The Ultimate Guide to Designer Hoodies & Sweatshirts: What to Buy, Best Fabrics, Soft Feel & Top Brands

Author: Tellar Styling Team

Date: July 15, 2025

Disclaimer: This guide is 100% independent. No paid placement. No affiliate bias. Always free.

Hoodies and sweatshirts have transformed from casual loungewear to refined wardrobe staples. In the world of designer fashion, they’re now symbols of understated luxury—favoured for their comfort, structure, fabric integrity, and silhouette. But what makes a designer hoodie actually worth the price? And how do you choose one that looks and feels elevated?

This detailed guide breaks it all down:

What defines true hoodie quality
Which fabrics deliver softness and longevity
The best designer brands for sweatshirts
How to get a perfect, flattering fit
And how tellar.co.uk removes sizing guesswork across 1,500+ luxury and high street labels

What Defines a Luxury Hoodie or Sweatshirt?

It’s not just the logo.

True investment-worthy hoodies combine superior fabric weight, high-end construction, and tailored drape with understated design.

Key Quality Indicators:

Feature	What to Look For
Fabric Weight	300–500gsm (grams per square metre) fleece or loopback cotton
Material Blend	100% cotton or organic loopback terry; small % elastane for flexibility
Stitching	Double or flatlock seams, clean cuff-to-hem finishes
Logo Application	Tonal embroidery or subtle detailing instead of large printed graphics
Fit Retention	Doesn’t shrink, stretch, or lose its silhouette after multiple washes

Well-made designer sweatshirts age well, retain shape, and feel soft—without pilling or sagging. If a piece fails this, it’s not worth the designer markup.

Best Hoodie & Sweatshirt Fabrics for Softness and Durability

Fabric choice is the number one factor in how expensive a sweatshirt looks and feels.

✅ Brushed Cotton Fleece

Super-soft internal finish
Medium to heavyweight
Warm, perfect for UK/US autumn to spring

✅ Loopback Cotton (French Terry)

Smooth outside, looped inside
Breathable and holds shape well
Often used by minimalist luxury brands like COS and Arket

✅ Organic Cotton Jersey

Sustainable and refined
Slightly lighter feel with great airflow
Popular in Scandinavian labels and wellness-oriented brands

Avoid:

Thin poly blends that pill after a few washes
Anything labelled "polyester fleece" unless blended under 15%
Poorly weighted jersey that clings or shows wear quickly

Want to understand how this fabric performs long-term? Tellar’s stylists cover it in detail in The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide.

Hoodie vs Sweatshirt: Which Should You Buy?

Category	Hoodie	Sweatshirt
Visual Style	Relaxed, sporty	Cleaner, more minimal
Layering	Often outer layer, bulkier	More versatile under jackets/blazers
Closures	May have zips or pockets	Pullover-only, simpler silhouette
Smart Styling	Less formal	Easier to style in smart-casual outfits

A great hoodie is your high-end lounge or travel hero.

A well-fitted sweatshirt? A wardrobe workhorse that can go from errands to dinner.

Best Designer Hoodie & Sweatshirt Brands to Invest In

These brands are consistently rated by stylists and consumers for craftsmanship, softness, and durability—whether you want quiet luxury or standout design.

🔹 The Row

Known for: Ultra-premium fleece, architectural cuts, and neutral palettes
Fabrics: 100% heavyweight brushed cotton
Best for: Minimalist luxury

🔹 Totême

Known for: Scandinavian refinement and cropped, curved shapes
Fabrics: Organic loopback cotton
Best for: Sleek layering and petite frames

🔹 Fear of God ESSENTIALS

Known for: Heavyweight streetwear with modern tailoring
Fabrics: Cotton-poly with a matte suede-like finish
Best for: Oversized, graphic-free minimalism at a mid-level price

🔹 Off-White

Known for: Conceptual prints and bold graphics
Fabrics: Loopback cotton or French terry
Best for: Urban collectors and high resale potential

🔹 Balenciaga

Known for: Sculptural silhouettes and exaggerated volume
Fabrics: Ultra-heavy brushed fleece
Best for: High-impact streetwear with logo or gothic detailing

🔹 Loro Piana

Known for: The softest luxury hoodies on the market
Fabrics: Wool, cashmere and cotton blends
Best for: True investment loungewear with premium feel

For women’s tailoring-focused sweatshirts, The Ultimate Guide to SmartCasual Blazers for Women’s Body Types shows how to layer sweatshirts under structured outerwear for a clean silhouette.

Mid-Tier Brands That Feel Designer

If you’re not ready to spend £500+, these deliver a luxe feel:

Sunspel – Classic British quality; loopback fleece
PANGAIA – Eco-dyed and biodegradable cotton
Arket – Premium weight cotton at high-street prices
Everlane – Minimalist silhouettes with environmental certification

Tellar’s Store Size Lookup covers sizing for all of these brands, ensuring you choose the right size first time—especially useful as many of these fit differently by region.

The Right Fit: Why Hoodie & Sweatshirt Sizing Must Be Exact

A sweatshirt that fits poorly ruins the look—even if it cost £600. Here’s how to judge your best fit:

✔ Petite

Look for cropped or shorter body lengths
Avoid long-line oversized styles that swamp your shape

✔ Tall or Long-Torsoed

Opt for longer hem length or boxier shapes
Oversized cuts tend to suit taller frames naturally

✔ Broad Shoulders or Curvy

Raglan or drop-shoulder seams offer room without boxiness
French terry or stretch blends sit better on fuller chests

Tailored sweatshirt fits are broken down in detail on Finding Your Clothes Size: The Ultimate Guide.

How to Style a Designer Sweatshirt or Hoodie for Maximum Impact

Pair with tailored trousers or clean denim
Layer under a trench coat or oversized blazer
Style with luxe trainers or leather boots
Go tonal – think all-grey, all-cream or grey-on-black for that editorial polish
Cinch with a structured crossbody or belt bag

For more body-conscious styling advice, see The Ultimate Guide: Flattering Jeans for Every Body Shape.

Care Guide: How to Keep Your Investment Hoodie Looking New

Wash inside-out at 30°C with low spin
Never tumble dry
Use a lint roller or pill shaver as needed
Avoid heavy fabric softeners
Hang to air dry flat to preserve structure

For petite-specific sweatshirt layering, try The Ultimate Guide to Jeans for Petite Women.

Why You Should Use Tellar.co.uk Before Buying

Sizing is not consistent—even in designer fashion. Balenciaga runs large, The Row runs true, and Fear of God ESSENTIALS is oversized by default.

Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s most advanced free sizing tool. It matches your body measurements or best-fitting brand size to the correct size in 1,500+ fashion labels in real-time—including COS, Reiss, Arket, Everlane, and more.

✔️ Create your free profile here

✔️ Use the Store Size Lookup Tool

✔️ Download your printable measuring tape

No apps. No downloads. Just in-browser accuracy.

Explore More Expert Posts from the Tellar Fashion Hub

Tap into Tellar’s free library of unbiased, stylist-led fashion advice:

All content is always free, independent and written by fashion professionals—not algorithms or advertisers.

Follow Tellar.co.uk for Live Styling Tips & Fit Education

📸 Instagram: @Tellarsizing

🐦 Twitter/X: @TellarSizing

📘 Facebook: Tellar Sizing

📌 Pinterest: TellarSizing

“Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy.” — tellar.co.uk