Why the Hoodie Is a Lot Like Comfort Food
There are some types of clothing that seem to withstand the pressures of constantly changing fashion. Take the hoodie. While so many other pieces go in and out of style quickly, the hoodie has been a stalwart of fashion for the better part of 50 years. It hasn’t changed much in that time. In that sense, it is a lot like comfort food.
Comfort food is defined by the Merriam-Webster online dictionary as “food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal.” We often associate comfort food with something our mothers or grandmothers used to prepare. Eating it reminds us of days gone by.
It Makes You Feel Warm and Cozy
Comfort food has a strange way of making you feel all warm and cozy inside. The warmth may be physical, especially if your favorite comfort food is hot and spicy. But it might also be an emotional sort of thing. Either way, the warm and cozy feeling comfort food produces is associated with happy memories and pleasant thoughts.
Likewise, the hoodie makes you feel warm and cozy, too. Again, it may be physical. Hoodies are made from a soft and comfortable material that happens to retain heat very well. That’s why there is nothing quite like a comfortable hoodie on a cold winter day. But beyond that, you get a sense of coziness and security all bundled up in an oversized garment that can almost feel like a blanket at times.
It Makes You Feel Safe and Secure
Moving on, comfort food also has the strange ability to make us feel safe and secure. Why? Because it brings back memories of childhood. It reminds us of a time when we felt safe and secure in mom’s kitchen. When mom was around, everything with the world was right. Even now, you still may go to mom when you need that feeling of safety.
Wearing a hoodie can produce some of the same feelings. Despite cold temperatures and the elements, you feel safe and secure protected by a bulky hoodie that keeps the heat in and the wind away. While others are shivering on the street, you are bundled up with a hood over your head and thick pockets for your hands. There is something strangely safe in the feeling you get.
Just About Any Hoodie Works
The one area in which comfort food and hoodies are not the same is variation. Think of your favorite comfort food. It is just not the same if you are eating someone else’s recipe. It’s your mother’s recipe that brings you comfort. Someone else’s recipe might be similar, but it’s just not the same.
As far as hoodies go, just about any piece will do. A LatinX hoodie from New York-based Plurawl is just as warm, comfy, and cozy as another brand from a Los Angeles company. Sure, you might appreciate Plurawl’s message and graphics more. But in terms of function, any high-quality hoodie will do the job.
A Staple of American Attire
Comparing hoodies to comfort food says a lot about what makes us feel good. And just like there are certain comfort foods associated with American culture, the hoodie has become a staple of American attire. What started out as an article of clothing designed around keeping athletes comfortable has become everyday wear for a lot of us.
Do you have a favorite comfort food? Do you have a favorite hoodie? Try combining the two and see what happens. You might find yourself overwhelmed by those warm, cozy feelings you have come to know and love.
