The Hooded Sweatshirt

According to the fashion police, whenever I wear this garment, I commit a fashion felony. Although hooded sweatshirts are all de rigueur these days, clothing with large corporate logos are supposedly taboo in “proper society”. Some experts claim that by wearing clothing with brand names emblazoned on them, the wearer supposedly wishes to identify with a particular class of people. Other people deride the wearers by asking, why pay loads of extra money so that you can have the privilege of providing advertising space for an impersonal corporation that couldn’t care less about you?

Various commentators like to make insinuations about clothing by claiming that wearing certain brands identifies you as aligning with a particular political persuasion. What are people to do when they discover their branded garment is worn by folks of the opposition party? I say “hogwash” to such nonsense. Big logos are just marketing tools; and when they become controversial, people buy more of the brand name products.

One of my friends is vehemently anti-logo. Ward will not wear any garment that displays a corporate logo. He even snips the small red Levi’s tag off of pocket seams of his blue jeans. I suppose “to each his own” is a good way to understand his obsession.

There are other pop-psychology beliefs about people who wear big logo shirts. One of the more amusing being men who wear tops with large logos are less interested in committed relationships than “normal” men. I think such notions are silly. I couldn’t be more interested in being in a committed relationship.

The hooded sweatshirt I’m wearing as I tap out today’s blog post is one of my favorites. It happens to sport “Nike” in large font lettering adjacent to the famous “swoosh” symbol. The fabric is heather grey and well-worn but not worn out. My late friend Doug gifted the “hoodie” to me a few Christmases ago because he knew of my love for such shirts. Therefore, the garment has sentimental value.

I’ve worn hooded sweatshirts since before such shirts became known as “hoodies” and became contemporary fashion statements. I like to roll up the sleeves to mid forearm. This allows me to do household chores without worrying about getting them wet in dishwater or snagged on something. The rolls reveal the cotton fleece that comforts the skin with soft, cushy goodness.

At naptime, I recline in my favorite chair and park my hands in the shirt’s kangaroo pocket. Doing this brings a sense of comfort and security. If there’s a slight chill in the air, I pop up the hood to cover my head to preserve warmth. Situated in this manner inside the “hoodie” is the only true way for me to cocoon. I soon drift off to snooze-land and perhaps enjoy a short dream.

This hooded sweatshirt is not something I wear out and about to show off in public. The furthest I go away from the house in this shirt is to walk across the street to check the mailbox for mail. Otherwise, this “hoodie” is reserved for home use only.

Today is a chilly winter day–the sort of day I love. This is a great reason to attire myself in broken-in jeans, sneakers, and this comfy hooded sweatshirt.

Ciao

The Blue Jay of Happiness quotes Oscar Wilde. “Fashion is ephemeral. Art is eternal. Indeed what is a fashion really? A fashion is merely a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months!”