We can all learn something from the past

Diving back into the archives to explore vintage varsity gear from the mid-90s, what current brands I'm looking at with a similar style, and more!

In the new year, I have set a goal to try to log out and steer clear of content I find online. Long story short, I’ve had enough of what is happening on the internet right now. I’m getting sucked in by the algorithm, which is just showing me stuff I honestly don’t want to see. I couldn’t care less about what the next “trend” is, and you shouldn’t either. It’s all starting to look the same, and I’m also blaming “content creators” for giving us the exact same style of video that does more harm than good. I’m over it! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the new releases and collaborations, but there’s a lot of style repetition going around right now, especially on the internet, and that has me feeling exhausted from the fashion space. To put it simply, I’m tired and need something different.

So, I’m deciding to focus on looking at more books, magazines, travel to new places to discover new styles and anything from the past to get the creative ideas flowing again. I’ve recently been looking at some old college gear from various magazines, and I started to realize there is a lot of amazing stuff that nobody seems to be talking about, at least on the internet, that is. But maybe that’s actually for the best, let’s use these ideas to push our style in a new direction.

Reverse weave hoodie by Champion from 73-75

At the end of the day, a hoodie is a hoodie, but the way it fits, the size of the hood, pockets, and whatever else is what makes things interesting to me. The reverse weave hoodie by Champion that’s shown above may seem like a simple vintage piece, but it has features that I prefer over new hoodies. For me, it’s all in the hood, and having something that sits tighter around the neck is ideal. I tend to find the best-fitting hoodies from brands like Camber and Russell Athletic—the vintage game here is undefeated.

It’s hard to find the perfect hoodie for you, as it all depends on your body type, what details you’re interested in, colors, and so on. So, it really comes down to trial and error to see what works. Also love when the front pocket is on the smaller side. I don’t usually utilize this pocket in general, so for me, having something that’s a bit smaller is just perfectly adequate — these are all simple preferences that make a huge difference.

After Hood Hoodie

What I’m trying to say is to start focusing on the details and look at the bigger picture of a garment. We tend to focus on just the way it looks right off the bat, but the fit, the cuff detailing, maybe it’s something simple as the stitching, or fabrics, whatever it is, start observing and seeing the difference, because they are out there. It’s not just a simple hoodie.

Don’t get me wrong, there are brands out there that are still pushing the vintage agenda by looking back into the archives to bring a fresh take on timeless classics, and I’m glad because we need that. I’ve been on the hunt for something different, something that I don’t instantly see the moment I open up Instagram, and I think after-hood hoodies are one of those items.

After hood by Cease

The concept is basically taking a crewneck and sewing a hood over it, which gives it that unique collar. You can find a bunch of vintage ones at places like eBay and Grailed, but if you’re looking for something new, then Cease is one of the only brands that comes to mind—their after hoods are currently sold out, but I’m sure we’ll see a restock or new colors soon.

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I’m obsessed with everything The North Face Purple Label. I recommend using this brand for inspo, but it’s sort of difficult to find good references online. If you’re ever looking for more, then Magazines like GO OUT are a good source for this. It’s such a shame we don’t have access to this brand in North America, but if you’re ever travelling to Japan, I highly recommend making it your mission to find a piece or two. You could luck out and find something absolutely crazy, especially if you go hunting for vintage.

The North Face Purple Label — Look at that after hood hoodie!! That shirt also. All bangers.