Hoodies are very popular at Walt Disney World, especially during the evening hours during the colder months. So which hoodie should you wear and where did hoodies come from in the first place?
The History of the Hoodie: Who Invented the Hoodie?
Which Style of Hoodie is the Best Hoodie for a Disney World Vacation?
All Hoodies are Not Created Equal, So How Do You Choose?
Who Invented the Hoodie?
Today’s popular hoodie has a long history that goes all the way back to the 1930s, when the Knickerbocker Knitting Company designed the first hoodie sweatshirt (they basically sewed a hood onto a sweatshirt to add extra warmth). Today, that pioneering hoodie company is known as Champion.
After its launch, the hoodie gained popularity with the military, who found the design to be great for training purposes. Colleges and universities gave the hoodie enhanced popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, when the hoodie became synonymous with sportswear and branded logo hoodies emerged.
In the 1970s, skaters, surfers and the emerging rap and hip hop scene gave the hoodie a more “cool” and urban street vibe. With the release of the first Rocky film in 1976, the hoodie gained even more exposure as apparel for gritty athletics, as Rocky trained hard in his hoodie.
Nowadays, the hoodie remains very popular with even more variations: from sports, to street style, college athletics and functional casual wear. The hoodie is now firmly cemented as an iconic staple of casual wear apparel.
The Five Types of Hoodies
There are many variations of the classic hoodie, but the five main hoodie styles we tend to see include:
- Pullover Hoodie with Pouch
- Pullover Hoodie, Cropped
- Zip-Up Hoodie
- Pullover Hoodie no Pouch
- Pullover Hoodie, Short Sleeved
Within each of these five hoodie categories there are various types and styles, primarily based on weight and fabric. There are branded and non-branded hoodies and various color options and all-over-prints.
Hoodies are both a fashion statement and functional piece of apparel. Unlike the original plain grey hoodie (the kind of hoodie that Rocky wore in the ‘70s), it’s rare nowadays that you’ll see a plain blank hoodie with no graphic at all. The hoodie has gone fully commercial, a trend that took off in the 1990s.
Hoodies at Walt Disney World: Which Should You Wear?
At Walt Disney World, hoodies tend to appear in full force when the weather gets a little chilly and Cast Members roll out the hoodie racks for eager buyers.
So which hoodie is best? The most common and most popular hoodies are pullovers and zip ups. Pullover hoodies tend to be more popular, but if you prefer the convenience of a front zipper (the hoodie jacket), then the zip up hoodie can add more flexibility. Aesthetically, the pullover hoodie tends to have cleaner lines and a more traditional look – especially if a graphic is featured on the front (where it won’t be broken up by a zipper).
Ultimately, the choice of which hoodie is best comes down to personal preference: the perfect combination of comfort, fit and style.
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What is 1923 Main Street: Disney Travel Style Podcast?
1923 Main Street® is an award-winning* Disney travel fashion and style podcast hosted by Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic. This is your source for the latest Disney travel style news, Disney style tips and what to wear Disney fashion advice.
Join Mike and Amelia for fun-filled informative discussions as they share the latest Disney travel style news every week. Get the latest style news for travel to Disney destinations, including Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Vacation Club (including Disney Aulani in Hawaii and Disney's Vero Beach Resort in Florida), Disneyland Paris and more.
In each episode, Mike and Amelia discuss everything Disney inspired style, from what to pack for your Disney vacation, what to wear in the parks, styling your wardrobe for Disney special events and more. Mike has over 50 years and 100+ weeks of onsite Disney travel experience, while Amelia brings a younger perspective to the table with 14+ years and nearly 40 weeks of onsite Disney travel experiences at the age of 16. Mike Belobradic is the founder of 1923 Main Street, a casual clothing line #InspiredByTheMagic of Disney and beyond.
*1923 Main Street: The Disney Travel Podcast won the Canadian Podcast Award for Outstanding Kids & Family Series in 2022 and has been nominated for Best Podcast Awards at the People's Choice Podcast Awards and the Canadian Podcast Awards.