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CREWNECK SWEATSHIRTS ARE superior to hoodies: They’re more versatile when it comes to styling, are less cumbersome when lifting or running (no hood bouncing around), and are easier to layer under blazers or jackets without the bulky kangaroo pockets. Admittedly, they fit my personal style better with their clean silhouette and throwback polish.
I’m not a hoodie guy. Every time I tried to introduce them into my rotation, they made me less of a hoodie guy. They’re everything I’m not—gritty, masculine, unbothered with aesthetic. To me, a hoodie is synonymous with grinding teeth and gums akimbo hitting a bench max; It’s hearing Eminem’s Lose Yourself on a morning run, no headphones needed; It’s sunglasses-hood-over-a-cap mystery in an airport for both celebrities and civilians; It’s what I’d like to be at times but am not. Unless I’m wearing the only one I own.
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Reigning Champ’s ’97 Relaxed Fit hoodie is my Platonic Ideal and literally the only hoodie I have in my closet (I gave away the swings and misses).
- Substantial fabric that holds its shape
- Soft, breathable feel
- Clean fit that works beyond the gym
For reference, I’m a 6-foot, 210-pound male and the large fits me perfectly. The considered fit consists of a dropped shoulder seam for extra mobility, a shorter length that sits comfortably at my waist though isn’t a full crop, and boxy width that doesn’t swallow me whole. Like my assortment of crewnecks, I wear it while lounging, running, and don’t mind wearing it on a cold night on the town.
The fabric blend is almost all cotton with just 13 percent polyester which I prefer. I know there are all-cotton acolytes, but I appreciate a touch of the fake stuff to help the hoodie keep its shape and hold up in the wash. It’s weighty enough for winter layering but I wear it with shorts into sunnier spring days. The brushed interior is exceptionally soft though the hood is double-faced for structure. Rib-knit cuffs and hem hug me ever so slightly for extra insulation. Reigning Champ’s minimal branding adds to the hoodie’s versatility. There’s just a sewn label at the hem.
I’m a crewneck guy through and through. I feel like myself in them whether they’re over my button-up shirt or underneath a puffer. However, going into prime shorts-and-hoodie season, I’m breaking out my Reigning Champ to cosplay as a hoodie guy.
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