The hoodie is such a famous part of fashion, there are entire songs composed to it. Everyone owns a hoodie, everyone loves hoodies, it’s always easy to find hoodies. They feel good, they look good, they’re easy to wear and you can always get your hands on one. But…can you wear a hoodie in the summer? Is this against all the fashion rules? Even if it is, they say that rules in fashion are made to be broken. Solve the mystery of wearing a hoodie well all through the summer. There are lots of great outfits you can build around a summer hoodie and look stylish even as you stay cool.
What Is a Hoodie?
Fashion-wise, a hoodie is a type of sweatshirt. In fact, all hoodies are sweatshirts but not all sweatshirts are hoodies. Sweatshirts are long-sleeved, warm shirts made with no collar or a short collar that pulls over the head. Usually, sweatshirts are made with heavy cotton or a cotton blend. Hoodies are sweatshirts that have hoodies attached directly at the neck. Sometimes, hoodies may have a kangaroo pocket, a zip front, or both. A drawstring in the hood is optional, though many designs do include the drawstring.
Hoodies are made to fit somewhat loosely around the body. They have soft, comfortable designs. This is comfort clothing. It’s made to feel good and warm and soft. If a hug could be turned into a piece of clothing, it would be a hoodie. It’s easy to simply pull on a hoodie and go because it’s pretty much accepted everywhere you can wear casual clothing.
History of the Hoodie
The sweatshirt is an American invention. Champion claims that they invented the first sweatshirts. The company manufactured its sweatshirts in 1930. The company added a hood in 1934 to provide additional warmth and protection in outdoor environments. Champion was working with high schools at the time to find out what kind of clothing they needed. They came up with the hooded sweatshirt to keep players warm on the sidelines and before and after sporting events. It was a simple but highly effective solution and a comfortable, snug garment to wear in chilly, rainy weather.
Champion probably didn’t know it, but it was making fashion history. Soon, the sweatshirt and the hoodie would spread to every corner of the globe and every corner of the fashion industry.
Pop Fashion
The hoodie made the leap to popular fashion when high school athletes gave the garments to their girlfriends. Soon, everyone wanted a hoodie. Today, they have become a ubiquitous garment. Everyone has owned at least one hoodie. Chances are, you’ve got a few hanging somewhere in your closet right now. You may have worn one recently. But does that mean this go-anywhere, wear-whenever item can be worn any time of year? Can you wear a hoodie in the summer?
Can You Do It?
Hoodies are, without a doubt, one of the most versatile garments in the closet. Though they are associated with keeping warm, hoodies are made in all types of different materials at all different thicknesses. That means you can wear them in any weather, at any time of year. All you have to do is take a look at social media during the summer months and you’ll see all the most fashion-forward celebrities wearing their very best hot weather hoodie looks.
According to Reader’s Digest, there’s no wrong time of year for the hoodie. In an article, they proved that every season is perfect hoodie weather. “They have a versatile appeal meaning you don’t need to leave them aside just because the weather keeps changing. All you need to do to look stunning and comfortable in your hoodie all season is to try wearing the different materials available. You can choose from linen, cotton, or rayon, depending on what you feel comfortable in at a given time.”
If wearing hoodies is your thing, do it. You don’t need to layer a heavy leather jacket over your hoodie before you step into the summer heat. Wear a lightweight shirt under the hoodie, too. The shirt you choose to wear under the hoodie is as important s the hoodie you wear over it. A tank top, camisole, a lightweight T shirt, all of these are a perfect companion for the hoodie in summertime. You want to choose a shirt that won’t hold in a lot of body temperature. This will help you stay cool even during hot days.
What Makes a Good Summer Hoodie?
If you’re going to wear a hoodie in summer, don’t choose your heaviest, warmest option. Summer hoodies should be lightweight and breathable. Cotton and cotton-poly blends often work well for summer. They pair great with shorts and white sneakers, which will keep you ready for any hot weather event.
The colors you choose also matter. Stay away from dark colors and earth tones, like black, navy and dark brown. Choose lighter colors that will reflect heat better. Light gray, white, khaki, yellow and vivid colors are perfect for summer wear.
A lightweight and light-colored hoodie will work for any summer day or evening, whether you’re pairing it with pants or jean shorts. Stay away from additional layers. You don’t need a denim jacket on top of everything else. But as long as you choose the right type of hoodie to wear, you can wear your hoodie all through the summer.
How to Wear a Hoodie in the Summer
Of course, you can wear a hoodie in the summer. But, you have to plan out your outfit so you don’t end up getting too hot. There are lots of ways to style a hoodie to make it look amazing even on hot summer days. Experiment with different styles and different outfits to create all sorts of great summer hoodie looks. Add a few essential items to your wardrobe and you will be ready to wear a hoodie any time, any day, even during the hot summer months.
Crop It
During cool summer nights, a hoodie is often the perfect item to add a little warmth to your outfit. Cut the bottom half off of a hoodie and now, it’s perfect for any summer evening. This will open up the bottom of the sweatshirt so cool air can get to your body and it keeps the fit big and loose. This is a great look for black leggings or skinny jeans and a chelsea boot style. Just remember that the pants rise will expose more or less skin, as the cropped hoodie won’t provide any coverage. But since you aren’t dressing for cold weather, you may want to expose more skin to stay even cooler.
Push Up the Sleeves
Create a great casual summer look by simply pushing up the sleeves of your sweatshirt. This goes great with a short skirt, sneakers and a pair of large, dark sunglasses. This is a great carefree look that works great with tennis shoes and a black hoodie during summer nights.
Wear It Open
A hoodie is a great added layer in summer weather. A nighttime chill, even too much air conditioning can give you reason enough for a hoodie. Choose a zip up design and wear it open with a tank top. Paired with blue jeans or denim shorts, this look is great for all summer casual wear. The outfit works well with combat-style boots, ballet flats and lots of other types of footwear. Sometimes, a pullover hoodie holds in too much heat around the body. A zip design, left open, allows for plenty of air flow to keep you cool even during those hot days.
As an Extra Layer
Add a hoodie to a cute summer dress to create a fun, casual look. This is a great way to play with contrast and add a little extra warmth as needed. The hoodie can be worn normally, tied around the waist, slung over a shoulder or played with in all sorts of different ways. Treat your hoodie like a light jacket and you’ll come up with all sorts of different ways to wear it.
As a Beach Cover Up
A hoodie is a perfect beach cover up. The hood even provides shade for your face. Wear it with a swimsuit, sandals and sunglasses and you’re ready for any day on the beach or by the lake. Just remember to avoid wool blends, which are insulating. You’ll end up cooking on the hot beach. A pure cotton or cotton blend will stay breathable, which is exactly what you need. Save the wool for your winter clothes hoodies.
Like a Poncho
Create a great summer, casual outfit by wearing an oversized hoodie over leggings. This is a sexy look that also looks effortless. Wear this with boots or strappy sandals to infuse a little glam into the outfit and you’ll be ready for any casual summer day. You can even add sunglasses to add an air of mystery. In summer, sunglasses are always a great addition to any outfit idea.
As Exercise Gear
Wear a hoodie with your exercise gear to show the world that you mean business when it comes to your workout. Slip a hoodie on over a tank top and matching sweatpants or yoga pants for a great casual exercise look. Athletic shoe styles, of course, complete the outfit. Even if you aren’t going to work up a sweat, you can still look great in your workout clothes!
When a Hoodie is More Than a Hoodie
Few fashion items have come to hold as much significance and have reached the same popularity as a hoodie. It’s not a joke that people write songs about this simple piece of clothing. It’s been worn by the hottest sports stars, the most beloved celebrities, style icons, world leaders and even some of the world’s most hated people. At this point, is there anyone out there who hasn’t worn a hoodie?
Even members of the royal family have worn hoodies. If there’s an official stamp of approval on any piece of fashion, that is definitely it. The royals have been setting fashion trends for centuries. It’s popular, it’s comfortable, it’s an amazing all-around casual piece of clothing. But the hoodie, perhaps more than any other article of clothing, holds certain symbolism and significance.
What the Hoodie Really Means
The hoodie began its life as a sporting garment. Initially worn among athletes, particularly student athletes, the hoodie became a hot fashion item with youth culture in the U.S. Soon, it spread to young people all over the world. At this time, the hoodie represented youth and athletics and pop fashion. It was trendy, it was cute and it was really must-have high school gear.
The hoodie saw another resurgence in popularity in the 1980s, when jogging and aerobics were hot exercise trends and everyone was wearing their athletic wear. Sound familiar? Tracksuits, hoodies and sweatpants were the hot look back then and you seriously can’t go wrong with this look today, either. In those days, the hoodie represented fitness and exercise and movement and taking care of yourself.
This is when the hoodie also broke into pop culture in an even bigger way. The hoodie became hot with music culture, with many rappers and R&B artists donning hoodies while on stage and while performing in music videos. The hoodie went designer, with many of the hottest clothing makers getting in on the trend.
Hoodies continue to be associated with student athletes and school children of all ages. They’re used to display logos for all kinds of businesses and sporting teams. They’re cold in solid colors, different patterns, all sorts of different materials and every color you can imagine. But in the turbulent times of the modern era, hoodies have taken on other, darker, meanings.
The Darker Symbolism
It became national news, and then global news, when a young Black man was shot while walking home from the store one evening in Florida. He was wearing a hoodie at the time. The hoodie ended up becoming a national symbol for a discussion about injustice and inequality. Many activists began wearing hoodies printed with political messages at this time and the hoodie became a symbol for all sorts of different causes. Activists continue to wear hoodies to raise awareness for various causes.
Wearing a Hoodie
The hoodie can be a show of support for a school or a team. It can show that you’re an athlete or a super stylish person. It can show that you have a cool side, a pretty side, a fashionista lurking inside you. It can even be worn to show your support for a specific cause or issue. Wearing a hoodie is no longer just about having something to wear. It’s also about having something to say about who you are, how you tick and what you choose to show to the rest of the world. In other words, it’s one heck of a piece of clothing. So the next time you slip into your favourite hoodie, remember that this is much more than a style. It’s practically a way of life.
Sources:
Dapperly Dressed – Is It Weird to Wear a Hoodie in Summer? Answers Inside
FashionGum – How to Wear: Hoodies for Women
Land’s End – Are Hoodies and Sweatshirts the Same Thing?
Rolling Stone – The History of the Hoodie
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