You might have seen the video on Instagram. Two dudes, matcha lattes in hand, talking: “We don’t do Nike tech, we don’t do coffee. It’s straight quarter zips and matchas around here.” The viral reel by @whois.jason has cemented a trend that’s been quietly picking up over the past year—quarter-zip sweaters for men are suddenly cool again.
The switch happened sometime after the new season of Industry and when Jacob Elordi transitioned into his winter wardrobe. Before that, the humble knit was seen as the purview of tech bros, bankers, or ex-royalty, like Prince Harry, who added it to a wardrobe rotation that included Patagonia vests and On sneakers. It was an alternative to a suit and tie, one that signalled that you were relatable, low-maintenance even, while being ridiculously wealthy.
But now, the quarter-zip sweater is being welcomed by Gen Z as a signal that you’ve upgraded in life. You’re no longer wearing baggy jeans or athleisure to your new internship at big corporate. Instead, you’ve grown up, you’ve got your glasses on, a nice briefcase or backpack, maybe a Patek Phillippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar on your wrist (or any other shiny-bit wrist candy).
When it comes to choosing the right one, the best versions come with a bit of texture—ribbed, cable-knit, fleece-edged or with hoodie-adjacent pockets—to make sure they don’t look like sportswear. The best part is that they can be worn on their own with everything from cargo pants and jeans or layered over a shirt; you can either tuck in both the sweater and shirt or leave them loose. However you want to wear it, just remember what @whois.jason said. “Techs down, quarter zips up.”
