Fashion is fickle. From season to season it changes the trends, picking something up and dropping it again within a few months. Still, some things stay in style for ages — and black is the best example. It’s the most popular color in clothes. According to retail tech company Edited, almost 40% of dresses sold in the US are in black. White is the second most popular color and makes up only 11%.
Throughout history, black has always been the color of fear and fascination. It has the mysterious power of duality, being solemn and sexual at the same time. Black is the statement, strong and tasteful.
Black Hoodie: The History of Black in Fashion
In the 14th century, dark clothes were the privilege of royals and elite. The upper-class society of the Middle Ages wore black as a symbol of power, wealth, and sophistication. When Europe fall under the spell of witchcraft, religious fanatics began to see evil in black. Women in dark dresses were seen as witches. Later, in the 1800s, black gained its melancholic aura. It was the color of choice for romantic poets such as Byron, Keats, and Shelly. Complicated dressing rules of Victorian times ‘celebrated’ black in its own way. Dark fabrics and veils denoted the mourning widowed women. We can still see the legacy of this era in Gothic subculture.
Coco Chanel in a little black dress
Coco Chanel revolutionized fashion with her little black dress. It was presented on the cover of Vogue magazine in 1926 as “The Ford” of a woman’s wardrobe. The dress was simple and functional, yet graceful and attractive. Before Chanel, black was reserved for modest uniforms and mourning dresses. Now it became the color of elegance.
In later decades black was often chosen by subcultures. Beatniks of the 50s wore black jumpers, berets, and thick-rimmed glasses. Punks and goths, the teens looking to express themselves outside of the mainstream in the 70s, dyed their hair black and coated their lips and eyes in dark paint.
Black’s numerous interpretations gave a lot of inspiration to fashion designers. One of the most notable shows is Rei Kawakubo’s debut show with label Comme des Garçons in 1981, known as “Hiroshima chic”. It introduced achromatic, unstructured black dresses. In the 90s, Raf Simons presented skinny black trousers and shirts, the symbols of teen rebellion. Rick Owens is another connoisseur of black outfits. His style embraced Gothicism and grunge in line with dark monasticism. Back in 2014, Health Goth was a huge trend thanks to Tumblr. It was known for blending sportswear with fetish elements, such as an Adidas tennis skirt with large leather goth boots. Alexander Wang represented it on the runways.
Comme des Garçons fall 1982 Source: gracia.co.in
Black is the safe choice for any occasion. Whether you want to feel attractive or look intelligent, whether you’re modest or arrogant, black always works. Add to this the comfort of the hoodie and you’ll have a perfect outfit for sports, school, or party.
20 Stylish Black Hoodies
1. Everlane 365 Fleece Black Hoodie
Seemingly simple yet very stylish and comfortable, this pullover hoodie is made of a high-end 11-ounce cotton/nylon blend fabric that is durable, warm, and soft. It also has an unusual construction, with a yoke on the back and a geometric pocket on the front. The waist and cuffs are ribbed.
Price: $60
2. BAPE Military Shark Zip Black Hoodie
BAPE, or Bathing Ape, is one of the most hyped brands in streetwear. It was founded in Japan back in 1993 and became one of the most favored brands for rap stars. The design features a distinctive tiger “a” logo on one sleeve and a “WGM” patch (which stands for 'World Gone Mad') on the other. The full zip hood with a shark face is the brand’s unique staple.
Price: $480
A hoodie often serves as a blank canvas, and a black hoodie is no exception. You can find tons of designs with ironic and funny inscriptions. We like this hoodie because it’s unisex and extremely soft. But, most of all, because it will put a smile on your face.
Price: $43
4. Saint Laurent Beem Print Hoodie
This French luxury fashion house knows how to put a bit of an edge on it. The stark black of this 100% cotton hoodie is broken up by tonal sequins. Moreover, you can only see them up close; from a distance they just look like random beams. The hoodie also features drawstring tie fastenings, long sleeves, and elasticated cuffs. This style is unisex and looks comfortably cool on both women and men.
Price: $890
5. The North Face Half Dome Hoodie Pullover
Founded in California in 1968, The North Face quickly became one of the most reputable outdoor brands. In addition to mountaineering gear, it manufactures top-notch quality and elegant casual apparel. This hoodie is made from a combination of fleece, cotton, and polyester. It features a kangaroo pocket, two-piece hood with draw-cord, and raglan sleeves that provide the perfect comfort.
Price: $50
6. Todd Snyder + Champion Black Tie Dye Hoodie
A classic hoodie with a twist. The Champion quality has been well-known for over a century, and Todd Snyder updated it with a trending dark-tie print. Each item has a unique pattern and is one of a kind. The top is made with 100% cotton with reverse weave technology. The company promises it will resist vertical shrinkage and stay true to size for ages. A little “C” patch is a reference to the Champion.
Price: $110
7. Wonshine Funnel Collar Hoodie
A slim fit hoodie that will keep you warm and elegant. It’s made from a lightweight cotton-polyester blend. The design features a funnel collar hood, adjustable drawstrings, and two side pockets. Whether you’re going to dance at the party or hike in the mountains, you’ll look charming in this hoodie.
Price: $18
This zip-up hoodie is the classic men’s wardrobe staple. It looks sharp and feels soft, fits perfectly, and is literally timeless. It’s made with a French rib, a textured cotton fabric, which is sturdy but still very comfortable. It also features white draw-strings and ribbed trim at the cuffs and hem. It looks stylish with everything from jeans to a topcoat.
Price: $80
This logo needs no introduction. The authentic yet modern design was inspired by adidas heritage. A large Trefoil logo shows off the brand’s pride. The soft hoodie has a perfect fit for lazy days. It’s a classic, comfortable hoodie you can run into the ground. It’s made of French terry for a cozy look and feel. Moreover, adidas has partnered with the Better Cotton Initiative to improve cotton farming globally.
Prce: $65
Sister is the brand of the American internet personality, Youtuber, makeup artist, and model James Charles. His merch is made in different colors, but we like it in black most of all. This pullover hoodie is made from 100% cotton that offers maximum comfort. The design features the words “Not with that attitude” in white printed on the front and the Sisters logo on the sleeve.
Price $45
11. Comme des Garçons PLAY Pullover
Comme des Garçons knows how to make basics more than just basics. The signature red heart logo, designed by artist Filip Pagowski, pleasantly contrasts its black background. The hoodie is versatile, comfortable, and playful. This piece also features long sleeves, a ribbed hem and cuffs, and two front pockets. Note that this collection often has a smaller fit, so it’s recommended to go one size up.
Price: $272
12. Thrasher Gold Foil Magazine Logo Hood
Thrasher is a skateboarding magazine founded back in 1981 in San Francisco. It’s one of the heralds of street culture, which also publishes music-related articles, photography, interviews, and skatepark reviews. The magazine’s merch is a heavyweight hoodie with various graphic. It’s usually only available in a limited quality, so hurry up.
Price: $69
Alexander Wang twisted a cropped hoodie into a going-out top. With a few details, the everyday staple looks fresh, cool, and perfect for a night on the town. The hoodie is made from soft French terry and it has long, knuckle-grazing sleeves with a knotted front that emphasizes the flattering cropped hem. Perfect to wear with high-waist jeans or shirts.
Price: $150
14. Aviator Nation 5 Stripe Hoodie
You can’t go wrong with the classics. This unisex hoodie is inspired by the '70s California surf style. It’s super comfortable and has a vintage feel because of the intense breaking-down process. Whether you're heading to the beach to surf some waves on holiday or staying warm this winter at home surfing the net, this hoodie will serve you well. Hand-sewn in Los Angeles.
Price: $189.00
15. Midnight Rider Good Timin Vintage Black Hoodie
Midnight Rider by Iron and Resin features the artwork of fashion industry veteran Mitra Khayyam. Midnight Rider offers classic American iconography refracted through a modern sensibility. This fashion-forward design reflects an earnest enthusiasm for all things Americana and the faded black color gives it some vintage vibes. It’s just about as rock ‘n’ roll as you can get.
Price: $96
16. Tomscloth People are Poison Hoodie
Tomscloth is a US online store for casual fashion outfits. It focuses on simplicity, beauty, and low price. This hoodie has a nice soft touch and a meaningful design which perfectly suits anyone who is melancholy, pessimistic, or introverted.
Price: $32
17. Vans Boys BMX Pullover Hoodie
With this hoodie, the streetwear brand celebrates the impact of BMX on youth culture. It has a checkerboard prints on the sides and the “Off the Wall” slogan on the chest and sleeves. The hoodie is made from a 60% cotton, 40% polyester fleece. With raglan sleeves and a front pouch pocket, Vans goes for maximum comfort.
Price: $50
This soft hooded sweatshirt with a floral pattern is cute and unisex. Made of cotton/polyester blend, it has wrap-front drawstring hood, long sleeves, and ribbing at the cuffs and hem. Reviews say it fits mostly true to size, but the material is rather thin.
Price: $17
19. Timberland PRO Double-Duty Hoodie
When you need classic style with rugged strength, Timberland has a lot to offer. This heavyweight workwear hoodie can withstand all the elements and will only get softer over time. It’s made from two layers of cotton/poly fleece, features durable water-repellent treatment, and has a three-piece hood with draw cord for toughness and protection. It also has an oversized front pouch pocket to keep workday essentials at hand.
Price: $175
This list would be incomplete without a Gothic hoodie. This piece features an oversized hood with the phases of the Moon on its edge and symbolic geometry designs printed on the entire sleeves. It also has a zipper pull in the form of a crescent moon. A perfect choice if you want to feel your witch-y vibes. The seller recommends buying one size bigger than your normal size.
Price: $40
How to Style a Black Hoodie
Black hoodies are designed to suit all occasions where style and comfort matter. The combinations of styling are truly endless. For example, you can mix a hoodie into an all-black outfit or go for a contrast with any bright color. This top looks good with skinny jeans, leggings, shorts, as a layer up on a dress, or with white pants for a street-style hip-hop look. The possibilities are endless and depend on a lot of things: is your hoodie long or short, is it oversized or slim fit, how thin it is, is it a pullover or zip-up, and does it have a print, slogan, or any other graphic?
Although hoodies are universal, each of them still may have different style touches, quality, and price. Some are better to wear for a day at home, others are great for a night out. With this list, you can now get your favorite hoodie for a great look.