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Long gone are the days when a crewneck sweatshirt was simply a shvitz-soaked garment for the gym. Now, the humble crewneck is an acceptable top layer for a gallery opening, day in the office, or date night. Of course, like all wardrobe basics, there are several tiers of quality and prices for sweatshirts. You have your more affordable crewnecks, staples like Champion, H&M, and Russell, which fans praise for their versatility (but not necessarily their durability). For a bit more, you’ll find higher-quality fabrics and more stylish designs with the addition of logos and hand-stitched embroidery in the case of Ralph Lauren and Way Forward, respectively.
But a crewneck only goes as far as your ability to style it. So, when in doubt, layering will be your friend, whether you prefer turtlenecks in the winter or tees in the spring. If styling doesn’t come easy to you, heed the advice and recommendations from the ten stylish men I spoke to about their favorite crewneck sweatshirts for this story. Here, I’ve organized the crewnecks by price, beginning with tried-and-true picks for under $50 and ending with pricier ones that those who love them swear are worth the investment.
Update on October 18, 2024: Added a few new vintage crewnecks from eBay; updated prices and checked stock for all other products.
Under $50
Few brands are as closely associated with the word “crewneck” as Champion. Its crewnecks are simple in design and lauded for their classic loose-fitting cut. This one is best for guys looking for a non-fussy top layer that they don’t have to be precious with while wearing or washing. The reverse-weave fabric in particular garnered the praise of both Strategist columnist Chris Black — who says they’re roomy and warm — and Mark Miguez, co-owner and barber at New York City’s Friend of a Barber. Miguez has been wearing the reverse-weave crewnecks since he was a kid and says, “They last forever. They’re nicer. They’re Champion’s more high-end cotton.” And instead of looking “like crap after three months,” these wear in nicely if you’re going for that vintage-crewneck look. “Certain areas by the shoulders or the wrists start to stretch out just a bit, then the sweatshirt starts to sit on your shoulders a certain way, and nothing beats that,” Miguez adds.
For an everyday crewneck, writer Max Lakin turns to another classic: the Russell Athletic. The brand claims it invented the sweatshirt, though Lakin notes, “I don’t know if that’s something that’s even actually verifiable.” No matter its origin, the sweatshirt holds up and the price is right. “It doesn’t really get stretched out. I’ve had it for years. It stands up to multiple washings,” Lakin says. Though crewneck sweatshirts have become somewhat of a status item nowadays, Lakin told me this one is “what I wear if I actually have to sweat into a sweatshirt.” And at just $20 each, you could pick up a few to sweat through.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with a brand-new Russell, but two stylish men I spoke to say vintage Russell crewnecks is where the real quality lies. “The ’90s stuff is great because that’s the era of boxy and the materials are a lot thicker. That’s why they can stand the test of time,” says model and actor Miles Garber. Buck Mason editorial manager Nico Lazaro seconds the sentiment and says, “The fit is always a little bit cropped and it’s a little oversize and boxy at the same time. It is just really comfortable. It feels like what you want a sweatshirt to feel like, really soft and drapey.” Both men typically hunt for the crewnecks on eBay and Etsy and in local thrift stores, and I did the due diligence of scouring eBay for these vintage gems and cross-referenced my findings with one Reddit user’s tag guide. (As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to look for Russell crewnecks that are made in the United States as those are typically from the ’90s.)
Gildan is another favorite crewneck brand for Black, who says the sweatshirts “aren’t fussy, just roomy and warm.” The brand is known for its 50-50 blend of cotton and polyester that’ll make the crewneck both durable and easy to care for. This means that unlike the more pricey recommendations, you can throw a Gildan in the dryer without a second thought. Like our current-day Russells, the Gildans of today come in a plethora of fun colors, which are not too much of a fashion risk because of their under-$20 price.
Similar to his hunts for vintage Russell tops, Garber also searches for ’90s Gildan crewnecks in the thrift-store aisles. Whereas Russell’s crewnecks are typically blank, vintage Gildans tend to have fun designs. While scouring eBay, I turned up a charming embroidered Mackinac Island crewneck, a Steamboat one for our devoted skiers, one with the cover of The Great Gatsby, and a blank blue one for our simplists. (Our vintage obsessives on Reddit made a tag guide for Gildans, too.)
For a less well-known crewneck, consider Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa’s from Mott & Bow. He says, “It’s indestructible,” adding, “after five years of wearing it, it hasn’t shown any signs of wear except a tiny hole developing in the elbow.” And with a little styling, he can wear it just about anywhere: “I can dress it up with a nice pair of jeans and loafers, or I can throw it on after a workout with gym shorts for a more casual look. It’s become my uniform for nine months out of the year.” He says it fits just right, so go for your usual size.
Jay Bowling, a senior product manager at IDEXX labs, has a large collection of crewnecks but turns to his H&M sweatshirt on days when he’s going for a more casual than dressy look. Typically, he pairs it with black jeans and, he says, “I’ve had it for years. It fits a little bulkier, but that gives it a more casual, trendy look.” Despite feeling “purposefully oversize,” he says it’s not too heavy and layers nicely under a jacket. And since it’s made entirely of cotton, it’ll be a breathable yet soft top layer during transitional months.
Under $100
Todd Snyder and Champion’s long-standing collaboration has been on our radar for years and has attracted a number of stylish fans in the process, including public-relations consultant Joseph Suchodolski. “The fabric also only gets better and better with age,” he says, adding that he appreciates the sweatshirt’s “cool vintage feel, chest pocket, and the V-stitch under the collar.” Nicholas Morgenstern, the owner and founder of Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream, is another fan. “It just fits well; it’s not big and bulky,” he says. Morgenstern describes the material as “medium weight” and thinner than that of a classic Champion crewneck sweatshirt. Fashion director and style expert Donnell Baldwin says he typically recommends this one to “clients who are style guys but don’t want to be like peacocks. So they’re not comfortable wearing a really, really outlandish sweatshirt.”
Like its sweaters, J.Crew crewnecks are soft, cozy, and available in a variety of colors, including a classic black, deep green, and navy blue. Of course, a crewneck sweatshirt doesn’t have to be simple. “The one that caught my eye at J.Crew was actually striped,” says Baldwin. “I’m in love with stripes. I really haven’t met a stripe that I did not love.” And since it isn’t your typical crewneck, you can dress it up or dress it down. “Whether it’s with a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, a pair of basketball shorts, or a pair of chinos, you can still look polished without it looking like a traditional schlubby type of sweatshirt,” he says. If this striped crew catches your eye, I would not recommend dillydallying as sizes typically go quickly in more unique styles like this one.
At the Strategist, we’ve been very intrigued by the Abercrombie renaissance of late, and Apple creative lead Mickey Pangilinan has been similarly drawn to the brand — specifically, for this crewneck that he purchased ahead of his first paternity leave. After about a year and a half of regular wear, he says, “It’s still really soft, and it feels like it’s just getting softer.” It’s not a dressy crewneck, per say, but Pangilinan finds it “was just heavy enough and comfortable where I could sleep in it but also wear it outside and do errands.” In preparation for his second child, he even purchased a second one. “It did make me rethink what I thought about Abercrombie,” he adds.
In addition to his ’90s Russells, Lazaro wears this heavyweight crewneck from Los Angeles Apparel and says, “It is my favorite sweatshirt by far.” As far as how it differs from other crewnecks, he explains, “It feels very much like outerwear because it is heavy and it has more of a sturdy face, but the inside is very soft. So, if I spill something on it, it’s not the end of the world.” You’ll want to go for this one if you prefer an oversize look, which is accentuated by the dropped shoulders. “I like wearing it with jeans. I think that’s a good everyday outfit,” Lazaro says, but “I wear it at home with shorts,” he adds “because it’s cozy, but it’s the feeling of wrapping yourself up in a blanket a little bit without actually doing that and without being overheated.”
It turns out L.L. Bean also makes a cool-guy-approved crewneck. “We know that Bean quality is always really good. It can last forever,” Baldwin says, adding that “after you wash it 100,000 times, it’s still gonna hold up and look cool the more washes that it gets.” With four classic colors — charcoal gray, black, navy, and a slate blue — the crewneck is made from a cotton-polyester blend, the same combination as the vintage Gildans that Garber prefers. With its sub-$100 price, Baldwin says it’s a good bet for somebody who “doesn’t want to break the bank, but they want to find a really good sweatshirt”
Under $200
Christopher Blomquist, a writer and professor at Parsons New School and FIT, first told us about this higher-end crewneck in 2020, and it’s still one of his favorites four years later. Though it’s one of the pricier picks on this list, you’ll see the quality in its durability — he’s had it for more years than he can count — and its heavyweight feel. And unlike the L.L. Bean crewneck above, he says, this one comes “without the damned Dorito triangle” — or triangular patch — “underneath the neck.” You’ll find it in “sensible solid shades” like black, navy, and gray and will find it fits true to size, according to Blomquist.
“James Perse has one that I really like,” Baldwin says. “I think it’s a little bit on the thinner side, so it’s easier to kind of layer those sweatshirts.” What it lacks in weight, though, it makes up in softness: “I don’t typically like to wear sweatshirts to skin, but with a James Perse version, you could because it is so soft.” It has one of the widest color ranges that I’ve seen in the realm of mid-tier crewneck sweatshirts and is made from a French terry rather than a cotton-polyester blend, which will make it more breathable than your typical Champion or Gildan crewneck.
If you love a crewneck but miss the pocket of a hoodie, you might enjoy the crewneck of choice of Salomon DuBois Thiombiano, a creative director at fashion platform Duc DuBois. “I’ve had it for a while now, and it’s held up beautifully over time,” he says. “The fabric is durable, so it retains its structure without stretching out or losing shape, making it a solid piece for chic, casual, stylish wear.” He wears it at least four times a month and, he says, “In terms of heft, it’s comfortable to wear without feeling bulky, making it versatile for layering or wearing on its own in cooler weather.” To wash, he recommends putting “it in cold water on a gentle cycle to maintain its shape and texture,” then air-drying. “After multiple washes, it has fared very well,” he says. “The double-knit fabric holds up nicely, with minimal pilling and no significant loss of shape or softness.”
Ralph Lauren makes standard crewnecks, too, and, Baldwin says, “I think that sometimes just the Polo horse alone suggests luxury or elegance.” This one is best for the guy who’s not into huge logos but still wants to give a nod to Ralph. “If you’re the same as me, where you don’t want to rock a teddy bear, you just want to have that association with the brand, I think it’s a good option,” Baldwin says.
Over $200
Now, if you’re looking to invest in a crewneck sweatshirt that’ll last for years, Lakin recommends this one, which he stumbled upon in the store 180 while wandering around in Tribeca. It’s made in Japan “on an antique loop-wheel machine that only produces one meter of jersey an hour,” he says, adding “I think that means that it takes something like two hours to make one piece.” Unlike some of the other crewneck recommendations, this one has no side seams, which means it has a unique cut: “It’s kind of got a narrower hem, so it’s not baggy, it’s just a flattering cut, and it’s really soft,” he says. Though it’s not cheap, you might consider buying it for yourself as a birthday gift, as Lakin did.
And from a local brand, there are the Way Forward crewnecks, which feature hand embroidery with phrases like “New York Lover.” Miguez owns a couple and says, “They’re just the best quality sweatshirts. They’re terry on the inside, then she did something where it’s still a crewneck, but you have these little pockets on the sides, which is really supercool.” Miguez isn’t afraid to wear them out and about and says, “I would wear the Way Forward with a light jacket or a blazer and go to a nice restaurant with it, or a gallery opening, or a ball game.”
Baldwin says this splurge-y Thom Browne sweatshirt, which features the brand’s signature stripes on the arm, looks so polished that “most people will kind of liken it to a sweater.” To style it, he pairs it with a white T-shirt or a white or bengal-striped button-down. “I think it’s for those people who really want to be noticed that they’re wearing a designer item, but they still want to be comfortable,” he says.
And for folks for whom “money is not an object or an issue,” there is the Prada crewneck that has a unique striped neckline. As the former United States online styling editor and style director for Mr. Porter, Baldwin has seen his fair share of crewnecks and says, “I haven’t seen anything quite like that, especially on that level of brand like a Prada.” So, if you’re looking for a true luxury crewneck, it’ll be hard to beat this one.
Additional reporting by Barret Wertz, Hilary Reid, and Louis Cheslaw.
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