The best men’s hoodies — the kind that you see filling wardrobes and high streets around the world — may now be ubiquitous, but the cosy boy essential has yet to turn 100 years old. Softly hewn from cotton and often oversized, in many ways this is the antithesis to the world of tailoring, and yet the USA-born invention has come to represent the modern man’s wardrobe more than even the suit.

Womens Ladies New Long Sleeve Plain Hoodie Zip Up Fleece Sweatshirt Jumper Warm Sweater Coat Top

What are GQ's best men's hoodies?

• Best overall hoodie: Fear of God, £95 at mrporter.com
• Best affordable hoodie: Uniqlo, £34.90 at uniqlo.com
• Best environmentally-friendly hoodie: Pangaia, £140 at pangaia.com
• Best sportswear hoodie: Lululemon, £118 at lululemon.co.uk
• Best hoodie to collect in every colour: Represent, £160 at uk.representclo.com

What is the history of the hoodie?

First produced by Champion during the 1930s, the hooded sweatshirt had practical origins. Like selvedge denim, trench coats and other clothing that once served a specific purpose, the hoodie was originally intended for labourers working in freezing wardrobes in Upstate New York. It was then co-opted by athletes, as cooly demonstrated by Sly Stallone’s Rocky Balboa on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. By the 1990s, the garment had developed negative connotations in the UK, having been regularly and unfairly conflated with criminal youths. Today, the unisex athletic wear hasn’t quite shaken off all of its bad reputation, but the garment — whether full zip, french terry, oversized or even tie-dye à la Barbie's I Am Kenough model — can be found in almost every closet around the world.

When is the right time to wear a hoodie?

Ever since Norma Kamali and other designers first welcomed the hoodie onto the catwalk, designers have been all in on the ready-to-wear stalwart. That is in part because it’s so hard to get wrong. As long as it’s cosy, roomy and has long sleeves (even Ryan Gosling failed to make sleeveless hoodies a thing) then you should be good to go, with only a few occasions unacceptable for hoodie-wearing: weddings, tea at The Ritz, that kind of thing. For relaxed meet-ups, a midweight model with matching sweatpants is as good a ‘fit as any, but for something more smart-casual you may want to pair yours with dress pants or jeans. Just don’t do a Bieber and wear a sweatsuit if your partner's out in a showstopper of a look…