Claire's Picks

Hoodies Worth the Closer Look

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The hoodie has a reputation problem and we are here to fix it. For too long it has been treated as the thing you wear when you have given up, the garment you reach for when nothing else feels worth the effort. We disagree entirely. A really good hoodie is one of the hardest working pieces in a wardrobe. It finishes off a tailored trouser in a way that feels genuinely considered. It layers under a long coat without adding bulk. It does the school run and then, with almost no adjustment, does dinner somewhere casual. The problem was never the hoodie itself. It was always the wrong hoodie. What we have pulled together here are the ones that reward a closer look. Heavyweight French terry that holds its shape properly. Relaxed fits that photograph well rather than swamping you. Colours that feel intentional rather than incidental. Some have interesting seaming or an unusual neckline that lifts the whole thing above the ordinary. None of them look like an afterthought. A great hoodie is not a compromise. It is a choice.

Claire's Top Picks

Carhartt Hoodies That Go With Everything STANDOUT Big Brand Pullover Hoodie Jump to section ↓

£89.95 STANDOUT

Cord Hoodies That Earn Their Keep DOROTHY PERKINS UK Disney Minnie Mouse Oversized Fleece Blanket Hoodie Loungewear In Blue Jump to section ↓

£22.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Cotton Hoodies That Just Feel Right FILA UK Raynon Towelling Hoodie Jump to section ↓

£30.00 FILA UK

Hoodies Sweatshirts Padbury Colour Block Zip Through Hoodie in Allure Blue - Le Shark

Embroidered Hoodies That Layer Without Bulk TOKYO LAUNDRY Hoodies Sweatshirts Padbury Colour Block Zip Through Hoodie in Allure Blue - Le Shark Jump to section ↓

£15.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

Hoodies With a Drawstring Worth Reaching For LA REDOUTE UK Printed Hoodie Jump to section ↓

£32.50 LA REDOUTE UK

Hoodies Worth Reaching For LA REDOUTE UK Zip-Up Hoodie in Cotton Blend Jump to section ↓

£46.79 LA REDOUTE UK

Hoodies Worth the Warmth LA REDOUTE UK Teen Simple Some Hoodie Jump to section ↓

£34.39 LA REDOUTE UK

Carhartt Hoodies That Go With Everything

Carhartt has built its reputation on workwear that lasts decades, and the hoodies carry exactly that same energy into everyday dressing. There is something about the weight of the fabric, the slightly boxy cut, the no-nonsense construction, that makes everything else you put on with it look more considered rather than less. That is the trick they pull off. We have been wearing these with wide leg trousers, with midi skirts, with straight jeans, with oversized coats thrown on top, and they work every single time without demanding anything from the rest of the outfit. The colour palette helps enormously. Carhartt keeps things earthy and neutral in a way that feels intentional rather than boring. Browns, washed blacks, faded greens, that specific shade of cream that goes with absolutely everything in a wardrobe. These are not hoodies you hide under a coat because you could not be bothered. These are hoodies you actually style around. We have pulled together the styles and colourways that we think sit best within a properly put together wardrobe. The ones worth owning properly rather than just grabbing.

STANDOUT Big Brand Pullover Hoodie £89.95 STANDOUT

STANDOUT Chase Pullover Hoodie £79.95 STANDOUT

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK CARHARTT WIP W' OG ACTIVE BLACK REVERSIBLE HOODIE £156.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Nelson YosemiteGarment dyed hoodie £125.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK CARHARTT WIP W' NELSON FLR DE SEL HOODIE £127.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Hackwork hoodie in VitolaGlassy Pink £155.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

THE_DOUBLE_F Black cotton hoodie £360.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK CARHARTT WIP AMERICAN SCRIPT GREY HOODIE £82.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Sandwich SuncrestPurple hoodie £115.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

STUARTS LONDON Carhartt WIP Womens Chase Hoodie - Malaga £75.00 STUARTS LONDON

STUARTS LONDON Carhartt WIP Chase Hoodie £22.50 STUARTS LONDON

STUARTS LONDON Carhartt WIP Chase Hoodie - Storm Blue £22.50 STUARTS LONDON

Cord Hoodies That Earn Their Keep

Corduroy makes a hoodie worth keeping. The texture adds something a plain fleece simply cannot, a visual interest that reads as intentional rather than grabbed off the back of a chair. We've always thought the cord hoodie sits in a sweet spot: more considered than a standard sweatshirt, more relaxed than anything that requires actual effort. It works over wide leg jeans on a Saturday, layered under a longer coat when the temperature drops, thrown on over a slip dress in that annoying in between weather that autumn specialises in. The problem with most cord hoodies is the weight. Too stiff and they lose the ease that makes a hoodie worth wearing in the first place. Too lightweight and the corduroy looks cheap, flat, almost painted on. The ones we've pulled together here get that balance right. Good substantial fabric with a proper cord ridge, cuts that are relaxed without being shapeless, and colours that sit in that earthy autumnal range where corduroy genuinely thrives. These are the cord hoodies that will still be in regular rotation three winters from now.

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Disney Minnie Mouse Oversized Fleece Blanket Hoodie Loungewear In Blue £22.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Essential Logo Oversized Raglan Zip Hoodie Light Blue Winter Sky Blue - Size: £34.99 SUPERDRY_UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Essential Logo Oversized Raglan Zip Hoodie White Desert Bone Off White - Size: £49.99 SUPERDRY_UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Boatyard Full Zip Hoodie - Harbour Blue £17.50 INSTOCK UK

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Lockie Full Zip Bonded Fleece Hoodie Blue Mirage Size £51.00 WEIRD_FISH

VIADUCT CLOTHING New Balance All Terrain Hoodie - Black - Black £39.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Elle Sport Adults Signature Hoodie In White £24.99 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Essential Logo Oversized Raglan Zip Hoodie Red Berry Pink - Size: £34.99 SUPERDRY_UK

WEIRD FISH Weird Fish Lana Zip Printed Micro Fleece Hoodie Peony Size £48.00 WEIRD FISH

WEIRD FISH Weird Fish Lana Zip Microfleece Hoodie Ecru Size £30.00 WEIRD FISH

VIADUCT CLOTHING Nike NSW Swoosh Full ZIp Fleece Hoodie £49.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

INSTOCK UK Ladies Boatyard Full Zip Hoodie - Indigo Haze £18.95 INSTOCK UK

Cotton Hoodies That Just Feel Right

Synthetic fleece hoodie fabric has a specific texture that stops feeling good almost immediately. Cotton does not. That is the entire argument for this collection. A cotton hoodie washes better, breathes properly, and sits against your skin in a way that actually improves over time rather than going bobbly and slightly strange after four wears. We are particular about weight here too. Too thin and it loses its purpose. Too thick and you're overheating indoors. The ones we've picked sit in that exact middle ground where they work for a morning walk, a long journey, a day working from home where you still want to feel like yourself. We also care about the cut. A hoodie that swamps you entirely can feel cosy or it can just feel shapeless, and there is a real difference between those two things. The ones here do the oversized thing intentionally, or fit close enough to layer under a coat without bunching. Cotton hoodies are not a compromise choice. When the fabric and the fit are right, they are genuinely the thing you reach for first.

FILA UK Raynon Towelling Hoodie £30.00 FILA UK

BAD SHIRT CLUB Small Cocks Matter Funny Pun Hoodie - Dark Heather £19.99 BAD SHIRT CLUB

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas ZNE Full-Zip Hoodie - BlackBlue - L Black £49.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

NEW ERA CAP New Era Essential Black Pullover Hoodie adult unisex £52.00 NEW ERA CAP

JUICY COUTURE UK JUICY PINK OVERSIZED COLLEGIATE CROPPED TOWELLING HOODIE - L Pink £80.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals D Trefoil Graphic Sweat Hoodie - Yellow - L Yellow £39.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

MADE IN PARADIS UK Baby hoodie Helly Hansen Graphic £25.95 MADE IN PARADIS UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Hoodies Sweatshirts Kole Motif Brushback Fleece Pullover Hoodie with Back Print in Stone £19.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

SNEAKIN UK Organic cotton hoodie Ecologie Corcovado £20.83 SNEAKIN UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals Adicolor Essentials Trefoil Hoodie - Magic Grey - S Blue £39.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton Faded Hoodie: Unisex - M Stone Washed Green £37.00 INSTOCK UK

SNEAKIN UK Heavy zip-up hoodie Just Hoods Graduate £20.08 SNEAKIN UK

Embroidered Hoodies That Layer Without Bulk

Embroidery is the detail that makes a casual piece feel considered, and hoodies are the layer most of us actually reach for without always feeling great about. These two things together solve something real. A heavyweight hoodie adds warmth but ruins the line of everything underneath it, so we have been specifically looking for options that sit close without suffocating, that layer under a coat or over a shirt without creating that padded, shapeless middle section that casual dressing can fall into so easily. The embroidery matters because it signals intention. A simple floral motif at the chest or a delicate pattern across the back tells the world this was a choice, not an afterthought. We have found that the best ones use a mid-weight cotton blend that keeps its shape wash after wash and sits flat against the body rather than gathering at the hem. These are hoodies that work with tailored trousers and with jeans, that dress up and dress down without any particular effort required. The embroidery earns the hoodie a place in outfits it would otherwise have no business being in.

TOKYO LAUNDRY Hoodies Sweatshirts Padbury Colour Block Zip Through Hoodie in Allure Blue - Le Shark £15.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

LA REDOUTE UK RL Fleece Hoodie £148.75 LA REDOUTE UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK adidas All Szn Fleece Hoodie £37.66 MADE IN PARADIS UK

STANDOUT Italo Velour Zip Hoodie £79.95 STANDOUT

TOKYO LAUNDRY Hoodies Sweatshirts Supply Co Zip Through Hoodie with Borg Lining in Oatgrey Marl £29.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

MADE IN PARADIS UK Zip-up hoodie Superdry Borg £57.56 MADE IN PARADIS UK

INSTOCK UK Unisex Boatyard Full Zip Hoodie - Grey £17.50 INSTOCK UK

MONSOON Baby Polar Bear Fleece Hoodie White £16.00 MONSOON

MADE IN PARADIS UK Hoodie Project X Paris Signature £27.23 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MASDINGS NYC Stamp Graphic Hoodie £44.50 MASDINGS

LA REDOUTE UK Tonal Embroidered Logo Hoodie £54.00 LA REDOUTE UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Good For Nothing Cropped Zip Through Hoodie In Grey £42.25 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Hoodies With a Drawstring Worth Reaching For

Most hoodies have a drawstring that exists purely for show. It's too thin, too slippery, or so poorly threaded that it disappears into the casing after the first wash and never comes back. We find that genuinely annoying. Because a drawstring done properly actually changes the garment. It lets you cinch the hood close on a cold morning, adjust the fit around your face when the wind picks up, or simply wear the thing in a way that looks intentional rather than shapeless. The hoodies we've pulled together here all pass that specific test. The drawstring works. But more than that, the whole hoodie works. The weight of the fabric is right, the hood sits properly, and the silhouette flatters rather than swamps. We've included everything from slim fitted styles you can layer under a coat to more oversized options that earn that proportions conversation properly. A good hoodie is one of the most reached for pieces in a wardrobe. It deserves the same level of scrutiny we give everything else here. These are the ones that genuinely held up to it.

LA REDOUTE UK Printed Hoodie £32.50 LA REDOUTE UK

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Big Print Full Zip Hoodie £179.40 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

STANDOUT Chest Logo Pullover Hoodie £104.95 STANDOUT

TOKYO LAUNDRY Hoodies Sweatshirts Mitch Zip Through Hoodie with Colour Block Panel Sleeves In Sky Captain Navy Blue - Le Shark £17.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

GHOSTBIKES.COM Oxford Super . Motorcycle Hoodie - Tech Black -" | | -" £129.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

TOKYO LAUNDRY Hoodies Sweatshirts Whitewood Motif Zip Through Fleece Hoodie In Sky Captain Navy Siro £15.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

JUICY COUTURE UK JUICY PINK CROPPED LOOSE FIT RETRO LOGO HOODIE - M Pink £75.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals Rivalry Block Hoodie - Navy, Berry & White - M Navy £49.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

THE_DOUBLE_F Black French Dépt. hoodie £409.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

MASDINGS Sleeve Badge Hoodie £44.50 MASDINGS

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Essential Logo Overdyed Hoodie Pink Powder Pink - Size: £41.99 SUPERDRY_UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's Hoodie Only New Tessa £17.11 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Hoodies Worth Reaching For

Most hoodies are fine. Worn, washed, worn again, never really thought about. That's not what we're after here. The hoodies we actually reach for are the ones where the fit does something genuinely flattering, where the weight of the fabric feels considered rather than accidental, and where the colour doesn't fade into nothing after three washes. Getting that combination right is harder than it sounds. Too oversized and it swamps you. Too fitted and you've basically got a sweatshirt with a hood attached. The proportions have to be right. We've been hunting for hoodies that sit at that exact point where comfortable and put together stop being opposites. Elevated basics, yes, but also genuinely cosy pieces that work with wide leg trousers, under a coat, thrown over weekend dresses when the temperature drops unexpectedly. Some of our favourites here are investment pieces in really beautiful fabrics. Some are brilliant at a price that feels almost unreasonable for how good they look. All of them earn their place in a wardrobe that has no room for things that are merely fine.

LA REDOUTE UK Zip-Up Hoodie in Cotton Blend £46.79 LA REDOUTE UK

EGO (UK) Long Sleeve Zip Up Hoodie In Contrast Pink Polka Dot, Women's Size £27.00 EGO (UK)

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals Adicolor Classics -Stripes Hoodie - Ambient Sky Blue - Blue £39.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

BAD SHIRT CLUB Beggin' For A Peggin Funny Camping Hoodie - Sand £19.99 BAD SHIRT CLUB

BLACKS Women’s Yogi Fleece Hoodie £15.00 BLACKS

SUPERGA_UK Superga Kids Hoodie - Avion £30.00 SUPERGA_UK

FILA UK Gardenia Fiorella Zip Up Hoodie £36.00 FILA UK

EGO (UK) Long Sleeve Zip Down Cropped Hoodie In Washed Black Denim, Women's Size £17.00 EGO (UK)

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yours Teddy Fleece Hoodie In Pink £28.05 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

LA REDOUTE UK Zip-Up Hoodie with Sherpa £15.19 LA REDOUTE UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas ZNE Full-Zip Hoodie - Navy - Navy £49.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Enorsia Longline Zip Front Hoodie In Green £29.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Hoodies Worth the Warmth

A good hoodie is not a compromise. It is not what you wear when you have given up on looking good. That reputation is outdated and we are done with it. The hoodies in this collection are the ones that make you look intentional even when you are being completely comfortable, which is the whole point and also harder to achieve than it sounds. Fabric weight matters enormously here. Too thin and it looks cheap and loses its shape by the second wash. Too stiff and it never softens into that perfect worn in quality that makes a great hoodie feel like a second skin. We have been looking for the versions that get the balance exactly right, the ones with a proper fit through the shoulder, a hood that actually sits well, and a colour that holds. Some are oversized in a considered way. Some are fitted and clean enough to wear with tailored pieces. All of them earn the warmth they promise. Because comfort and style are not a trade off when you buy the right thing.

LA REDOUTE UK Teen Simple Some Hoodie £34.39 LA REDOUTE UK