4 Ways To Style Your Hoodie This Fall
Image Courtesy: HypeBeast
The seasons are changing in Orlando, and that means wearing long sleeves and outer layers without feeling like we're slowly roasting ourselves to death. Colder weather fashion certainly provides more variety, but what's a reliable starting point? The hoodie. It's comfortable and extremely versatile. Whether you’re trying to make a statement or just stay warm while maintaining a look, a hoodie can be a great starting point to build a solid outfit.
Athleisure
Count me in for being able to combine coolness with comfort in the simplest way possible, while also not looking like I just came from the gym or was lying in bed all day (although that may be the case). This is basically what athleisure is – the appearance of effortless style, and it doesn’t take too much time, effort or money to complete the look with a no-graphic, solid color hoodie base.
To create a genuine athleisure presence, pair a black hoodie and fitted black joggers with a crisp white sneaker and no-show socks. Gray would also work. Consistent with a clean finish.
Jackets
Besides a fitted jogger or jeans, a jacket is a hoodie’s best friend, especially if you’re trying to add a touch of variety and dress the look up from athleisure. Don’t fret, there’s plenty of options to suit the needs of whatever represents you best or whatever social circumstance calls for. A leather jacket, bomber jacket and denim jacket complete the holy trinity of outer layers to add onto the hoodie. Yes, you might get a little warm if the temperature isn’t cool enough. Quit your whining – sacrifices must be made for fashion.
YouTuber and men’s lifestyle specialist Alex Costa (left) is sporting a gray hoodie with a black leather jacket. An excellent decision to balance out the edginess of the black leather jacket with a lighter shade of hoodie. Madison Beer (right) is pictured in an oversized pink hoodie and light denim jacket. This color combination is very complimentary and works well for her hair color and skin tone. For those who are lightly complected, a light pink is something to normally stray away from as it can enhance the redness of skin.
With Shorts
At this point the styling could be taken one of two directions, the first being with an addition of various coats and the second with shorts. Given Orlando’s general climate throughout the fall months, it won’t get anywhere near cold enough to pair a hoodie and coat reasonably. Therefore, shorts are the next best thing if the temperature remains fair enough to let your legs breathe. Some options could fit in with athleisure, but are dependent on the type of short (i.e. sweat short, jean short, chino short, never a cargo short). The categorizing varies.
To rock this look in a more athleisure sense, make it a track suit. Keep a consistent color scheme and material throughout. Many clothing websites like Boohoo and ASOS sell the hoodie and short combinations together. Another option could be an oversized hoodie and jean shorts.
With Suit
For a look that wants to be as close to full formal as possible but just a piece short, try pairing a hoodie with a suit jacket and tailored pants. It is definitely one of the bolder choices when styling a hoodie with anything, but if done right, it can be a nice blend of smart and sophisticated yet collected and casual. Careful though, without the proper coloring, sizing or situation, the outfit can appear sloppy, lackadaisical and even childish. Make sure the suit jacket can fit the thick sleeves of the hoodie and keep an eye on the shoes with this look. Sneakers are always a safe bet.
To complete this style, try to avoid (as opposed to athleisure) maintaining the same exact color scheme. If you decide to go with gray for example, do a separate shade of gray in the hoodie compared to the suit jacket and pant. The shoe also depends on the colors of the hoodie and suit together and other pieces/accessories.
General Hoodie Recommendations
· Try to avoid the zip-up’s, pullovers almost always look cleaner.
· Graphics are fine, it just makes the styling harder – lean for only a solid color.
· Getting it fitted is never a bad decision and isn’t as costly as you think.
· Save the UCF hoodie for football games (in-person or not).
· The options you have with a black hoodie and a grey hoodie are unparalleled.
Keep in mind, though, this isn’t the end-all-be-all of hoodie styling tips and tricks. The suggestions made are just that, suggestions. Hopefully, this will be a nice starting point to find your individualized, diverse, amazing style.
Strike Out,
Writer: Jacob Willeford
Orlando