While we all enjoy the way statement fashion pieces make us stand out and feel amazing, it is an undisputed fact that the foundation of any cool outfit is a closet full of staples. As every fashion-minded guy knows, crafting an outfit is made much easier by having a core selection of fresh tees, cozy hoodies, and classic sweaters. And don’t forget staple pieces for those chill Saturdays after a killer gym session or Monday night movie marathons, like soft luxury sweatpants.
Sourcing these essential staple items is not an easy task. They must withstand the test of time and multiple, frequent washes. As these pieces are constantly called into use, they can’t lose their shape, color, or quality. Luckily, I’m here to save you from hours of research, trialing different brands, giving up, and going back to those less-than-stellar options. We’re going for a more tried and true vibe here.
Enter Elwood Clothing, the LA-based casual luxury brand perhaps best known as a favorite of Justin Bieber’s. JB is the master of the elevated casual ‘fit, and it’s telling that he has turned to Elwood Clothing on several occasions for his essential wardrobe pieces.
Key Takeaways
In this article, I peruse the Elwood Clothing range, particularly their Core Collection, to give you the heads up on upcoming releases and explain why the brand produces the perfect everyday essential items. I’ll also highlight some of my favorite clothing items and give you some styling tips along the way.
About The Brand: Elwood’s Core Collection
Elwood Clothing prides itself on producing high-quality, casual clothing at an affordable price, majoring in staple items with a vintage 1990s vibe. Vintage? 90s? I know, I’ll let you catch your breath too. But it was an excellent decade for soft, oversized tees and cool graphics, often printed on vintage-style washed fabrics. That’s what we’re dealing with.
While the brand releases many capsules, one of the most popular is its Core Collection which, lucky for you, dear fashion connoisseur, has just been restocked as of February 9th. Consisting of stylish and affordable clothing such as oversized tees, crewnecks, sweatpants, and its ever-popular sell-out hoodies, the Core Collection has something for everyone and everything for someone.
The Elwood Core Collection is carefully constructed to ensure that the brand’s clothing seamlessly blends into your daily rotation, offering 12 essential items in a range of four neutral colorways – vintage white, black, gray, and brown. Elwood also promises some surprise seasonal shades for those who wish to stand out from the crowd, perhaps turning an essential item into a statement piece. Which is a great way to dip your toes in the water and bolden your look a smidge. If you’re into the waiting game, the next such release is in April.
Elwood’s Core Collection is crafted from super-soft 100% organic cotton, which has garnered the brand a loyal fanbase. As anybody who has owned such clothing knows, the soft texture of a pure cotton hoodie or sweater can easily render them your go-to pieces for almost any occasion.
Of particular note is the Elwood Core hoodie, which has sold out for the sixth time in a row – if that’s not a good sign, I don’t know what is. With an oversized fit and vintage wash, this ever-popular hoodie is available for just $75, with a pack of three on special offer for $195 – an amazing deal if I’ve ever seen one.
For added comfort, this hoodie features a brushed thermal lining. The dropped shoulders and baggy sleeves complete the oversized aesthetic. The hoodie is also slightly cropped, so you get the baggy look without looking like you’re a kid wearing your dad’s clothes.
My favorite Elwood Core color is the vintage gray. This almost charcoal is effortlessly cool. This hoodie would look great with almost any casual outfit (think jeans and a tee), but it’s especially cozy when paired with one of the brand’s white tees and matching gray sweatpants. The colors the brand offers are conducive to mixing and matching, so definitely don’t be afraid to cross-match items. It’s hard to find a combo that doesn’t work.
In very much the same guise as the core hoodie, Elwoods’s crewnecks offer a nice alternative for those who do not need or want a hood. It would look cool over a collared shirt, just make sure the collar is big enough to fit the oversized theme.
The core crewneck features a wide ribbed collar for that vintage vibe. As well as being available in the brand’s four year-round colors mentioned above, the oversized crewneck is offered in a wide range of seasonal shades, too.
My favorite colors are the earth tones, particularly sage green, vintage chalk, and lavender. These colors look so fresh (are we still saying that?) when paired with one of the brand’s contrasting tees.
The brand’s colors are perfectly chosen to complement the season in question, with oranges and earth tones lending themselves to Fall/Winter, while lavenders and whites evoke notes of Spring/Summer.
Perhaps the ultimate staple pieces from the Elwood Core Collection are the brand’s wide range of tees made from 100% organic cotton. Featuring an oversized fit and complete with vintage details such as a hand-distressed rib, Elwood’s tees are very versatile. Almost every cool streetwear outfit begins with an appropriately colored tee as a base layer, after all.
Available in a massive range of different colors, purchasing several of these tees is a wise move, given their versatility. If you’re a little weary of color, like me, get a couple of white ones and a couple of black ones. Those colors will absolutely go with anything you pair them with.
Personally, I would style these tees with baggy pants and chunky sneakers for a wavy streetwear look. They would also look great with one of the brand’s cropped denim jackets, also available in a variety of vintage shades. Look out, Jeremy Allen White!
Other Key Collections
In addition to its Core Collection, Elwood Clothing offers several other capsules and collections. One of my faves is the Trademark Collection.
I particularly like the Elwood Trademark tee in black, complete with the brand’s logo printed in an artistic font on the back and on the front, about halfway up on the left. It’s a more interesting take on regular branded tees.
The brand’s Trademark oversized crewneck in a bright ‘Pearl Spur’ color looks like a classic crewneck, albeit in a heavier organic cotton that, honestly, makes it look more expensive than it is, in the best possible way. The light red font is a really nice touch. The logo is printed in the same spots as the Trademark tee.
Finally, the Trademark trucker cap in a choice of pearl spur or black with contrasting embroidered branding is a great option to complete the outfit. This is giving California vibes, and I’m here for it.
The Elwood brand also offers an extensive range of cargo pants, carpenter denim, shirts, knits, and jackets for those seeking a statement piece to complement their Core Collection. Beanies, caps, and even tote bags are just some of the items in the Elwood accessories range that add some individuality to your outfit. If you want it to be, this brand could serve as a one-stop shop for a wardrobe overhaul.
Final Thoughts
Established in the 1990s, Elwood Clothing has had the time to perfect its wide range of clothing from a style, fit, and color perspective. Made of quality fabrics such as organic cotton and denim, Elwood Clothing is designed with longevity in mind and is very much intended to serve as staple pieces in your closet. The brand’s vintage wash colors will look even better with age, enhancing the worn, distressed vibe of the majority of their pieces. The loyalty of Elwood customers, combined with celebrity endorsement and their sell-out Core Collection releases, is a testament to the high regard in which the brand’s clothing is held. It’ll be hard to go wrong with anything from these true professionals.