You Need a Fleece, and You Need One This Instant

Are men's fleeces still having a moment, or have we all simply realised that comfort is king? Once a purely practical piece endorsed by hikers, climbers and National Trust membership holders, the cosy, dependable layer has been on the up since the birth of the ‘core’ trends of the mid-Tens (namely dadcore, gorpcore and normcore) that prompted mellowing millennials, like I, to sport semi-ironic, function-first ‘fits – and as the colder months roll in, the fleece quickly becomes a wardrobe essential.

Fortunately there are plenty of fuzzy offerings to choose from. In fact, there may be more than ever. Hooded ones, zip ones, light ones, thick ones, striped ones, plaid ones – you name it, it’s out there. You can even cop a true-to-the-original version of the fleece that started it all: the Patagonia Retro Pile Jacket. Prefer something a little more current? Scroll down to get acquainted with the best of the best; exceptional fleeces designed by the likes of Thrudark, This is Never That and Entire Studios.