I bought this hoodie in early February. It was a Tuesday, I think. Rainy for LA, which means a light drizzle that makes everyone forget how to drive. I walked to the shop anyway. Sophie said I was being stubborn. She was right.
The Carhartt WIP Black Wash hoodie had been sitting in our back stock for three weeks. I kept walking past it. Picking it up. Putting it back. The price tag — $159 — kept stopping me. I know WIP is the European line. I know the quality is better than mainline Carhartt. But still. A hundred and sixty dollars for a hoodie?
I finally grabbed one in a large. My usual size. Took it home that night and put it on while making pasta. Sophie looked up from her phone and said, “That’s new.” Not in a bad way. Just noticing.
Here’s what I’ve learned after three months.
The fit is weird at first. In a good way.
Most hoodies I own are either too boxy or too tight in the arms. This one sits somewhere in the middle. The shoulders are cut a little wide, but the body is straight — not tapered. It hangs loose without looking like you borrowed it from your dad. The sleeves are long. I’m 5’11 and they cover half my thumb. I actually like that.
The first week, I kept tugging at the hem. Felt too long. Then I stopped noticing. Now I think it’s perfect.
The fabric softened up more than I expected.
Out of the bag, the Black Wash has this almost stiff, papery feel. Not scratchy. Just… structured. I almost returned it day two. But Sophie said to wash it first. Cold water. Hang dry.
After one wash, it softened maybe 20 percent. After three washes, it started feeling like an old hoodie you’ve had for years. After six washes? It’s legit comfortable. Not fleece-soft like a Nike Tech. But cozy in a different way. Like a worn-in denim jacket but for your whole upper body.
The black has faded to a dark charcoal-gray now. That’s the “black wash” thing. It’s supposed to happen. I like it better this way.
Here’s the thing that bugs me.
The cuffs. They’re too tight. Not at first — they feel fine for the first hour. But if I wear this hoodie all day, like on a Sunday when I’m cleaning the apartment or walking to get coffee, the cuffs start digging into my wrists. I caught myself pushing them up my forearms twice last weekend.
I asked a guy at the shop who also owns this hoodie. Same complaint. He said it gets better after a year. I don’t have a year yet. I’ll let you know.
The quality check I always do.
Three things I look for in any hoodie:
1. The zipper (if it has one). This one doesn’t. Pullover. So that’s fine.
2. The drawstrings. They’re thick. Metal aglets. Still intact after three months. No fraying.
3. The inside. No loose threads. The fleece lining hasn’t pilled yet, which surprised me. My Essentials hoodie started pilling at month two.
So yeah. Construction is solid.
Who should actually buy this.
If you want a black hoodie that looks good with slightly faded jeans or those olive cargo pants you bought last year, this works. If you want something for the gym or running errands where you might sweat, get a Nike Tech instead. This one isn’t breathable. It’s heavy. Like, wear-it-when-it’s-60-degrees-or-colder heavy.
I wore it to the flea market last month. Got a stain on the sleeve — something orange, maybe salsa. Came out fine after washing. No weird fading spots.
Final call.
Buy it if you want a hoodie that looks better at month three than month one. Skip it if tight cuffs drive you crazy. I kept mine. I wear it about twice a week. Sophie stole it once. I had to ask for it back.
Three months in? I don’t regret the $159. But I also wouldn’t pay over retail. It’s good. It’s not perfect.
If you have to think about it too long, it’s not yours. I thought about this one for three weeks. Turned out it was mine anyway.
