Hoodies vs. Sweatshirts: Which is Right For You?

Have you ever stood frozen in front of your closet, gridlocked in an intense inner-debate over what to wear? When the weather drops below 60 degrees and that slight nip in the air means your regular attire just won’t cut it, it always boils down to two timeless choices to top your outfit off: sweatshirt vs. hoodie. Each fluffy, warm option has its own voice in the world of style and can change an outfit from comfy or cool to a combination of the two, effortlessly. 

So what exactly is the difference between a hoodie and a sweatshirt? And on which side of the ever-fashionable aisle do your loyalties lie?‍

For starters, both sweater varieties are essentially pullovers made of cotton, wool, jersey, synthetic materials or a combination of those. The similarities between the two diverge from here, but are each rooted in similar origins and their paths have run parallel in the countless years that have followed.. Let’s dive in!

Sweatshirts: Tale of a Quintessential Cool Kid

The sweatshirt is a classic pullover with long sleeves that was invented in 1926 by Benjamin Russel Jr., a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Prior to this creation, players were known to have worn itchy, uncomfortable wool sweaters in the winter months to practice. 

Just imagine that - running up and down a field, casually being tackled while wearing a wool sweater. Take a note, Medieval torture devices. So naturally, Russel dreamed of a world where his football brothers were able to practice their sport, rain or shine, drear or fog—without believing that they were being punished. After all, football is supposed to be fun!

Good news: Russel’s father owned a clothing manufacturing company (but I bet they didn't make custom t-shirts as soft as ours 😜 ), and the two set out to create a better practice jersey. With the addition of the famous triangle around the collar, a feature that helped prevent stretching with reinforced webbing material, they managed to create something that would stand the test of time. 

By 1930, Russell Athletic Mills was created with the sole purpose of producing the garments—which they still do to this day, nearly a hundred years later. 

Known best for: Its unabashed role as the Ugly Christmas Sweater in the back of your closet, with an honourable mention for the fall sweatshirts we both know you have too many of. 

A blonde-haired girl wears a steel blue pullover sweatshirt.

A tried and true blank canvas—you can't go wrong with a custom sweatshirt.

Hoodies: The Understated Underdog 

Much like its predecessor, the hoodie was made to provide comfort and protection from harsh winter weather. If you're looking for the definition of a hoodie, it could kind of be boiled down to "sweatshirt with a hood," with a few minor design/style/fit differences.

The thoughtful addition of the hood was for the overall purpose of enclosing the skin around the head and face and was created for warehouse workers in upstate New York in 1930. This style was created by Champion, a known innovator of athletic wear, and has gone through several significant cultural revolutions since its birth. 

The 1970’s was arguably the most pivotal era for immortalizing the hoodie in societal fame. Between the rise of the hip-hop movement in the Bronx and Rocky’s famous “fist in the air” scene, the hoodie has been cemented as the underdog’s staple piece. 

This is carried on through the 1990’s, and soon the hoodie becomes relegated as the unique hybrid between an everyday item and an article of high fashion. In fact, very few articles of common clothing have had such a significant impact on modern fashion choices. Billionaires, grocery store clerks, teachers, lawyers, rappers, gardeners, the kids down the street at the park—everyone has a favorite hoodie in their closet. 

Known best for: the classic go-to when you don’t know what to wear or what you use to hide an outfit you hate. Or when you just want to be comfortable. Or when you’re going to the gym. Or when you’re going out. The hoodie really is a one-stop shop for all your outfit needs.