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Originally designed to protect New York warehouse workers (who probably needed a few more general workers' protections thrown in) in the 1930s, the sweatshirt entered the mainstream a decade later when a new form of dress-down casuals with blue collar credentials upended the stuffy menswear conventions of the era. The original article had hoods attached for better protection (but that’s for another episode) and slowly but surely infiltrated gyms, colleges, sportswear and secondary school uniforms. And that’s how the sweatshirt became a staple.
Today sweatshirts run the gamut of menswear. They’re sometimes plain. They sometimes Gucci. They can be suitable to wear in tandem with your tailoring, too. Or, if you’re a really cool cat, worn as an accessory tied diagonally across your torso.
Here's the best of the best.
Sunspel
Sunspel's exceptionally soft contemporary cut loopback sweatshirt – a staple offering of the brand introduced by its former creative director Jonathan Anderson (yes, as in Mr JW) – comes in fifteen colours, one to suit every side of your personality.
£140; sunspel.com
Valentino
Spring florals might not be groundbreaking but they sure are irresistible. And this year, it's Valentino that's doing them best.
£990; valentino.com
Kapital
A lucky graphic peps up this effortlessly cool Kapital sweatshirt that Mr Porter recommends styling with some extremely baggy jeans and a pair of brown suede boots.
£170; mrporter.com
Saint Michael
It's the collab you've been waiting your entire life for: Peanuts x The Bible. Buzzy LA outfit Saint Michael makes it possible, bringing a Snoopyfied version of its scriptural namesake to a conspicous sweat that friends and passersby alike are bound to worship,
£549; farfetch.com
Sweats Collective
London's in-crowd – from content creator @gullyguyleo to fast-rising musician @ashbeckbaby – are rocking minimalist loungewear label Sweats Collective, and there's no reason why you shouldn't, too.
£100; sweatscollective.co
Autograph by Marks and Spencer
For a sweatshirt with timeless appeal, look no further than Autograph. Buy it, wear it and love it, and then proceed to wonder why you ever overlooked the affordable, sensible M&S sub-label.
£35; marksandspencer.com
Kenzo
Everywhere he goes – from Bape to Human Made to Kenzo – Nigo imbues his designs with a playful charm that the kids-at-heart kinda folk can get behind. Here’s a fine example.
£300; kenzo.com
Telfar
Unlike its peers, Telfar isn't concerned with constantly setting new trends. Instead, the zeitgeisty American brand zeroes in on elevated staples that transcend seasons. Like this embossed sweatshirt that's fashionable now and forever.
$80; telfar.net
Finisterre
Frill-free and soft to the touch, this ecru Finisterre sweatshirt is a foolproof layer for all year round.
£65; finisterre.com
Nanamica
Nanamica’s form-follows-function approach to design results in flawless apparel. And it’s the Tokyo label’s crew neck sweatshirt that many regard as its magnum opus – a transeasonal layer so well cut, you’ll want several.
£147; endclothing.com
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