To put it simply, vintage hoodies are a necessity. No, not your old high school hoodies that are collecting dust in your parents’ basement.
We are talking about real vintage hoodies that have been cared for and looked after for literally decades. Hoodies are some of the most versatile vintage pieces out there, thanks to their chameleon-like tendencies to blend in with any style you want.
How is that possible, you ask? We’ll tell you.
The Chillest Person You Know
Close your eyes and picture the chillest person you know. What are they wearing? Let us guess: a hoodie, boyfriend jeans, and a well-loved pair of sneakers? Whatever you envision, one thing is for certain.
The chillest person you know has never once had to stress about fashion because they know all the ingredients of a great outfit. Jeans, for example, are a classic for a reason. You can wear anything with jeans, and a vintage hoodie is no exception. Skinny jeans, mom jeans, straight leg jeans, you name it — every jean silhouette can be matched with a hoodie.
Hoodies also make for a great layering piece, so don’t be ashamed to pull out that cozy vintage flannel and live out your grunge days. A sweatshirt can even be worn around your waist if you want to save the layering for later.
Finally, the CPYK (chillest person you know) definitely wouldn’t stress about their vintage hoodie being too oversized. One could simply wear the ensemble as a dress and walk out of the house without a second thought. A thigh-high pair of boots can help complete the look, but then again, a good old-fashioned pair of sneakers has never failed the CPYK before, and they won’t fail you, either.
Athlete’s Day Off
Dressing in athleisure is one of the easiest ways to look chic without having to spend a lot of time assembling an outfit. The athleisure craze has given us one of the greatest fashion blessings for lazy days and running errands: the sweatsuit.
Vintage sweatsuits offer a fun chance to explore the fashions of a bygone era while still fitting in with the trends of today. However, vintage tracksuits can be hard to come by. If you’re unable to find a suit that fits your style, you can always pair a matching set of joggers or sweats with your vintage hoodie, and no one would be the wiser.
Athleisure doesn’t always have to match, though. If the matchy-matchy look isn’t exactly your style, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple and pairing a vintage hoodie with some black leggings. And if you can even update this uniform to transition into the warmer months by opting for a bicycle short instead.
To take the athleisure look one step further, throw on a pair of slide sandals and a baseball hat or beanie, and you’ll look like every off-duty model in New York City.
Put Some Prep in Your Step
Okay, preppy might not be a mood, but it is definitely a vibe. Sometimes you just want to live out your biggest “Britney Spears in the ‘...Baby One More Time’ music video” dreams, and who are we to stop you?
Sure, she’s not wearing a hoodie, but replacing her signature cardi with a modern yet still old-school vintage hoodie is a great way to give the look a much-needed 2021 refresh. A plaid mini skirt will always evoke “private school prep,” especially when paired with a pair of knee-high socks.
Or, if cosplaying as a high school student feels too young for you, you can always go up an age bracket and channel your inner “posh country club parent.” A pleated tennis mini, a baby polo tee shirt, a hoodie tied around your shoulders, and some tennis shoes to match is the perfect way to feel athletic, expensive, and attractive all at once.
And if you want to really commit to the look, don’t forget the pièces de résistance: a visor.
The Sophisticated Business Person
If you’re looking for a way to seamlessly incorporate your favorite vintage hoodies into your business casual work attire, you’ve come to the right place. It is becoming increasingly acceptable to wear a hoodie around the workplace, so long as you know how to style it correctly.
For example, a vintage hoodie will blend in perfectly at the office underneath a structured, tailored blazer and some light jewelry to match. When doing so, it’s best to stick to your most neutral-colored hoodies--blacks, whites, tans, creams, etc. This way, you won’t attract too much attention to your hoodie and won’t distract from the actual business casual elements of the outfit, either.
Furthermore, a hoodie and power suit combo will always be a success and can easily transition from day to night just by taking off the blazer. Speaking of, if you consider your company to have a rather laid-back office environment, you could even modify this look by ditching the blazer completely and opting for your best pair of trousers instead.
One final way to make your vintage hoodie look respectable around the office is by pairing your pullover with a freshly steamed silk midi skirt. A look like this is best worn with a longline coat and some heels to reinforce the dress code while still remaining playful.
The Edgy Alter Ego
When you hear the word “edgy,” the last thing that comes to mind is probably a hoodie, right? Well, we’re here to change that! A vintage hoodie can be the cornerstone of your most edgy looks; you just have to know where to start.
Finding an old band sweatshirt, for instance, and layering it underneath a classic leather jacket is very reminiscent of how the punks of the 1970s used to dress. If that’s the look you’re going for, adding a studded belt or some chain accessories won’t hurt, and neither will throwing on your most tattered pair of dark wash denim.
Hoodies and leather make a great team because their fabrics are so vastly different from one another that pairing them together actually makes for a nice contrast. For that reason, a leather mini skirt or some leather pants will couple just as nicely with a hoodie as a leather jacket.
Lastly, if your vintage hoodie is too large to style, don’t be afraid to crop it and give it a ripped, live edge hem that will only become more and more raw as time goes on.
Go For Bold
Matching a hoodie with a neon ensemble feels very reminiscent of the ’80s and early ’90s. Neon is trendy again, which is great news for your beloved vintage hoodies. The best advice for navigating the return of neon is to refrain from overdoing it.
Stick to one neon piece per look by pairing a neon vintage hoodie with a black pant or vice versa. This way, you can still have the boldness of the neon without overpowering the room with your radiance.
Or, if you’d prefer to nod to the neon craze instead, a vintage graphic printed hoodie can make your outfit look just as youthful while still keeping you in your comfort zone.
Stay Snug and Stay Stylish
If you are someone who values function over fashion, now there’s a way to blend the two into one. Styling a vintage hoodie with your trusty bomber jacket will make you feel as toasty as you are trendy, and you can even pull out your favorite beanie for a little extra ear protection.
A denim jacket and hoodie combo is just as tried and true, and so is a puffer vest that will insulate your core while also providing a free range of motion. Layering a hoodie underneath a jacket will give your outfit more depth than if you had just opted for a regular long sleeve shirt and will look more visually interesting, too.
Free and Fun Loving
If hoodies were an animal, they’d definitely be a chameleon. When styled correctly, they can be as noticeable or as subtle as you’d like. If you want your new patterned pants to be the talk of the night, throwing on your most basic vintage hoodie is sure to keep the attention on the main attraction.
Thinking of test driving a wild new shoe? A neutral-toned sweatshirt is the most non-distracting garment there is and will help draw the eye to the part of the outfit you most want to highlight. Or maybe you’ve been dying to break in your new eye-catching winter coat but can’t find a way to make it look grounded?
Don’t worry; because a classic muted hoodie is sure to do the trick. Whatever the situation may be, your vintage hoodie can always be styled to save the day.
As you can see, there’s a vintage hoodie for every fashion-related mood imaginable. Whether you want to look chic and in charge or relaxed and under control, you can always rely on your vintage hoodies to complete the look.
Sources:
Anarchy In The UK: A Brief History Of Punk Fashion | Marie Claire
A Tracksuit History: From 1930s Sportswear to Lockdown Swag | Vice
7 Ways Early Britney Spears Influenced Your Fashion Decisions And Probably Still Does Today | Bustle