It’s All About the Hoodie: Kelly Kim Shares the Ultimate Guide to Hoodie Styling
In the world of social media, Kelly Kim — also known as Youjin유진 — needs no introduction. The content creator and model is an internet sensation whose effortlessly cool style and beauty routines have us refreshing her Instagram page and TikTok profile every now and then.
Whether she is rocking her minimalist, Y2K-infused it-girl wardrobe, touring the hottest spots in the city, or sharing the most relatable stories in her GRWM videos, Kelly never fails to deliver style inspiration. The initiated know that just following her on socials will be enough to catch a few lessons on beauty and fashion.
But EnVi is always a step ahead.
With hoodies returning to the limelight on and off the runways, we reached out to the ultimate hoodie guru herself for some tips. Read on to learn new ways of styling those really cute (and probably long-forgotten) pieces in our closets.
But First, a Lesson on Hoodie History
Originally items associated with sportswear, hooded sweatshirts rose to prominence in the 1930s and took flight during the 1960s as essentials of collegiate fashion. In the decades that followed, the hoodie became associated with the East Coast hip-hop culture and eventually permeated the mainstream as an everyday piece.
Throughout the years, hoodies have retained an athleisure quality that makes them both comfortable and easy to sport. But the hoodie has also gone high fashion. In recent years, brands have reinvented this basic staple in a multitude of ways, ranging from classy to avant-garde. This was particularly evident on the runways of the Spring Summer 2024 Fashion Week.
Balenciaga, for instance, made the hoodie a recurring element in its collection and bestowed it with contemporary novelty — think of leather hoodies, hooded zip-ups layered over hooded tees, long hooded coats, you name it. On the other hand, brands like 3.1 Phillip Lim and Hermès put a spin on the classic hooded sweatshirt, replacing sportswear-friendly textiles with gabardine and lightweight technical fabrics. A season prior, Phillip Lim even experimented with denim hoodies.
Leveling up the Hoodie
While fashion houses are reinventing the hoodie on the catwalks, social media personalities like Kelly are making their part with their cool-girl take on hoodie styling. In a recent TikTok video, Kelly showed us just how versatile and novel a hoodie can be when you wear it purposefully and dare to experiment.
According to Kelly, an easy way to bring this otherwise casual piece to the next level is to pair it with a long skirt. “It instantly adds a fashion girl touch to the look,” she says. “The perfect thing about long skirts is that they’re super comfortable and give you room to layer for colder months like adding leggings, tights — maybe even sweatpants,“ Kelly laughs.
For those looking for an effortless and casual look, the content creator also recommends wearing hoodies under long wool coats. “I can also see myself styling an oversized hoodie with a mini denim skirt, heels, and oversized leather jacket for a girls’ night out,” she adds.
Hoodie Styling
Photos courtesy of Kelly Kim
The Go-To Hoodie Look
The haute hoodie might be making the rounds in the world of fashion, but there’s quite nothing like a classic hoodie to craft everyday looks. Rooted in simplicity, wearability, and comfort, the hoodie is charmingly versatile.
Kelly understands this appeal and has a few go-to combinations she swears by. “My favorite right now is matching my plain black hoodie with black waffle knit pants — the different textures keep my loungey comfy outfit fun and exciting,” she tells EnVi.
Updated with the latest trends, Kelly also opts for monochromatic looks and matching sets regularly. “I love finding pieces to mix and match from my closet,” she explains. “It’ll usually be matched where it looks like I’m wearing a matching set but 90% of the time, they’re 2 different brands.”
Find the Perfect Complement
Another classic match for a hoodie is, of course, a pair of denim pants. The ensemble is a no-brainer, but Kelly has a bulletproof formula to upgrade it. “I firmly believe that a hairstyle adds the last 5% to complete the outfit,” she shares. “I love my hoodies with big hoods so I like to take this as the perfect opportunity to play around with up-dos. Messy bun, braided ponytail, ponytail with my side bangs to the front… the options are endless. I also love adding headbands and ribbons!”
Jewelry and footwear are equally important. Kelly suggests finding the perfect pair of earrings — she goes for statement pieces — and top off the outfit with a pair of heeled boots.
During wintertime, Kelly also recommends embracing heattech innerwear. “If I know I’m going to be outdoors, I put a heattech long sleeve on under my thickest hoodie.” Yes, girl, be warm, stay warm, don’t get cold.
A Guide to Buying the Perfect Hoodie.
Last, but definitely not least, Kelly shares the ultimate checklist for finding a good quality hoodie. What should we be paying attention to? She lists:
- Quality and softness of the fabric, outside and inside.
- Size of the hood — the hood needs to be big.
- Width of the hoodie. It needs to be wider for that slouchy look.
- A dropped shoulder hem is a plus.
- Minimal design.
Kelly’s Picks
Now that you know everything you need to know to upgrade your hoodie game, feel free to experiment with hooded pieces and adapt Kelly’s tips to your own dress codes. And just in case you need some extra style inspiration, our favorite hoodie connoisseur breaks down some product recommendations for you to fully embrace hoodie fashion.
“A classic for those who want a quality blank hoodie with no logo, design. A lot of your favorite streetwear brands use their blanks for their hoodies!”
“I get asked what hoodie I’m wearing every time I wear this hoodie. It’s THE hoodie that hoodies.”
“Classic hoodie that washes well, wears well. I love the seasonal colors they come out with! I always check Alo for new drops if I’m interested in buying a colorful hoodie!”
“Cherry nails the fit every single time. [This is] my go-to when I’m looking for more of a statement hoodie!”
“Can’t forget about this one.”
Editor’s Picks
Since Team EnVi always has your back — and just for good measure — we also rounded up some of our favorite hoodies. I’m just notorious for not always making the most affordable recommendations, so the rest of the fashion team stepped in to share their picks. (Spoiler alert: they’re really cute).
“Relaxed-fit hoodies are nonnegotiable in any wardrobe. This Calvin Klein hoodie has the perfect retro touch and its fabric blend makes it the ideal base to create a cozy and stylish look à la Scandi girl.” — Mayra Peralta, Fashion Editor
“This classic Champions hoodie is simple and comfortable and from the softest fleece fabric for the days you need something to just throw on. You can pair it with jeans or your favorite leggings to complete the on-the-go look.” — Davonna Gilpin, Deputy Editor.
“I love this hoodie because of its slightly oversized fit and its versatility. It doesn’t cinch too tight at the waist and can be dressed up or down. The double zipper pull gives it a hip touch too.” — Mel Simmons, fashion and beauty writer.
“Cute minimalist design, super high quality and comfortable. The best of all is the meaningful message behind it!” — Valentina Doukeris, fashion and beauty writer.
“If you like to make a bold statement, this graphic hoodie might be exactly what you’re looking for. The perfect mix of fun, trendy — purple is slated to be one of the must-have colors next season — and cozy, this item can be styled to match any aesthetic, from edgy to cute.” — Mayra Peralta, Fashion Editor
Before we forget, here’s one last pro tip from Kelly: tucking hoodies is a nay! “If I wanted it tucked in, I’d just go for a cropped hoodie or find hoodies with tighter bands at the bottom for that cinched look!”
Yes, Kelly, you’re so right!
Looking for more style content? Check out EnVi’s guide to the most stylish Ganni pieces here.
