Fashion icon: Grey sweatshirt

The grey sweatshirt has evolved from a sportswear basic to a high-fashion staple. Here’s how to wear it in 2025.

The origins

The grey sweatshirt was born in the early 1920s as a practical solution for athletes, crafted from soft, absorbent cotton to replace the itchy wool garments of the time. It quickly became a staple of American sportswear, favoured for its comfort and durability. Over the decades, it transcended its athletic roots to become a cultural icon, embraced by everyone from college students to high-fashion designers.

Through the years

After the 1920s, the grey sweatshirt quickly became a symbol of casual American style, embraced by college athletes and students as an off-duty essential. In the mid-20th century, it gained cultural relevance in Hollywood, worn by icons like Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen, cementing its cool, rebellious appeal. By the 1980s and 90s, it had become a streetwear staple with oversized minimalist styles popularized by Kate Moss and designers like Calvin Klein. It was then adopted by hip-hop artists and skaters, before making its way onto high-fashion runways in the 2000s, where it continues to be reimagined as a versatile wardrobe classic.

Style today

There are so many ways to wear it, but one of the simplest is to go for vintage-inspired cotton fits and wear with high-waisted denim or go for oversized styles and pair with relaxed tailoring. Layering under a blazer will give a smart-casual flair, or you can style it with wide-leg trousers or leather for effortless chic. Tuck it into flared jeans for a modern nod to the 70s, or channel the 90s with leggings, a leather jacket, and this season's sneakers.

Try these sweatshirt looks whether you are heading into the office, shopping around town, or relaxing at home.