19 Best Women’s Crewneck Sweatshirts | The Strategist

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A crewneck sweatshirt typically falls into one of two categories. There are the lived-in, oversize crews, best worn while enjoying takeout or some Sex and the City in bed. Then, there are the fashion crewnecks, sometimes accentuated by a sheer shoulder or a fancy neckline, and often treated delicately in both the wash and during daily wear. There are also the unicorns: crewneck sweatshirts that are both luxuriously oversize and effortlessly chic. (Think Princess Diana out on the town.)

To find an array of options that span the Venn diagram, I spoke to 12 stylish women about their favorite crewneck sweatshirts. You’ll find oversize picks for everyday schlepping, non-fussy crews for working out, and stylish pieces that layer nicely with a turtleneck or your favorite white tee. I’ve also organized the crewnecks by price, beginning with tried-and-true picks for under $50 and ending with pricier ones that devotees swear are worth the investment.

Update on October 10, 2024: Added some new vintage crewnecks from eBay; updated prices and checked stock for all products.

Like many Hanes sweatshirt owners, author and senior editor at The Guardian U.S. Lauren Mechling acquired hers by happenstance. Mechling’s is a bright-orange color, a choice inspired by a pricey Rachel Comey Fond sweatshirt in orange (more on that later), which she couldn’t justify paying upward of $200 for. But the traffic-cone orange it came in captivated her, and she purchased the pleasantly affordable Hanes staple as a substitute. “I can’t say it is an heirloom piece that I’m going to give to my granddaughter,” she says, but it’s bright enough to help her stand out when she’s running and mighty comfortable. If you’re looking for a cozy layer that prioritizes affordability over cut (this one is decidedly straight), you’ll be satisfied with the Hanes.

Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio “basically lives in crewneck sweatshirts” and has amassed quite a collection as a result. (She’s staunchly anti-hoodie because of her long hair that she usually wears down.) For times when she’s craving something a bit more roomy, warm, and comfortable, Trolio turns to her Gap crewnecks, which she owns in “the most basic basics,” black and gray. Like a blank sweatshirt at a craft store, “there are a lot of options, but this one comes in better colors and is higher-quality — or maybe I actually mean softer and less stiff — than a Gildan,” she says. And if you’re a fan of a matching set, she recommends looking at the matching sweats, which come in the same wildly large expanse of colors.

Brand consultant and stylist Laurel Pantin, who writes the shopping newsletter Earl Earl, is a navy-crewneck devotee. While she has many, one of her favorites is the Comfort Colors crew, which she wears for school drop-off and beach days. Since it’s garment-dyed and slightly lived-in, she says it looks like something “your dad would have kept on his boat in New England.” For fit, you should expect it to tread the line between baggy and fitted, and since it’s not too pricey, you don’t need to be precious with it. “You can throw it in the washing machine, in the dryer, and it never looks bad. It gets better with time,” she says, adding that “it just looks like the vintage sweatshirt that you would spend forever looking for at a Goodwill but you would never find.”

Speaking of finding that perfect vintage sweatshirt, you can’t go wrong with a ’90s Russell crewneck, which also came up when I chatted with stylish men about their favorite crewneck sweatshirts. Digital creator and decorator Carrie Carrollo owns one that’s associated with an old Corvette club and says that as someone who is “really big into super-oversize and comfy” things, this one “does both of those things pretty well, while also still feeling substantial, even though I know it’s older.” So, if you’re looking for a sweatshirt that is “worn without being worn down,” a vintage Russell will serve you well.

You can find these vintage gems in thrift stores and on Etsy and eBay, so I scoured eBay and cross-referenced my findings with one Reddit user’s tag guide. (As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to look for Russell crewnecks that are made in the United States, as those are typically from the ’90s.) My search turned up a few solid options, including this gray one, a larger classic navy crew, and a nice teal one.

“My dream sweatshirt is not too tight at the waist,” says Trolio, adding that her favorites — including this one — “are a little wider in the body with a looser bottom hem that doesn’t cling around my butt, hips, etc.” For context, she’s five-foot-two and usually wears it with high-waisted jeans or leggings, which means that the crewneck will typically hit her right at the waistband. (If you want something a bit longer, she recommends this one, which has a straighter hem compared to the Essentials Crew, whose rounded hem rises in the front.) Of the crewnecks she owns, this one’s on the heavier side. Though, she adds, “I wouldn’t call any of them especially heavy.” And if you care about logos like Trolio, you’ll be pleased to know that this one has the older trefoil logo instead of the current striped logo that Adidas leans toward.

For recipe developer and writer Justine Doiron, a Champion crewneck is one of her go-to cooking layers. She owns a few of them and says the crewneck is best paired with a white tee because “it is so warm and always looks just the right amount of sporty-cool.” Though it’s also ideal if you’re looking for a layer that you don’t have to worry about spilling on: Hers has borne the brunt of a myriad of stains but has survived with the help of some OxiClean and a spin in the washer and dryer. Just note: She says it’s a heavier sweatshirt, so you’ll want to wear this one in colder months (or strong air-conditioning).

[Editor’s note: Justine’s exact crewneck sweatshirt is currently out of stock, but I found a similar one that’s still available. If you don’t mind having a different fabric composition but want the same retro Champion logo as Justine’s, you might consider this one.]

If you’re not scared of a little graphics action, you might consider this one from Urban Outfitters that both TikTok Star Loren Gray and style blogger Bethany Everett-Ratcliffe wear all the time. Aside from actually being a fan of Fleetwood Mac’s music, Everett-Ratcliffe likes the crewneck because it’s “oversize, comfy, fuzzy, perfect for fall,” she says. And if “Go Your Own Way” isn’t your thing, there’s also a Porsche-themed one in butter yellow, a Johnny Cash one in black, and the new graphics that Urban Outfitters releases regularly. Each of these feature the same 50-50 combination of cotton and polyester that gives the crewneck that gets-better-with-time fluffiness that Everett-Ratcliffe loves.

Like many a favorite sweatshirt, this one joined artist and writer Jo Rosenthal’s collection when she was cold, out and about, and in need of an extra layer. It features a green horse that’s “beautifully screen-printed on” and allows her to easily dress it up and down since it pairs nicely with jeans, jackets, and more. After years of wear, the crewneck is still in “perfect condition.” (Though Rosenthal says she doesn’t mind a stray stain.) “Whether I’m painting or whether I’m working, I always get various stains on my crewnecks or sweatshirts, and I like that,” she says. “So even if it has a little stain on it, I feel like it’s just more of my personality.”

When it comes to crewneck sweatshirts, devotees are often opinionated about the V-stitch, the triangular stitch colloquially known as the Dorito that sits at the center of the neckline. It’s meant to preserve the sweatshirt’s shape, and the clean, subtle stitching of this crewneck’s Dorito along with the sweatshirt’s “vintage athletic fit” is what draws Pantin to it. For Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid, though, it’s the sweatshirt’s versatility. It’s the “kind of sweatshirt that you could throw on to go to a workout class or feel good wearing with jeans and loafers for a day of running errands,” she says. After four years of owning the sweatshirt, Reid reports, “The fleece lining inside has washed down to a pleasingly soft feel, and the outside of the sweatshirt has remained pretty much intact since when I first got it.” If you’re willing to branch out to some less basic colors, like burnt orange and deep ocean blue, you can get the sweatshirt at a pretty nice markdown. The basic colors, though, are full-price.

Given the supremacy of the Superpuff, it’s no surprise that Aritzia’s crewnecks have attracted quite a fan club. Its members include marketing professional Sydney Claps and stylist Grace Thomas, who both laud the sweatshirt for its quality for the price. “I think their stuff really holds its value over time for the price point,” Thomas says, adding that it fares especially well for folks in colder climates because “it’s one you can easily pair underneath things and be very warm throughout the winter months.” Like the Gap crewneck, the Aritzia crew comes in a variety of colors, but Claps says the Heather Chrome is her favorite because it can survive spills while still feeling nostalgically like a sweatshirt. “You’re wearing a sweatshirt when you’re drinking red wine or coffee and you’re in your relaxation mode,” Claps says, adding that “Aritzia has a different shade of the heather gray where you can still be wearing a light, airy, and happy sweatshirt, but have it not get disgusting.”

If you do prefer a white sweatshirt, I’d recommend my personal favorite crewneck, which is still available in a white-eggshell shade. As a five-foot-three person with a short torso, I find that crewnecks often swallow me, which can be pleasant when I’m snuggled under a blanket, but unflattering when I’m out and about. This one hits me right at the waist and is oversize enough that I can layer it with a T-shirt but fitted enough that I’m not sitting in a pile of fabric. I wear the three that I own multiple times a week and find that they’re even softer after I throw them in the dryer. (I’m currently eyeing the new Rollneck sweatshirt, but I’m waiting to give my closet and wallet a break.)

Trolio describes this “’80s-tastic sheer shoulder sweatshirt” as a “going-out-top revival, but make it a sweatshirt.” You’ll, of course, have to be conscious of what you wear under it, but that might just be part of the fun. For Trolio, that looks like a strapless bra, but you could also wear a camisole underneath. “It’s not something you throw on as another layer to stay warm just in case you need it unless you have carefully considered what the other layer is,” she says — but it makes a fun top anyway. To preserve the polyester mesh, you’ll want to lay it flat to dry.

Though this crewneck is technically oversize, Thomas says, “It has the waistband that’s a little bit tighter fit, so you can style it with denim and more high-waisted pants.” Since it’s made of French terry, it won’t be as soft as your typical crewneck, but it’ll be lightweight and breathable enough that you can wear it all year round. “I can’t deal with sweaty fabrics,” says Strategist writer Dominique Pariso, and this crewneck is her current favorite. She’s had it for four years and says that it’s very cozy, and thanks to the material, the sweatshirt has a “lovely lived-in quality to it.” Like the Gap crewneck, this one has a pair of matching sweatpants, and Pariso likes to wear the set while traveling.

“What makes a great crewneck sweatshirt is something that I can wear with leggings on a plane, but also something I can dress up a bit,” says artist Lucy Litman. That duality is what makes this crewneck one of Litman’s go-to items when she travels and a layer that she can easily tuck into a skirt or pants. Though it’s roomy, the sweatshirt has lengthy hems on the sleeves and the waistline that Litman says make her feel polished when wearing it and make it easier to tuck into things without any awkward bunching. You’ll notice that the crewneck is on the pricier side, but Litman says it’s worth it because of the quality, fit, and construction. “This one really just hangs perfectly. I feel like it fits how it’s intended to fit, and kind of stays in place, which is really nice,” she says, adding that “the fabric itself is really soft and luxurious.” Just note: This crewneck is dry-clean only.

For those looking for a sustainable option, Thomas also recommends this oversize crewneck, which she describes as lightweight and soft. It’s made of organic cotton that’s certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which is a third-party certification that verifies that the cotton is actually sustainable. Along with its selection of cheery colors, like a baby pink and yet another butter yellow, the crewneck is available in your more basic basics, like heather gray and navy blue. To prevent pilling and maintain the quality of this crewneck and all the sweatshirts she stands by, Thomas says, “I always recommend hang-drying, just to keep the shape of it and keep the softness of the material as well.”

Thomas compares the texture of this crewneck to butter (“They’re the softest thing ever,” she adds) and describes its weight as akin to “the lightweightness of a performance top, but they don’t look like a performance top by any means.” During her styling work, she typically recommends it to clients who “maybe have a little bit more of a professional job, they work from home, and they want to look nice on-camera, but they don’t want to be dressed up all the time.” While Thomas’s favorite style is the Betsy crewneck, which has a “cowl-neck feel,” Varley makes a variety of other elevated crewnecks, including a classic silhouette with zippered accents and an oversize version that is effortlessly cozy.

Reid started scouring Poshmark for this sweatshirt after working on a campaign featuring Suzie Kondi in a past job and seeing how chic the sweatshirt looked on the designer herself. “The fit is a little more elegant than your typical crewneck because it has a wider-cut neck that shows some clavicle, and a slightly cropped length that’s flattering with mid-rise pants,” Reid says. Given this fit and the velour material, she treats it more like a shirt than a sweatshirt and says, “I pretty much only wear it on its own or with a tank top underneath versus layering a T-shirt under.” To best maintain its quality and fit, Reid lets it air-dry.

Though Mechling satisfied her itch for a traffic-cone-colored sweatshirt with the classic Hanes crewneck, she went to the Rachel Comey sample sale with the hope that she would find her much-desired sweatshirt at a fraction of the price. She did, in fact, find the sweatshirt at the sample sale and bought two — a “popcorn-butter yellow” and black (the orange was not available). Compared to the Hanes, “the Rachel Comey one is softer and there’s just something more thoughtful and intentional about the cut,” Mechling says. “It’s not straight and hitting you at that weird part of the middle of your hip, which the other one does. This one has something blousy about it.” It’s the kind of sweatshirt that she can wear on a Zoom call and that makes other moms ask, “Did you go to the Rachel Comey sample sale?”

On the other end of Pantin’s navy-crewneck spectrum is this cotton-terry number from Jamie Haller. “It has a sponginess to it that I really like,” says Pantin, adding that the navy color is noticeably saturated. Since you’re paying nearly $300 for this sweatshirt, Pantin assures that “it’s not going to stretch out. It’s not going to get weird holes in it. It’s just more of a higher-quality product.” In terms of fit, it’s shorter, boxier, and specifically designed for women, meaning it’ll hit right at the hip. And as a co-signer, Joanna Goddard just featured it on Cup of Jo, too.

[Editor’s note: Pantin’s navy crewneck is currently out of stock, but you can sign up to be notified when it’s restocked here.]

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Update on October 10, 2024: