Your Algorithm Is a Mess, but It’s Right About These Sweatshirts
These days, it takes all of 30 seconds scrolling on your phone to spot a cropped hoodie—on guys like Austin Butler, guys who dress like Austin Butler, and guys who spend their time explaining how, exactly, you can dress like him, too.
All of which is to say: the cropped hoodie has exposed more T-shirt hems and underwear waistbands than in any other time in menswear history—and everyone from megawatt style gods to curious fashion noobs wants in on the action. If you fall into either category (or, more likely, somewhere in-between), a word to the wise: we’d strongly recommend eschewing the more extreme versions in favor of fleecy pullovers that sit a touch above the waist.
To help you cotton onto what we’re talking about, we aggregated 7 of our favorite cropped hoodies on the market right now, from the genre-defining pioneers to the bleeding-edge envelope-pushers, the mass-market mainstays to the rarified designer renditions. Crop it like it’s hot, baby.
5 Cropped Hoodies to Big-Up Your Fits
The Entry-Level Pick: Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Cropped Hoodie
If you’re looking for that Entire Studios look but can’t bring yourself to spend almost a bill and a half, Abercrombie’s popular Essential Cropped Hoodie is a great alternative. They’re nearly as heavy, almost just as cropped and boxy, but half the price. They’re not available in as many colorways, but if you can snag one before they sell out, you’ll be glad you did.
The Fashion-Guy Pick: Entire Studios Heavy Hoodie
Entire Studios have been among the first on the scene to push the cropped hoodie agenda. As veterans in the game, the young label has caught the eye of countless celebrities and put forth a unique aesthetic that too many are trying to replicate. With all-organic, heavyweight cotton, the Heavy Hood is as soft as it is beefy. They’re designed with drop shoulders, a capacious body and hem that hits above the waist for a fit that’s perfect for pairing with humongous jeans. But Entire Studios’ flagship hoodie is just toe-dipping territory. If you’re ready to cannonball into the deep end, the brand’s roster of cropped sweats gets even shorter.
The Zip-Up Pick: Uniqlo Full-Zip Hoodie
We were surprised to see just how cropped Uniqlo’s core hoodie is in real life. Though they don’t describe it as a cropped hoodie, the fit is actually closer to many hoodies of the 1950s and 1960s that vintage fiends go nuts for. The silhouette isn’t as dramatic as Entire Studios or Abercrombies, though. So if you’re looking for a hoodie that’s both very boxy and very cropped, look at the other options on this list.
The Vintage-Like Pick: No Maintenance Darted Zip Hoodie
From highly-curated vintage dealing to their own fashion label, the dudes at No Maintenance have made a serious name for themselves among the most stylish circles. They were among the first to peddle vintage Russell Athletic hoodies and undoubtedly based their in-house hoodie from their vast archive of samples. With some artful darts, a roomier fit, and two-way zippers, they’ve melded the past with the present for a hoodie that you can confidently say is timeless.
The Upgrade Pick: Lady White Co. Mini Hoodie
As one of our favorite knitwear brands, it’s no surprise that Lady White Co. makes a mean hoodie. And while the SoCal label’s roster of long-standing staples are actually tastefully cut, its newer Mini Hoodie plays into the cropped angle even more. It uses a proprietary 13-ounce brushed fleece for a classic midweight feel and is designed with shoulder and side seam gussets for ease of movement.
The DIY-Inflected Pick: Les Tien Heavyweight Raw Cropped Hoodie
Oh, you wanted your hoodie cropped? No problem. California-based label Les Tien has been leveling up the humble sweatshirt in so many ways from the fabric to the construction to the design and this hoodie is a great example. Rather than designing a shorter, finished hem, Les Tien went the punk route and simply lopped off the hem and sleeve cuffs for a raw finish that rolls up naturally.
The Eco-Minded Pick: Everybody.World Trash Hoodie
There’s nothing “trash” about Everybody.World’s hoodie other than its fully recycled cotton construction. The super-thick material is enough to keep you warm, even if all you have underneath is a tank top, and the over-sized hood will make you feel like a Sith lord on his way to Mustafar. The brand offers the hoodie in three neutral colors—cream, gray, and black—but don’t sleep on the more vibrant seasonal colorways, because we’re pretty sure you’ll want to collect every single one of them.
The Heavy-Duty Pick: Buck Mason Welterweight Hooded Sweatshirt
Similar to Uniqlo’s hoodie, Buck Mason doesn’t call its hoodies cropped and instead take heavy influence from vintage archives. Along with custom-milled French terry, retro details like the V-insert, and flatlock stitching, the Welterweight Hooded Sweatshirt fits classic in the body and sits closer to the natural waist. Paired with some vintage, high-waisted chinos and a pair of Converse, you’ll look like you walked straight out of The Sandlot.
