Joe's Picks

Sweatshirts Worth Reaching For First

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Joe's Top Picks

Applique Sweatshirts That Punch Above Their Weight NATORI Double Knit Short Sleeve Applique Sweatshirt Jump to section ↓

$149.00 NATORI

Cropped Sweatshirts That Flatter Without Trying IFCHIC Vivienne Westwood Grey Cropped Sweatshirt With Orb Logo Jump to section ↓

$406.00 IFCHIC

Men NFL San Francisco ers Black Super Bowl XXIV Champions Sweatshirt Black Sweatshirts L Black

Sweatshirts With a Distressed Edge That Works SHIEKH Men NFL San Francisco ers Black Super Bowl XXIV Champions Sweatshirt Black Sweatshirts L Black Jump to section ↓

$73.99 SHIEKH

Sweatshirts With a University Edge That Works W CONCEPT (US) NYCU ATHL.DIV Logo Terry Sweatshirt Jump to section ↓

$92.00 W CONCEPT (US)

Sweatshirts With Embroidered Detail Done Properly PRINTERVAL Luffy One Piece Anime Embroidered Sweatshirt Jump to section ↓

$31.95 PRINTERVAL

Varsity Sweatshirts That Look the Part RENT THE RUNWAY Parke Varsity Hoodie Sweatshirt Grey-blue-print Jump to section ↓

$111.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

Washed Sweatshirts That Quietly Get On With It GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC Led Zeppelin A Sweatshirt Jump to section ↓

$118.00 GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC

Applique Sweatshirts That Punch Above Their Weight

Applique done badly looks like a craft project that got out of hand. Done well, it's one of the more interesting things happening in casual menswear right now, and the gap between those two outcomes is almost entirely about scale, placement, and whether the base garment was worth wearing in the first place. We've been paying close attention to sweatshirts where the applique adds something real, a graphic element that changes the reading of the piece without screaming for attention. The weight of the fleece matters here too. Too light and the whole thing loses its shape by lunchtime. The ones we've picked sit in that range where they layer properly under a coat and still work on their own. These are not novelty pieces. They're sweatshirts you'd reach for on a Saturday morning and not feel the need to change before going anywhere. The applique is the reason they're interesting. The cut is the reason they stay in rotation.

NATORI Double Knit Short Sleeve Applique Sweatshirt $149.00 NATORI

SUPERDRY US Superdry Men's Workwear Applique Sweatshirt Navy $62.96 SUPERDRY US

CERQULAR LEE Mens Green Crew Neck L Cotton Blend Applique Autumn Leaves Sweatshirt $27.29 CERQULAR

DRESTIGE US Cornell Cipher Crewneck Egret Men's Lightweight Crewneck Sweatshirt $169.10 DRESTIGE US

DRESTIGE US Eagle Applique Men's Crewneck Sweatshirt $169.10 DRESTIGE US

SUPERDRY US Superdry Men's Vintage Athletic Henley Sweatshirt Navy $109.95 SUPERDRY US

SUPERDRY US Superdry Men's Men's Vintage Athletic Henley Sweatshirt Navy Eclipse Navy $62.96 SUPERDRY US

SUPERDRY US Superdry Men's Workwear Applique Sweatshirt Black $62.96 SUPERDRY US

THE LUXURY CLOSET Kenzo Grey Cactus Applique Cotton Knit Long Sleeve Sweatshirt $151.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

KARMALOOP Letterman Duck Sweatshirt $110.00 KARMALOOP

DRESTIGE US Cornell Cipher Hoodie Beetle Men's Lightweight Hooded Sweatshirt $169.10 DRESTIGE US

CERQULAR CHAMPION Mens Grey Greek Letters Crew Neck Applique Cotton Blend Sweatshirt $64.99 CERQULAR

Cropped Sweatshirts That Flatter Without Trying

The cropped length gets a bad reputation it doesn't entirely deserve. On the right guy, with the right proportions, a slightly shorter sweatshirt is one of the smarter casual pieces you can own. It works with a high rise trouser to create a clean line. It layers over a longer tee without looking accidental. It keeps a relaxed outfit from reading as sloppy. The problem is that most men either go too cropped, which takes commitment to pull off, or pick up a regular fit and wonder why it looks shapeless. The ones we've pulled together here sit in a more considered middle ground. Not dramatically shortened, just proportioned well enough that they do something for your silhouette without demanding attention. We've been looking at weight, seam placement, and how they sit relative to a waistband. These are the sweatshirts that make the outfit feel considered without looking like you spent twenty minutes thinking about it.

IFCHIC Vivienne Westwood Grey Cropped Sweatshirt With Orb Logo $406.00 IFCHIC

IFCHIC Off-White Cotton Crewneck Cropped Sweatshirt $337.50 IFCHIC

THREDUP (US) Ocean Drive Clothing Co. Sweatshirt: Silver Tops $12.99 THREDUP (US)

IFCHIC Max Mara White cropped sweatshirt $324.00 IFCHIC

IFCHIC Max Mara Beige cropped sweatshirt $324.00 IFCHIC

THE LUXURY CLOSET Balmain Black Logo Print Cotton Crop Sweatshirt $339.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

DRESTIGE US Sun - Cropped sweatshirt Black F $225.15 DRESTIGE US

L SPACE Fleur Sweatshirt $139.00 L SPACE

CERQULAR ADIDAS Cropped Mens Sweatshirt Yellow $28.59 CERQULAR

CERQULAR Cropped Stussy Graphic Sweatshirt - Medium Black Cotton $79.05 CERQULAR

GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC Black Sabbath Cropped Sweatshirt by Recycled Karma - L Black $69.00 GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC

SHOPBOP Varley Tasmin Cropped Sweatshirt Zephyr Mauve $118.00 SHOPBOP

Sweatshirts With a Distressed Edge That Works

Most distressed sweatshirts get it wrong in one of two ways. Either they look like they came pre-aged by a factory algorithm, all uniform fading and perfectly placed wear that convinces nobody, or they go so hard on the destruction that you genuinely cannot tell if it is intentional or just neglect. Neither works. What actually works is subtler than that. A slightly worn collar. A hem that has lost a little of its crispness. Fading that looks like the garment has been lived in rather than processed. The sweatshirts we have pulled together here sit in that specific place where the distressing adds character without asking you to explain yourself. They work with heavy denim and work boots. They work layered under an overshirt on colder days. They do not look like they are trying to be streetwear and they do not look like a costume. Getting this right takes more thought than it should. These prove it is possible.

SHIEKH Men NFL San Francisco ers Black Super Bowl XXIV Champions Sweatshirt Black Sweatshirts L Black $73.99 SHIEKH

W CONCEPT (US) Classic Sign Board Sweatshirt Pink $83.00 W CONCEPT (US)

PRINTERVAL Distressed Vintage Texas State Flag Souvenir Map Sweatshirt $19.95 PRINTERVAL

CERQULAR JUNK FOOD Mens White Seattle Seahawks Crew Neck S Cotton Blend Sweatshirt NFL $58.49 CERQULAR

CERQULAR PUMA Mens Black Pullover Hoodie M Cotton Blend Casual Sportswear Sweatshirt $29.89 CERQULAR

PRINTERVAL Jalen Hurts So Good Eagles Distressed Sweatshirt, Philly Football Sweater $19.95 PRINTERVAL

PRINTERVAL Beetlejuice Distressed Sweatshirt $19.95 PRINTERVAL

CERQULAR CUT THE CRAP Mens Orange Crew Neck M Cotton Long Sleeve Sweatshirt Logo $27.29 CERQULAR

SHOPBOP Rachel Comey Stanza Sweatshirt Peach $250.00 SHOPBOP

ZAVVI US &AMP; CANADA BATMAN Bat Logo Distressed Sweatshirt - Black $44.99 ZAVVI US &AMP; CANADA

W CONCEPT (US) Distressed Alien Rider Cotton-Polyester Sweatshirt [Black] $92.00 W CONCEPT (US)

BIGFOOT KICK Campfire Bigfoot Sweatshirt $65.00 BIGFOOT KICK

Sweatshirts With a University Edge That Works

The collegiate aesthetic is one of those things that should feel effortless but very often does not. Cheap lettering, flimsy cotton, an arch reference to a school nobody went to, and suddenly you look like you bought it in an airport. Getting it right means understanding what made the original so appealing in the first place. The worn in quality. The sense that the garment has some history to it, even when it is new. We have been looking specifically at sweatshirts that carry that university sensibility without leaning on it too hard. Pieces where the graphic feels considered rather than slapped on, where the weight of the fleece actually justifies the price, and where the fit works tucked into trousers as well as thrown over joggers on a Sunday. Color matters here too. Faded tones do more work than anything bright. These are the ones that look like a good find rather than a deliberate choice, which is exactly the point.

W CONCEPT (US) NYCU ATHL.DIV Logo Terry Sweatshirt $92.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US) University Sweatshirt - colors $120.00 W CONCEPT (US)

ZAVVI US &AMP; CANADA University Of California Golden Bears Sweatshirt - White - $37.99 ZAVVI US &AMP; CANADA

SHIEKH Men Air "Paris" Fleece Crew Neck Sweatshirt GAME ROYALWHITNIVERSITY RED Sweatshirts S GAME ROYALWHITNIVERSITY RED $61.99 SHIEKH

SHIEKH Men Tokyo Fleece Crew Neck Sweatshirt BLACKUNIVERSITY REDWHITE Sweatshirts M BLACKUNIVERSITY REDWHITE $61.99 SHIEKH

KARMALOOP Prep University Sweatshirt $89.00 KARMALOOP

SHIEKH Men Tokyo Fleece Crew Neck Sweatshirt BLACKUNIVERSITY REDWHITE Sweatshirts L BLACKUNIVERSITY REDWHITE $61.99 SHIEKH

ZAVVI US &AMP; CANADA University Of California Golden Bears Sweatshirt - White $37.99 ZAVVI US &AMP; CANADA

W CONCEPT (US) University Logo Crew Neck Cotton Blend Sweatshirt [Blue] $201.00 W CONCEPT (US)

SHIEKH Men Air "Paris" Fleece Crew Neck Sweatshirt GAME ROYALWHITNIVERSITY RED Sweatshirts M GAME ROYALWHITNIVERSITY RED $61.99 SHIEKH

W CONCEPT (US) University Sweatshirt $192.00 W CONCEPT (US)

PRINTERVAL Christmas Sweatshirt, Whoville University Embroidered Sweatshirt, Christmas Embroidery Sweatshirt $31.95 PRINTERVAL

Sweatshirts With Embroidered Detail Done Properly

Embroidery on a sweatshirt is one of those details that either elevates the whole thing or kills it entirely. Too large and it looks like merchandise. Too novelty and it dates itself in a season. The version worth owning sits somewhere more considered than that, a small chest motif, a tonal thread color, a heritage badge that earns its place rather than demanding your attention. We've been paying close attention to this category because the execution gap between good and bad is wider than it looks on a product page. What we were after specifically was weight, structure around the collar and cuff, and embroidery that looks like it was part of the original design rather than added to justify a price bump. These sweatshirts work with chinos, with dark denim, with the kind of Saturday morning outfit that still looks like someone thought about it. Not loud. Not anonymous either. That is exactly where we wanted to land.

PRINTERVAL Luffy One Piece Anime Embroidered Sweatshirt $31.95 PRINTERVAL

VERONICA BEARD Veronica Beard Beaumont Embroidered Sweatshirt Light Heather Grey Bd $248.00 VERONICA BEARD

PRINTERVAL Kirby I Kill You Sweatshirt $19.95 PRINTERVAL

CLOTHING SHOP ONLINE Badger - - Performance Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt - Safety Yellow $27.11 CLOTHING SHOP ONLINE

SHOEBACCA PUMA Essentials Elevated Comfort Crew Neck Sweatshirt $29.95 SHOEBACCA

DRESTIGE US Cruel Crewneck Men's Sweatshirt Black $169.10 DRESTIGE US

W CONCEPT (US) Henley Neck Semi-Crop Satin-Embroidered Sweatshirt [Light Brown] BK $89.00 W CONCEPT (US)

FASHIONTAMERS US Fred Perry Black Crewneck Sweatshirt $227.14 FASHIONTAMERS US

CLOTHING SHOP ONLINE Adidas - A - Crewneck Sweatshirt - Olive Strata $75.00 CLOTHING SHOP ONLINE

DRESTIGE US American Script Sweat Plant Men's Crewneck Sweatshirt $169.10 DRESTIGE US

FASHIONTAMERS US Lacoste Cream Zip-up Sweatshirt With Loose Fit $225.97 FASHIONTAMERS US

PRINTERVAL Shiz Sweatshirt Embroidered Wickeds Movie, Wizard Shiz University Sweatshirt $31.95 PRINTERVAL

Varsity Sweatshirts That Look the Part

The varsity sweatshirt is one of those pieces that looks effortless when it works and deeply unconvincing when it does not. The difference comes down to a few things: the weight of the fleece, whether the chenille lettering sits flat or peels at the edges, and whether the colorblocking feels considered or like it was slapped on to hit a trend. We have seen enough bad ones to know that most of them are bad. The good ones though have a real quality to them, something that reads as a throwback without looking like a costume. They work with straight leg denim, work with a clean trainer, and add something to a wardrobe that plain crewnecks simply cannot. We have been looking specifically at options where the construction matches the aesthetic, because a great looking varsity sweatshirt that starts pilling after four washes is not a great looking varsity sweatshirt for long. These are the ones that actually look the part.

RENT THE RUNWAY Parke Varsity Hoodie Sweatshirt Grey-blue-print $111.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

DRESTIGE US Men's Lightweight Crewneck Sweatshirt Boxy Varsity Crewneck Ext Black $169.10 DRESTIGE US

DTLR-VILLA Nike Club Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt $1.00 DTLR-VILLA

W CONCEPT (US) Varsity typography sweatshirt black $101.00 W CONCEPT (US)

DTLR-VILLA Nike Fleece Varsity Crewneck Sweatshirt $1.00 DTLR-VILLA

CERQULAR Mens White & Navy Sport Cotton Blend Crew Neck Sweatshirt S Casual Retro Style $23.39 CERQULAR

KARMALOOP French Terry Varsity Strip Sweatshirt $89.00 KARMALOOP

DRESTIGE US Men's sweatshirt New Balance MT_BLU $206.15 DRESTIGE US

THREADED PEAR Taylor Striped Oversized Sweatshirt $42.99 THREADED PEAR

ZAVVI US &AMP; CANADA Yellow Jackets Varsity Sweatshirt - Navy - $37.99 ZAVVI US &AMP; CANADA

SHOPBOP Favorite Daughter The Varsity Embroidered Sweatshirt NavyWhite $128.00 SHOPBOP

SHOPBOP THE GREAT. The Slouchy Corset Sweatshirt Varsity Grey $225.00 SHOPBOP

Washed Sweatshirts That Quietly Get On With It

There is a version of a sweatshirt that tries too hard and looks like it knows it. Too structured, too branded, too eager to be noticed. That is not what we are after here. The washed sweatshirt is a different animal entirely. The washing process takes the stiffness out of the fabric, softens the color just enough to look lived in rather than faded, and gives the whole thing a weight that sits well on the body without pulling or bunching. These are the ones you reach for on a Saturday morning and still feel like yourself in by the evening. Good ones work over a basic tee, under an overshirt, or alone with a well fitting pair of trousers. The construction matters more than most people realize. Rib cuffs that actually hold, a neck that does not stretch out after two wears, seams that stay where they are meant to stay. These do all of that without making a fuss about it.

GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC Led Zeppelin A Sweatshirt $118.00 GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC