Thereafter, the company started supplying the sports kit that included sweatshirts to the US Military for physical education classes and training exercises.
The iconic status is given to the hooded sweatshirts by Rocky- 1976
The blockbuster sports drama film Rocky starring Sylvester Stallone provided the hooded sweatshirts its iconic status. The film was set in Philadelphia and tells the rags-to-riches story of an Italian-American amateur boxer.The main lead is an uneducated but kind hearted person who gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship. The grey hoodie got its iconic status and since then, it has been featured in other classic thrillers such as Marathon Man and political drama TV Series House
of Cards.
Hooded Sweatshirts in fashion and at colleges/ universities- 1970s
In the 1970s, the hip hop culture developed in the New York City of the United States. Fashion designers have put the hooded sweatshirts on the catwalk since then.
Interesting Fact– American Fashion Designer Norma Kamali was amongst the first designers to embrace this new piece of clothing.
This was the same time when colleges and universities began emblazoning hooded sweatshirts with their logos and names.
Term ‘Hoodies’ was coined- 1990s
The term ‘Hoodies’ was first coined in the 1990s.
The present day trend of Hoodies
The present-day hoodie is definitely a casual garment. Unlike a sweatshirt, it is hard to dress up under a sports jacket, and it is not in any way formal.
But there are degrees: at one end there is the faded, printed, outsized, and sloppy hoodie which is suited for popping to the club or slumbering on the sofa on a holiday. At the other end, there is the plain, trim-fitting, dark hoodie that is presentable and sleek. This doesn’t mean that you start wearing a hoodie with a dress pant (think, rather, dark wash chinos or jeans) or over a dress shirt. But it does mean that there’s still a chance for the hoodie to at least march towards respectability.
Like many things, the more attention is paid to quality- the best hoodies come in an all-cotton, heavyweight fabric, with loop-wheel and reverse weave manufacturer all helping to raise standards- the larger the potential the garment has for smartness. But that’s not what the hoodie is all about.
If the onesie is, to be utmost honest and frank, something no man should be seen alive or dead wearing, the hoodie is definitely the next big and the best thing for feeling wrapped up.Hoodie should be treasured as it is the security blanket of the menswear world.
How to style your hoodies
As part of a layered look
For this look, you can wear a zip-up hoodie over a simple white crew-neck T-shirt. Next, add a jacket or an overcoat, a pair of box-fresh trainers and slim jeans.
As part of an athleisure look
Team a black hoodie with fitted, black joggers and slip on a pair of minimal leather sneakers to go full athleisure.
Under a leather jacket
Using a black leather jacket and indigo or black jeans, you can experiment with hoodies in several colours beneath your outerwear. You can also combine with a pair of suede or leather Chelsea boots to smarten up this look.
With Tailoring
Try a mid-weight grey hoodie with a charcoal grey suit to nail the sports-meet-suit look. You can select white lace-up sneakers in place of your normal work shoes.
With Tailored Trousers
Opt for a neutral colour hoodie to get a grip on this look. Then add sports-luxe sneakers and a pair of trousers. You can try a little pattern on the bottom half like checks or pinstripes (if you are feeling brave).
Conclusion
Hoodies hold a special place in each of our wardrobes. It lasts a lifetime as we only use it when it is required. Thanks to celebrities, it has transitioned from a streetwear staple to a statement piece over the years. It’s super stylish, comfy and has a dash of swagger in its appearance. Also, styling a hoodie is a piece of cake as it’s just a matter of pairing it with the right garments. This piece of clothing is here to stay. So experiment away as it is the only way to utilize its versatility to the fullest extent. And once you have successfully done this, you will don these pieces for years to come.
