Hoodies and Sweatshirts for Grown Men

When guys come to me for style advice and ask about hoodies or athletic wear, my first inclination is to just say “no”.

Really, it's just a whole lot easier to recommend that a novice style guy steers clear of hoodies and sweatshirts than it is to have a lengthy conversation about how to wear them successfully.

It's sort of the way you wouldn't give a teenage driver tips on how to roll through stop signs or blast through a yellow traffic light their first time behind the wheel.

But that really isn't a fair way to deal with the topic as these items can have their place in a man's casual wardrobe.  

They just have to be implemented properly.

And since we have the luxury of communicating via print, let me take the necessary time to express my opinions and provide you with examples. 

Why guys like sweatshirts
Everyone knows that as a general rule, hoodies and sweatshirts are essentially a criminal offense in the world of menswear.

But again and again, I get the same questions regarding exactly how, not if, one can include these athletic items into a respectable wardrobe.

So instead of railing against the everyman's favorite wardrobe item, I motion to embrace the inevitable and learn how to cleverly incorporate them into your wardrobes.

But first, why exactly do guys like sweatshirts so much? 

Sweatshirts are familiar
Reinventing your style can be a daunting task.

So it's better to take small steps toward the end goal rather than to remain stagnant.

And it's a hell of a lot easier to upgrade an item of clothing that's already in your wardrobe than it is to transition to an entirely different style.

If you're anything like me (and every guy I've ever known), you've been wearing hoodies and sweatshirts for as long as you can remember.

You may have even had your “good” hoodies that you reserved for parties on the weekend. *hangs head in shame*

So rather than taking the leap from that baggy sports hoodie to a silk and cashmere v-neck sweater, take a baby step by upgrading to a fitted hoodie.

It'll be a huge style improvement, but will also look perfectly at home in your daily life. 

Sweatshirts are comfortable
Most guys put comfort before fashion and I, too, make it a point to avoid uncomfortable clothes, no matter how good they may look.

This is a non-issue with sweatshirts as there's no denying that a 100% cotton crew neck is going to be as comfortable as pajamas.

The preference makes perfect sense because men are physical by nature.

We resist clothing that inhibits our movement, causes us to overheat, or is too delicate to withstand normal abuse.

I've been randomly asked countless times “can you move this for me?” or “can you reach that shelf?”.

It would be silly to have to decline the request to help another because of excessively restrictive or fussy clothing.