Few contemporary garments come close to matching the comfort levels of the modest hoodie. While often thought of as something worn by wayward teenagers or merely a strictly around-the-house piece, with a few sartorial adjustments, the hooded sweatshirt can be taken out into the streets and into (relaxed) workplaces. Here’s our Albert Review guide to wearing a hoodie (yes, as an adult).
What is a hoodie
A hoodie is a sweatshirt, jacket, or jumper that includes a hood, often with a drawstring opening to adjust the hood size. Hoodies are typically made of thick cotton and lined with fleece, however, modern iterations of the hoodie include materials like terrycloth and thin ribbed cotton.
History of the hoodie
The hooded sweatshirt originated in the 1930s, as a predominantly utilitarian garment. First produced by sports apparel company Champion, hoodies were marketed to labourers working in cold upstate New York. The boxing drama film Rocky, released in 1976, gave the hoodie its street cred, cementing the garment’s iconic status. Since then, the hoodie has been co-opted by hip-hop culture, university students, young adults, and the fashion world.
A seemingly innocuous piece, the humble hoodie was the target of the UK Conservative Party’s wrath in 2006, with leader David Cameron making a speech suggesting that the hoodie was worn for criminal purposes more often than not. The Labour party rebutted this with their parody speech “hug a hoodie,” a testament to the hoodie’s divisive nature; both sartorially and politically.
How to wear a hoodie
Hoodies needn’t be confined to the house or neighbouring streets. Surprisingly versatile with a multitude of styling options, hoodies work perfectly well in non-lounging contexts. Here are the best ways to wear a hooded sweatshirt with style.
Pair it with tailored pants
Though jeans may be the first port of call when throwing on a hooded sweatshirt, pairing it with tailored pants elevates the piece, allowing it to be worn in – albeit casual – offices and workplaces. Try suiting separates, plaid or pinstriped pants, leather trousers, woollen trousers, or chinos, and team them with a neutral hoodie with minimal graphics.
Throw on a structured coat
Wearing structured outerwear like a trench or overcoat makes for a streamlined silhouette that offsets the casual nature of the hooded sweatshirt. For added interest, try a patterned overcoat; checks or plaid always work well.
Wear it under a blazer
Channel a high-low mix by wearing a hoodie with a blazer or suit. For an elevated take on athleisure, opt for a monochromatic look; all black or all grey is a foolproof option. Alternatively, tonal dressing in shades of beige, tan, and caramel also works well. Team your look with loafers, casual derby shoes, mules, or slingbacks.
Pull on some jeans
Ah, the old faithful. You really can’t go wrong by teaming a hooded sweatshirt with a pair of slim-cut jeans. To add a hint of luxury to the look, opt for a hoodie in a material like merino wool or cashmere, over a traditional fleece variety. Add a crew neck t-shirt underneath and a pair of leather sneakers, Chelsea boots, heeled ankle boots, or strappy pumps and you’re good to go.
The best hoodies to buy in 2025
The hoodie is omnipresent in the offerings of pretty much every menswear, leisurewear, and athletic label, not to mention many a women’s collection. But, for such a ubiquitous item, it’s surprisingly difficult to find a good hoodie. Transcending its utilitarian origins and associations with various sub-cultures, purveyors of hoodies no longer exclusively sit within the athleticwear and hip-hop categories, with everyone from Champion (naturally) to Loro Piana (in cashmere, of course), popping a hood on the on their pullovers.
When sifting through the sheer volume of hoodies on the market, we’re looking for a couple of things:
- Firstly, no synthetic fibres. Cotton is the baseline, so there’s no room for polyester here. More luxurious takes on the hoodie might employ this by using merino wool or cashmere in place of (or alongside) cotton.
- Luxury should be felt, not seen. Now, we’re not steadfast proponents of quiet luxury (there’s a time and place for branding), but when it comes to hoodies, we want a higher price tag to be justified by elevated materials (like the aforementioned merino wool and cashmere), rather than the addition of an all-over monogram or large logo slapped across the chest. For that reason, you won’t find four-figure cotton hoodies from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Celine et al. on this list.
- The hoodie needs to be a pullover. While brands are slapping hoods on everything these days, a full-zip hoodie just doesn’t hit the same as a pullover. The cosy factor of a pullover is unmatched, which is why you’ll exclusively find them on this list of the best hoodies.
Here, we’ve put together the best brands to buy hoodies from. Individual products tend to change on a seasonal basis so we’ve selected a few of our favourites from the current lineup, but rest you’ll always find an array of solid hoodie options here.
1. House of Blanks
When it comes to solid, no-nonsense hoodies cut from pure heavyweight cotton, nobody does it better than House of Blanks. There’s not much to say about them, but that’s a good thing. House of Blanks hoodies are free from logos, graphics, or any other extraneous details, with nothing more than an oversized kangaroo pocket residing on the front of the pullover. Available in either 400gsm or 500gsm, they’re satisfyingly heavyweight and are finished in french terry with a soft hand feel. While the hoodies are pared back, House of Blanks utilises a wide colour palette, with hoodies available in shades like forest green, red, olive, and yellow in addition to the usual suspects (i.e. neutrals).
Price: $110USD (approx. $172AUD)
Best for: streetstyle or casual wear, worn alone or under an oversized coat — relatively heavyweight
Fabric composition: 100% cotton
2. Champion
The brand to have first introduced hooded sweatshirts into the market during the 1930s, Champion (then known as the ‘Knickerbocker Knitting Company’) remains a decent go-to for a good hoodie with a sporty edge. While the athleticwear brand’s early hoodies were made from thick cotton jersey, Champion now uses cotton and polyester blends across its range of hoodies. We prefer 100% cotton varieties so Champion isn’t our default hoodie brand, however it’s still worth a mention due to its pivotal role in creating the garment. That said, if you’re in the market for a reasonably priced hoodie with a good hand feel in neutrals or dark colours, the American outfit has you covered.
Price: from $80AUD
Best for: streetwear ‘fits with cargos or jeans — heavyweight and lightweight options available
Fabric composition: cotton and polyester blends
3. Lady White Co.
Since its founding a decade ago, Lady White Co.has stayed true to its ethos of classic pieces interpreted through a contemporary lens. While plain pullover hoodies can tend to look a bit same same after a while, the Lady White Co. C Hoodie sets itself apart through minute details; the rectangular patch pocket rather than a classic kangaroo pocket lends it more of a modern streetwear feel that feels akin to something that Acne Studios would put out. The slightly elongated waistband nips in to provide definition to the boxy silhouette, which is important when styling it with tailored trousers and makes the overall ‘fit look intentional rather than sloppy. The C Hoodie is cut from midweight brushed cotton with a fleece finish, making it soft to the touch.
Price: $299AUD
Best for: elevated casual wear, over tailored trousers and under a blazer
Fabric composition: 100% cotton
4. Sunspel
Prioritising natural materials and quality craftsmanship since its inception in the 19th century, heritage British brand Sunspel makes excellent elevated basics. The brand’s Loopback Hoodies are no exception. Crafted from cotton loopback fabric which is less susceptible to shrinking than standard jersey cotton and better at wicking moisture away from the skin, the Sunspel Loopback Hoodie has a classic fit and a double hood to prevent exposed lining. It’s available in four neutral shades.
Price: £175 (approx. $347AUD)
Best for: elevated casual outfits, styled under blazer and with dark denim or odd trousers
Fabric composition: 100% cotton (ribbed details are 95% cotton, 5% elastane)
5. Loro Piana
There’s something delightfully subversive about oxymoronic garments, like a pair of crystal studded combat boots or a silk trench coat. Here, the juxtaposition comes courtesy of everyone’s favourite old money brand Loro Piana, with the Italian luxury brand crafting a hoodie from cashmere (there are cotton and cashmere blends available, but where’s the fun in that?).
A hoodie even David Cameron would be keen to hug, the aptly named Cocooning Hoodie shrouds its wearer in plush, jersey knit cashmere fleece, providing the feeling of being wrapped in luxury wherever you go. Cut from 100% cashmere, it’s deliciously soft and cosy, with ribbed knit cuffs and waistband working to define the silhouette. It’s also one of the few hoodies you could viably get away with wearing to work under a suit (smart casual environments only).
Price: €3200 (approx. $5250AUD)
Best for: smart casual, lounging around the house cosplaying as old money while watching Succession — style it under a herringbone suit or go tonal with cream wool trousers
Fabric composition: 100% cashmere
6. Everlane
If you’re a fan of the luxurious aesthetic a wool knit lends the traditionally utilitarian silhouette but balk at the four-figure price tag of the Loro Piana offering above, perhaps Everlane will satiate your desires without draining your bank account. The Everlane Felted Merino Hoodie pairs durable and breathable merino wool construction with a sleek, trim fit that allows it to fit easily under a blazer or coat without bunching up at the sleeves (a working hazard when it comes to baggier fit iterations). It’s available in neutral tones as well as a couple of earthy colours.
Price: $117AUD
Best for: elevated casual, under blazers, coats, or even a suit
Fabric composition: 100% wool (ribbed details are 93% wool, 6% nylon, 1% elastane)
7. Asket
Asket specialises in classics done well, so it’s no surprise the sustainably minded Swedish brand has a hoodie in its lineup. Asket’s The Hoodie (flamboyant nomenclature isn’t part of the game here) is completely devoid of extraneous details, meaning the cotton pullover eschews a kangaroo pocket in favour of a streamlined aesthetic. The absence of said pocket means it doesn’t scream leisurewear when paired with tailored pieces, but also works well within a minimalist casual uniform of jeans and a white t-shirt.
Price: $180AUD
Best for: minimalist streetstyle, elevated casual under a blazer
Fabric composition: 100% cotton
8. Sanvt
For those who are particular about fit, Sanvt’s The Hooded Sweatshirt is a viable contender for the perfect hoodie. Available in short, regular, and long lengths, it’s constructed from 400gsm cotton loopback fabric, resulting in a soft, airy weave that aids in wicking moisture.
Price: $199AUD
Best for: casual outfits
Fabric composition: 100% cotton
9. Velasca
Representing the antithesis of fast fashion, Velasca has recently expanded its repertoire from footwear to ready-to-wear. While the Italian label posits a more refined aesthetic, it does recognise that a hoodie is a forever classic. The Velasca Civita Hoodie is crafted in Italy from cotton jersey and garment dyed, lending it a lived-in feel.
Price: $252AUD
Best for: casual outfits
Fabric composition: 100% cotton
10. Pangaia
Environmentally minded brand Pangaia offers a luxurious yet sustainable take on the classic hoodie, with its DNA Recycled Cashmere Hoodie crafted from 65% recycled cashmere (alongside 35% cashmere and 5% wool). The relaxed fit style offers a comfortable feel while the cashmere composition elevates the utilitarian silhouette to smart casual status, allowing it to be styled like a woolen sweater.
Price: $635AUD
Best for: smart casual outfits, layering under a blazer or structured overcoat
Fabric composition: 60% recycled cashmere, 35% cashmere, 5% wool
Words by T. Angel
