I'll Be Wearing This Sweatshirt Every Day for the Foreseeable Future
SHOP $50, everlane.com
Welcome to The Esquire Endorsement. Heavily researched. Thoroughly vetted. These picks are the best way to spend your hard-earned cash.
A few years ago, I made an important wardrobe decision: I was going to become a crewneck guy. Some people collect highly sought after sneakers, other cotton enthusiasts invest in hoodies with character, and hell, everyone knows the "fun sock guy" in the group. But my less-than-ambitious new personal brand pivot was less about standing out—quite the opposite in fact. I wanted crewneck sweatshirts to be the quiet center of my whole sartorial operation. That is, when I woke up every day, I wanted to style my look around them.
Since then, I've made it a point—whether it was a new drop from a favorite brand, or a weekend impulse-buying spree—to look to the crewnecks first. And you know what? I've done a pretty good job, if I do say so myself. Not a day goes by that I can't reach for a trusty crewneck. No matter if I'm wearing it under a blazer, over a button down, or letting it shine on its own, I've got a crewneck for the job. It's served me well, and streamlined my morning routine.
And then came the events of the past few weeks. Yes, the big C, which has dismantled so many in far more serious scenarios than mine. And so I will not complain about the privilege I have of being able to do my job from home. But what I will say, is that while I packed a bag for what I hoped would be a short week's escape from the chaos of New York City, I was careful to ensure I was bringing the things I wanted to wear over and over again for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't have my full array of crewnecks to choose from every day. Shit, I didn't really need to wear anything at all for what was to come. But the one I did want to wear every day—one I felt good about being in for Zoom conferences and evening walks alike—was the latest I'd added to my arsenal. It's Everlane's Uniform french terry crew. It's become my whole damn uniform. Here's why you should make it yours, too.
To help those in need due to the coronavirus outbreak, check out our guide on where to donate here.
There's nothin' to it (in the best way).
Not just right now, but always, simplicity is the first thing I'm looking for in adding to my crewneck collection. I don't need to go full ROY G. BIV in the arsenal. I stick to the grays and blacks and whites and navys so that should I want to style it with something a little wild—like a camo coat or patterned trousers—I can let those items shine. That's not to say this sweatshirt's nothin' special. (Why the hell else would we be talking about it?) But this is the kind of piece you need at the ready for when the rest of the setup is getting rowdy. Think of it as the friend who takes your keys when the shots start flowing. This is all to say, your statement pieces need the right environment to to flex upon, and Everlane's been making these essentials better than most from the jump. The french terry crewneck is one of the brand's most useful emblems of that.
SHOP $50, everlane.com
It's not one-note.
Why did I choose this crewneck to be The One indefinitely? Because its versatility allows me to pack one thing I can make work in most any scenario. Headed outside for my 10 minutes of daily exercise? I'm throwing it on. (I'm taking walks, okay?) An important video conference with every single one of my colleagues, despite the fact that it's 3 p.m. and I haven't showered yet? I'm throwing it on (and maybe a hat, too). Am I attempting some normalcy and putting together a full fit to go about my day? I'm starting with it. Why? Because it's impossible not to feel good in it. The fit is right, and not slouchy. It's comfortable enough for a nap and refined enough for the outside world that awaits. It is, for my money, the perfect sweatshirt for this—and any—style scenario.
It's durable.
The downside to working from a small sample of your wardrobe is how often you need to (and yes, you need to) launder that limited selection. Wash after wash, the quality and comfort of this sweatshirt holds up. I suggest you size up, worry not about shrinkage, and wash and (tumble) dry it (on low) 'til the cows come home. Give it a quick steam and suddenly it feels lived in again, yet, supremely fresh. Everlane filled its Uniform collection with a dozen everyday basics, and they meant the every day part. I've taken that literally, and I've yet to be disappointed.
SHOP $50, everlane.com
Prop styling by John Olson
Photography by Timothy Mulcare
You Might Also Like
