Not long ago, the hoodie was exclusively reserved for lazy Saturday afternoons on the couch or chilly morning runs while doing your best Rocky impersonation. But with the integration of streetwear into high fashion over the last decade, the hoodie has become a hallmark design among the world’s biggest luxury brands due to its undeniable commercial appeal. And, well, to be blunt, stuffy fashion people finally stopped turning up their nose at what was always cool.
Now produced by just about every T-shirt startup and full-fledged ready-to-wear brand alike, a good hoodie means as much to your wardrobe as a good leather jacket or the perfect pair of white sneakers. Given that hoodies are no longer a passing fad, and winter will undoubtedly rear its ugly head, we’ve put together a list of the best hoodies to test drive year-round.
There are few skate brands as recognizable as Palace. This hoodie from their most newest line is one of my favorites in recent memory; the ribbed cuffs on the sleeves and torso give it a nostalgic, classic sportswear vibe. This particular hoodie may sell out (as is the case with a lot of their pieces), but browse through their store to see what’s available. Just be prepared for someone to ask you to do a kickflip if you’re wearing this around.
The American Giant hoodie provides you with everything you could possibly want out of a zip up. The quality is superb, with reinforced elbow patches and a double-lined hood, all cultivated in a thick 100% cotton. The classic zip up comes in some muted, minimal colors, as well as a few fun colorful options if you’re looking for something a little more eye-catching.
American Giant’s products are also entirely made in America, using the most local supply chain possible. If you’re looking for a no frills layer to incorporate into your fall/winter fits, look no further than the American Giant classic full zip.
Honestly, this list just couldn’t be complete without this inclusion. Although you can only buy it on the secondary market now, the YZY x Gap hoodie is truly a pretty exceptional minimalist hoodie, focusing on silhouette and quality over any particular commitment to branding. While Kanye certainly didn’t change the game with this piece, it’s a great shape and comes in some beautiful, vivid colors. So if you’re looking to spend a bit more on a muted hoodie, check out what’s available on the secondary marketplace.
Although it comes at a steeper price tag than some of the other options on this list, the APC Logo hoodie makes a beautiful addition to anyone’s fall wardrobe. Made with 100% organic cotton, the understated hoodie (which comes in navy blue or anise green) perfectly exemplifies A.P.C.’s commitment to quality. There are only a few available left online, but if you’ve got your heart set on wearing a truly exceptional hoodie, then swing by an A.P.C. store to check their stock.
Ahh, yes, the good ole Champion hoodie. Cozy and brimming in an understated cool that implies “I care but also, I don’t,†this purchase is a no-brainer if there ever was one. Read more about the legendary hoodie’s history here.
If you’ve recently seen the brand Daily Paper all over your Instagram and Twitter feeds, it’s because everyone on your Instagram and Twitter feed is currently wearing Daily Paper. The Amsterdam-based label has quickly gone from a European upstart to a global staple in just seven years. With their simple branding and inclusive visual storytelling, Daily Paper’s reign is poised to continue into the new decade.
The Stockholm based fashion house is known for many things, but Acne Studios does more than just make flashy luxury pieces. The hooded sweatshirt—made of 100% cotton—boasts a unique fit, with a bagger silhouette throughout, tied together by tapered sleeves. The colors that are available vary from time to time, but right now there’s a gorgeous mint green available and a more muted slate gray (pictured). Although the $430 price tag is certainly steep for a hoodie, Acne’s commitment to quality and recognizable silhouettes make the hoodie a great option if you’re looking for something deeply long lasting and stylish.
There’s a reason Nike is still the biggest name in sportswear. This iteration of their ubiquitous hoodie features a zippered kangaroo pouch and a plethora of colors to choose from. The cotton / poly blend means the piece won’t shrink, allowing the wearer to get full use out of the hoodie’s roomie fit. The hoodie also includes Nike’s patented sweat-wicking Dri-FIT technology, which means it will keep you warm but still allow for some athletic performance. Between the numerous color options and Nike’s history of excellence in sportswear, you can’t go wrong with the Standard Issue basketball pullover. Check out the seasonal limited colors available right now.
As is the case with a lot of J. Crew products, their French terry hoodie screams one thing: classic. Although the coronavirus pandemic has thrown the future of the longtime retailer into a realm of relative uncertainty, it doesn’t seem like their hoodies will be off the market any time soon. One of the beautiful things about this hoodie is the garment dying process, which results in a ton of different unique styles. “Because this hoodie is garment-dyed, it has a perfectly imperfect color that will softly fade over time,†reads the product details on their site. The imperfect color gives the hoodie an element of the Japanese aesthetic term, wabi-sabi; the piece’s imperfection and deterioration over time is part of what makes it so unique and beautiful to begin with.
Total Luxury Spa’s most minimal hoodie, the Open Logo Pocket Hoodie, is a great example of a minimal design done right. The black hoodie features the brand’s trademark logo in their font style, modeled by Mama Nene, an elder in their LA community. The brand taps into people in their community for all of their modeling, and includes a little note about the model in the product description. “Mama Nene runs drum classes for the youth and elders in Leimert Park. Her work includes trying to preserve the historical legacy of the music and art in the community,†reads the description, giving the buyer more of a lens into the community they’re buying from.
Although Russell’s Premium Fleece hoodie might not be quite as much of a fashion statement as some of the other items on this list, there’s a reason it’s a tried and true classic. For only $30, you get a rich fleece hoodie comprised of 80% cotton and 20% polyester. It’s got a slouchy, cozy fit and the extremely soft material makes it a great hoodie for lounging around the house or incorporating into layered fits to stay warm.
This Converse hoodie is a fun play on a traditional single color pullover. It’s all in the details. The tiny Converse logo is a nice minimal piece of branding for those who don’t want a major logo across their chest and the flames on the sleeves give it a little extra style. The kangaroo pocket also has a zip pocket inside for more secure storage than your traditional hoodie. This sweatshirt perfectly toes the line between flashy and muted, comprising a great middle ground for those who don’t want to go too far either direction.
The Braindead hoodies in general have quickly become a staple of modern streetwear. The brand is a “creative collective of artists and designers from around the world,†and they emphasize graphics and eye-catching designs in all of their pieces. You’d have a hard time walking around the Lower East Side of NY in 2020 and not seeing someone rocking this now ubiquitous look, and hey, you can’t blame them. The embroidered logo on the Lovebond hoodie is a standout design from the brand.
This is one of the most unique hoodies on the list that doesn’t derive its individuality from any sort of flashy design. The hoodie boasts an oversized fit and the dyeing process they use gives every iteration a unique look. If you want what is essentially a “plain” hoodie, but has a flair of its own, the Moojimooji options are definitely worth checking out.
Reebok Classics releases a plethora of pieces that harken back to an era of cozy vintage sportswear. The non dye hoodie is an amazing minimalist style, and pretty much all the reviews laud the quality of the sweatshirt and its overall comfort. Made of 100% organic cotton, Reebok’s classic hoodie is a great and affordable option for aficionados of both Reebok and vintage sportswear more generally.
Bearing one of the best logos in streetwear with an impending, Stüssy, the quintessential streetwear label, is having a moment. It’s one of many in the brand’s storied history and certainly won’t be the last. While Supreme reigned as the most iconic streetwear brand for a long time, Stüssy is actually older than the NY-mainstay and has rightfully returned to its seat on the throne in recent years.
There’s a reason Gap’s been in the game so long. The vintage soft hoodie is aptly named; it comes in a few vintage-inspired colors and is, as the name would suggest, soft. Made out of a cotton-poly blend, the hoodie was designed with comfort at the forefront, and for just north of $50, it’s hard to find an issue.
Like many of the other entries on this list, Everlane’s track hoodie is made of 100% organic cotton. This option comes in 8 different colors, so there’s a good version for everyone—whether you want something bright (like the Orchid pictured) or a more muted Warm Grey or Black. Everyone also famously has a strong commitment to good work practices, making sure that all of their products are produced ethically. You can always read about the exact factory where your piece is coming from on the brand’s website. Depending on the color, this hoodie can be paired nicely with a more streetwear-inspired fit or even dressed up with a pair of slacks and a nice jacket. And with a price tag under $100, the Track Hoodie provides the best bang for your buck.
Uniqlo really does the basics better than anyone. For the low price of $39.90, you can get a hoodie that looks far more expensive, comes in a wide array of colors and can provide infinite styling opportunities. Buy an Airism long sleeve tee while you’re at it, and layer them for the ultimate warm fall look. The lining of this particular hoodie also makes it a great option for the upcoming colder months.
If you’re looking for a high quality blank hoodie that won’t break the bank, Rue Porter is a great option. As far as fit goes, this one boasts an over-sized drop-shoulder design, which is what a lot of folks are looking for in their hoodie sizing these days. It’s double needle-stitched with heavyweight ribbing. In short, this is an extremely durable blank hoodie for anyone who likes to build their outfits around a hoodie, rather than featuring it as the centerpiece.
This is a truly exceptional plain hoodie. With a price tag north of $200, it might not be the right option for everyone, but if you’re looking for something long-lasting with an incredibly trendy silhouette, check out Seventh. The item description reads: “You won’t accept anything less once you own a V2.” Between the dropped shoulder fit and the rich color options, Seventh’s store is certainly worth exploring for hoodie aficionados and sportswear fans alike.
There’s no way around it, John Elliott makes a heck of a hoodie. This iteration also plays on the Japanese aesthetic notion of wabi-sabi; it comes pre-worn, and if you buy it, you get to watch it continue to evolve throughout your lifetime of wear. Every piece in the Folsom collection is totally unique, as they’ve all been dyed and distressed differently. If you’re looking for a hoodie that’s a cut above the rest, but doesn’t quite break the bank like some of the other designer pieces on the list, then the JE hoodie might be the choice for you.
Reigning Champ’s signature pullover is quite simply a perfect hoodie. It’s durable, available in a few muted colors, features beautiful stitching and is just a treat to put on. There really isn’t much more to say. If you’re looking for an amazing hoodie with no frills, built to last a lifetime, then look no further than the Reigning Champ pullover.