Please Stop Wearing Ironic Fashion Sweatshirts

The crewneck athletic sweatshirt is a genuine classic. There's no arguing it. A model of simplicity and versatility, it's one of those garments — like blue jeans, oxford cloth shirts, and wingtip brogues — that has reached an iconic position and will remain, ad infinitum, in that position. So it was only a matter of time before designers started tinkering with the style, adding heady ornamentation or pulling out the whole "classic with a twist" treatment. This is not always a good thing.

Sure, for brands like Kenzo and Givenchy this tactic has worked winningly, acting as catnip for the kind of guy who'd very much like you to know just who, exactly, designed that item he's wearing (and how much it cost, at that). But even if that speaks to some level of elitism, there's another issue that's cropped up — and it's even worse. Because as the statement sweatshirt has grown in popularity, so has its obvious, unfortunate foil: the ironic fashion sweatshirt.

The folks at Hermés are probably none-to-pleased to see a "Homies" sweatshirt making the rounds, whereas who knows what the sphinx-like Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo thinks of folks sporting pullovers that read "Comme des Fuckdown". Regardless, the whole trend reeks of wink-wink-nudge-nudge inside jokery that's snobbier than just wearing that logo-emblazoned pair of sneakers that you're hypothetically mocking. And in certain circles, the prevalence of these garments has already reached its saturation point. Simply put: It's gone too far. And it needs to stop.

Luckily, there's a solution. Remember that soft, heather gray loopback sweatshirt you already have nicely folded up in your drawer? Toss that on instead. There's a reason that you didn't even consider tossing it out last time you cleaned your closet, and there's a reason you still won't consider it during the next wardrobe purge. Like we said: It's a classic.

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