You can answer the question 'sweatshirt – what is it?' Without the help of the Internet. Answer options: a) long-sleeved shirt; b) sweatshirt with fleece; c) the fashionable name of the good old olympic jacket; d) the contemptuous epithet that hipsters use to refer to vegans? In fact, in terms of its cut and appearance, the sweatshirt resembles the knitted 'grandmother's' sweater or sweatshirt with long sleeves, known to everyone from early childhood. However, as true connoisseurs of fashion and style say, you should not confuse slippers with moccasins, and a sweatshirt with a hoodie.
Before going to the store, you should refresh your stock of shopping terms a little, so that when choosing what looks like a sweatshirt, you don't buy a sweatshirt (what is it – below) or a hoodie. It will be awkward.
What is a sweatshirt
The word 'sweatshirt' (Wikipedia – eng. Sweatshirt) comes from the English words sweat 'sweat' and shirt 'shirt'. Not to be confused with potshot (English potshot, pot shots – a sudden blow in boxing).
In the 50s of the XX century, the American manufacturer Benjamin Russell first began to produce on an industrial scale loose shirt without buttons for sports. This type of men's clothing appeared due to the increased sweating of the child of the manufacturer. One day, his athletic but sweaty son complained that he was not comfortable playing football in the shirt popular at that time, as it sticks to his body.
Soon Russell presented the world with a 'sweaty shirt' that makes life easier for people who are actively involved in sports. It is precisely as workout clothing that this piece of clothing was promoted, which can be seen on photographs of American basketball players, football players and Olympians of all stripes from the 40s to the 70s of the last century.
A sample of Benjamin Russell sweatshirts reproduced with modern technology
The finest hour of the sweatshirt came when the costume designer of the cult sports drama Rocky decided to wear it on Sylvester Stallone. In the film, the character in the 'sweaty shirt' appears for the first time on his morning run in Philadelphia. Rocky Balboa in the film of the same name ran in a sweatshirt (alternating with a hoodie – a sweatshirt with a hood), trained, visited bars and even brushed his teeth.
The sweatshirt offers comfort and ease in every movement that does not contradict the concept of sport. Simple in cut, lightweight, but at the same time warm sweatshirts are a universal thing, without which it is impossible to imagine a wardrobe of an adherent of casual style. Although very often a sweatshirt is called a more familiar word for a Russian man 'jacket'.
What is the difference between a sweatshirt and a sweatshirt and other types of clothing
In appearance, this type of clothing is similar to the beloved sweatshirt by many. Like Grandma's sweater, it has no buttons or zippers. On the sleeves and at the waist there is a so-called 'elastic' – ribbed fabric that prevents unwanted movements of these parts of the garment. An almost invisible triangular insert can be found in the neck area. It is worth noting that earlier this groove was designed to absorb sweat.
A sweatshirt is also a type of sports sweater, visually similar to a sweatshirt, but with two differences. Firstly, if a sweatshirt has any zipper, it is not 100% sweatshirt. The presence of a triangle in the neck area is also a sign that this is not a sweatshirt. The description of this wardrobe item is a topic for a separate article. If you are wondering what a sweatshirt is and how to choose a sweatshirt – write in the comments. We'll tell you.
The triangular groove, which many remember from childhood, is designed to absorb sweat
The sweatshirt lacks a hood and was not originally conceived. If you cannot do without it, you need to purchase a hoodie – the same cut + hood. Classic 'sweaty shirt' designs should have an exceptionally round neckline, but today the V shape dominates. Many modern manufacturers do it for the sake of fashion.
The most significant difference between sweatshirt and long sleeves and other things is the material. If the sweatshirt is turned inside out, grooves or corrugations can be seen on the fabric, and winter options are most often made with a light fleece. This is a reference to the period when this type of clothing was used exclusively for sports. Such a construction of matter will pleasantly envelop you in everyday life: when you are stuck in a traffic jam, rush to the cinema, stroll through the autumn park …
How to choose a sweatshirt
Today “sports shirts” have migrated to the wardrobes of people far from the world of Olympic achievements. Sweatshirts are produced for every taste and wallet, they are mega popular among all categories of consumers: schoolchildren, students, bearded vapers, clean-shaven intellectuals … The price category of 'sweaty shirts' fluctuates like the heartbeat of the core: from the cheapest options that can be found in any store , to the unique Japanese models produced according to the authentic technology developed by Benjamin Russell.
This is a hoodie … 
And this is a sweatshirt. Don't mix it up!
Sweatshirt made with authentic technology differ from less expensive counterparts in that the material for them is produced very slowly. For example, no more than 8 shirts can be sewn on one machine per day. In addition, expensive exclusives are mainly represented by seamless patterns. Initially, sweatshirts were made from knitted fabric. Now they use either pure cotton or a combination of cotton and synthetics. It is better to choose cotton models for every day; shirts made of cotton with an admixture of synthetic fibers are suitable for sports training.
When trying on, remember that there should be a small space between the fabric and the body. But the shirt should not hang in a bag either, this will create extra volumes. If the garment is too tight to the body, it will lead to discomfort during movement and during training.
What to wear with a sweatshirt
You can wear a sweatshirt with almost any outfit. The exception is tailcoats, classic jackets and trousers. If you have at least one jeans in your wardrobe, then you should buy a sweatshirt for them. Also, 'sweaty shirts' go well with shirts that have little or no collar. From autumn to spring, these shirts can be worn with coats, jackets and bombers. As for shoes, sneakers, sneakers, non-classic boots and their travel counterparts are suitable for a sweatshirt.
The universal colors of the sweatshirt are all shades of gray. Other colors require more careful selection of other garments. This is due to the versatility of gray, which is a good backdrop for other shades.
Do not wear a sweatshirt with tailcoats, classic jackets and trousers 
If you have denim pants, a sweatshirt will be a good addition. 
Sweatshirts are versatile, suitable for both everyday life and work 
Sweatshirts are versatile, suitable for both everyday life and work
Nowadays, in a sweatshirt, you can safely go not only to the sports field. This form of clothing is appropriate in a park, cinema, pizzeria … Remember that the sweatshirt is perfect for modern cut jackets, jackets, jeans, chinos, sneakers. However, you should not wear a sweatshirt for a meeting, interview or in the registry office.
How to care for a sweatshirt
Caring for your sweatshirt requires the following rules:
- You need to wash it inside out. If you want to put a thing in the washing machine, then put it on the delicate mode. It would be nice to use special bags for washing, which will protect the item from shrinkage.
- Shirts with large prints are best hand washed in warm water.
- You can dry a sweatshirt in the same way as any other clothes. An exception is made for models with a fleece inside, which are better to bring 'to readiness' in a horizontal position, after carefully leveling them.
- Iron only with a warm iron. If there are drawings on things, then we iron from the wrong side.
Compliance with these points guarantees that the item will serve a long and reliable service.
Conclusion
In the article, we tried to answer in detail the question 'Sweatshirt – what is it?'. A sweatshirt is the very clothing for every day that will perfectly match your jeans and your favorite sneakers. In a sweatshirt, you can safely go for a run or, comfortably sitting by the fireplace, read conceptual literature. At the same time, regardless of the price, 'sweat shirts' fully cope with the functions assigned to them, which also contributes to their popularity among the population of the entire planet.
