According to the Runways, Hoodies Are an It Item: 8 We're Already Shopping

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but winter is coming soon. But with it comes the arrival of cozy season and all the comfy items we'll be shrouding ourselves. If there's one thing the pandemic taught us about wardrobes, it's that hooded sweatshirts aren't a want, they're a need. If you're facing the East Coast snow, they're a go-to essential to keep warm. Even in places like L.A., girls are relying on them for easy layering when the weather gets a little bit chilly. I love regular crew necks, but there's an element to hoodies that just makes your outfits look 10 times cooler in my opinion. Plus, they just feel cozier, don't you think?

While the market may have previously had a smaller selection of hoodies, the loungewear boom of 2020 also brought in a variety of cooler and more elevated designs to incorporate into your outfits. If you're still wanting to add some comfy but cool pieces to your wardrobe, then you're in luck. Below, I've rounded up a variety of options of the "boring" basic for you along with outfit inspiration to help you create your next look.

What to Look For

Shopping for a hoodie seems straightforward enough, right? Since most pullover hoodies looks the same online, you'll want to pay attention to details like material and fit to find a standout style that you'll want to reach for over and over. Look for a high percentage of cotton, typically 70% and up ensure a soft and breathable feel. Also, keep an eye out for fit details like a drop-shoulder and ribbed cuffs. These details are good to know when doing your own shopping, but we've also done much of the legwork here by sourcing our top eight favorites below.

The Best Hoodies:

• H&M Hoodie ($21)
• Skims Cotton Fleece Classic Zip Up Hoodie ($74)
• Les Tien Cotton-Jersey Hoodie ($265)
• Zara Neoprene Effect Jacket ($70)
• Frankie's Bikinis Aimee Cable Cloud Hoodie ($150)
• ALO Accolade Hoodie ($128)
• Abercrombie Fitch Essential Popover Hoodie ($70)
• Los Angeles Apparel Cropped Heavy Fleece Zip Up ($60)

1. Best Overrall: H&M Hoodie

With over 3000 glowing reviews, seven mostly neutral colorways, and a too-good-to-be-true price tag of $21, this H&M hoodie is an immediate hit. H&M shoppers have all sung the praises of this style for how insanely soft it is, and many of them insisted that it's the perfect oversize fit. One reviewer noted that you can still get a bit of an bigger fit even when getting your regular size (because nobody wants a tight-fitting sweatshirt), although if you're looking for a really baggy look, consider sizing up. As for the fabric and feel, one reviewer put it succinctly: "It is really great quality. It was soft and not too thick. I hate when my hoodies are too thick and suffocating because there is so much material. This one is still warm and comfortable without feeling like I can’t move." 

2. Skims Cotton Fleece Classic Zip Up Hoodie

Like most things Skims does, its Cotton Fleece Zip-Up Hoodie is just as good as people say it is, and probably better. A favorite of the whole crew of Kardashian-Jenners from Kylie to Kim, this Skims pick is one of the rare hoodies that ranks as high on the comfort axis as it does on the cool one. Made from Skims' softest fleece fabric that reviewers can't stop singing the praises of. "These are the best fleece sweatshirts!" one Skims shopper asserted. "Somehow they’re made to look flattering yet totally comfortable."

3. Les Tien Cotton-Jersey Hoodie

I'm pretty sure that Les Tien's hoodies (and the matching sweatpants sets) are the absolute highest peak of luxury you can achieve. Don't let the $265 price tag scare you off just yet—it may be higher than the average cotton hoodie, but once you feel how premium the breathable cotton-jersey fabric is, you'll understand exactly why investment loungewear is a thing. In fact, this Les Tien has amassed a cult following in Hollywood like nothing else, counting Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley among its customers who have purchased the hoodie and sweats in multiple colorways.

4. Zara Neoprene Effect Jacket

This Zara hoodie has made waves in our fashion team's Slack channels for its thick, weighty look that makes it akin to the ones Miu Miu sent down their F/W 23 runway. Thanks to its neoprene-like fabric that gives the jacket structure, this $70 pick looks any but sloppy for a hoodie and given the chic way Zara is styling it with a black handbag and trendy oversize earrings, it's way too cool to just be loungewear.

5. Frankie's Bikinis Aimee Cable Cloud Knit Hoodie

"For the girl who is a bit wary of the hoodie trend, I highly suggest my recent purchase from Frankies Bikinis," Who What Wear associate editor Sierra Mayhew tells me. One glance at the cable-knit style confirms that this style is like the anti-hoodie hoodie. With a waist-hugging shape, it reminds me more of the Y2K tracksuits that Britney Spears and Co. wore than it does of the baggy hoodies that emerged from 2020. Paired with one of the matching pants or knitted short-shorts, this Frankies Bikinis hoodie is far from lazy-looking—it's downright iconic. "Their lounge sets have gone viral every winter as of late," Mayhew continued, "and they’re insanely flattering. The comfortable cable-knit fabric comes in a form-fitting hoodie that sucks you in instantly. I pair it with the pants for work-from-home days and long-haul flights.” 

6. ALO Accolade Hoodie

Leave it to cool-girl activewear brand ALO to deliver one of our favorite standard-issue hoodies. The Accolade Hoodie is a fan favorite among influencers, but I can also confirm just how good it is IRL. I got my hands on the grey set last winter and was immediately intoxicated by its interior lining that was buttery soft and so warm and cozy. ALO shoppers are backing me up on this and they've lent the hoodie more than 800 glowing reviews, agreeing on how soft and perfectly oversized it is.

7. Abercrombie Fitch Essential Popover Hoodie

One thing about finding a great hoodie: Don't overlook the men's department. "After stealing far too many of my husband's Abercrombie sweatshirts, I gave in and purchased one of my own," associate editor Yusra Siddiqui shared. With a classic boxy fit and forward neutral tones like heather oatmeal and chocolate brown, this Abercrombie pick is a total sleeper hit. "I'm particularly picky with loungewear, as certain fabrics can easily make me uncomfortable," Siddiqui continued, "but everything about this sweatshirt makes me never want to take it off. It's incredibly soft and plush on the inside and outside, something I can't say for many other brands. Even after a few washes, the quality held up. (I did wash it on delicate, though!) I also love how there's a huge variety of colors to pick from." 

8. Los Angeles Apparel Cropped Heavy Fleece Zip Up

"I did a story a few months back re-creating hoodie-clad looks from the F/W 23 Miu Miu show and wore this super-classic Los Angeles Apparel zip-up in most of the looks," editor Eliza Huber shared. "I love how much they remind me of hoodies I had as a kid, with no logos or flashy details on them, making them perfect for styling in a casual-cool way underneath big, tailored coats and blazers. I even wore them with tights and underwear like they were styled at the show, a look I highly recommend when your fall and winter outfit rotation starts to feel stale."

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.