Sweatshirts, reinvented! The classic sweatshirt has had a makeover, and we've found the best - from £25

Style is changing. The classic clothes we know and love are still there, but their design is shifting in small, chic ways that mean when we need to replenish a wardrobe staple, it’s different enough to feel like a proper update. Exactly what buying new clothes should do for us, especially as we look for pieces with longevity to wear as we transition into new season.

Case in point? The humble sweatshirt. Far from being sidelined from daily use, this pull-on-and-forget-about mainstay of the relaxed Pandemic era wardrobe has been given a simple yet inspired design refresh.

And it’s this: all the latest versions of the sweatshirt from brands including Reiss, & Other Stories and Arket have been tweaked with one key design detail – the addition of a small collar, and a button or zip-up neckline. You might be thinking – is that it? Just a collar and different neckline?

Turns out, these additions are subtle game changers. Adding a collar instantly brings the sweatshirt into touch with a shirt or a polo top, two smart items that have been trending all year.

A collar and buttons also frame the face in a flattering way, and turn a sweatshirt into more than a simple throw-on, rather it becomes a piece with opportunity for styling it in a more chic, but no less comfortable way. And best of all, because they look more pulled together than their round-necked counterparts, these new look sweatshirts can be layered with T-shirts or shirts underneath for when the weather is changeable or cool, and can be worn with skirts and smarter trousers, and even with ballet flats as well as standard issue sneakers.

Next time you’re thinking about updating your sweatshirt, why not take the smarter route, and make yours a polo sweatshirt?

You’ll thank us later.

Shop the polo sweatshirt edit