A zip up hoodie can carry a lot of history, and the V&A sells one by Nicholas Daley that commemorates his parents' Reggae Klub. The V&A says the club, founded by his Dundee-born mother and Jamaican father, was the first reggae club night in 1970s Scotland. Here is how to choose a zip up hoodie that is as good as the story behind this one.
Zip Up Hoodie: Nicholas Daley and the Reggae Klub
A hoodie with a family story
The V&A Shop describes Nicholas Daley's Reggae Klub piece as a zip-up hoodie with the club's graphic printed on the back. The V&A says Daley's mother, born in Dundee, and his Jamaican father founded Reggae Klub, the first reggae club night in 1970s Scotland, after meeting in a nightclub. The club traveled to venues across Scotland between 1978 and 1982. A zip up hoodie can be a very personal object.
Why the zip matters
A zip up hoodie is more flexible than a pullover. You can open it over a tee, close it for wind or take it off in a second. Look for a metal or heavy-duty zipper that glides, and a placket with a flat stitch so it does not rub at the chin. Check that the hem lies flat when it is zipped, with no flare.
Cropped or full length
A cropped zip up hoodie looks neat over a high waist. A full-length one layers over dresses. A thicker fleece makes it a jacket. Picture her in a gray zip up with a slip skirt and trainers, hair tied up, heading to the station on a cool morning. The zipper lets you adjust the neckline from sporty to soft.
Layering well
Wear a zip up hoodie under a denim jacket for a deeper layer. Over a collared shirt it looks collegiate. Open over a bodysuit it looks sleek. Pull the sleeves up to show a watch. Wash zippers closed to protect the teeth.
What I would skip
I would skip a zipper that sticks, a hood that droops and a fabric that pills after one wash. A zip up hoodie should look neat when it is open and when it is closed.
