How to Wear a Hoodie Around Your Waist (and Make It Look Cool)
To wear a hoodie around your waist, hold it behind you with the hood at the bottom, bring both sleeves round to the front, twist them once, and tie a double knot at your hip bone or just below your belly button. Keep it low on your hips rather than up at your natural waist, and it looks like a choice instead of "I got too warm."
If the real issue is that half your hoodies never leave the drawer and you're trying to find a use for them, WORN is being built to show you which ones you really wear: Start my outfit diary
Why tie a hoodie around your waist
It started as a practical thing (you're hot, you have nowhere to put your hoodie) and became a whole look through '90s grunge, skater style, and now TikTok fit checks.
Why it works:
- It breaks up a plain outfit, like a tee and baggy jeans, with color and texture
- It creates a waist and shape in baggy fits
- It's hands-free when the classroom is freezing and the corridor is boiling
- It's a way to wear a hoodie in summer without, well, wearing it
Whether it's in style? Yes, as long as it looks intentional. That's what the three ties below are for.
Before you tie
- Thinner hoodies tie better than super thick heavyweight ones, which make a big bulky knot.
- Zip-ups are easier to tie than pullovers; zip it up first so it lies flat.
- Hood down, at the back is the usual way. Hood up just looks like you're wearing a cape on your butt.
The front knot
The classic. Great for school, uni, the mall, or a gig.
- Hold the hoodie behind you, back side facing out, hood near your thighs.
- Bring the sleeves around your hips to the front.
- Cross them, twist once, and double knot in the center.
- Tuck the ends so they hang straight down, or roll the cuffs so they're shorter.
- Adjust the back so it lays flat rather than bunching up.
Best for: baggy jeans, cargos, skirts, and anyone who wants the full '90s look.
The side knot
This is the one to use if you want to look a bit more styled and less "PE teacher."
- Same start: hoodie behind, sleeves to the front.
- Instead of tying in the middle, slide the knot to one hip.
- Double knot, and let the sleeves hang down the side of your leg.
- Pull the body of the hoodie to hang slightly angled on one side.
Best for: bodycon skirts, mini skirts, fitted pants, and anyone who wants shape without a big knot in front. It also makes a bulky hoodie easier to work with.
The low-slung tie
The effortless one.
- Tie the sleeves loosely, with one single knot, sitting well below your waist, basically on your hip bones.
- Let the knot hang slightly and the back drape down.
- It should look like it could fall off, but doesn't (a double knot underneath fixes that without looking tight).
Best for: skater and grunge outfits with oversized tees and baggy jeans.
| Tie style | Where the knot sits | Vibe | Best with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front knot | Center front, on hips | Classic '90s | Baggy jeans, cargos |
| Side knot | One hip | Styled, shapely | Skirts, fitted pants |
| Low-slung | Low on hips, loose | Effortless skater | Oversized tees, wide jeans |
The styling isn't the hard part. It's remembering what combo you wore last week and whether it actually worked. WORN is being designed to remember your outfits from one photo a day, with no tagging and no scoring, so you can look back and see the fits you liked. Start my outfit diary
Outfits it works with
Hoodie around waist with baggy jeans
The go-to. An oversized tee or tank top, baggy jeans, chunky sneakers, and a hoodie in a contrasting color tied at the front. Add crew socks (see how to wear socks with sneakers).
Hoodie around waist with cargos
Cargos plus a gray or black hoodie tied low, a fitted tank or baby tee, and skate shoes. The knot fills in the waist of wide cargos.
Hoodie around waist with a skirt
A side-knotted hoodie with a mini or midi skirt, a fitted top and sneakers or boots. It turns a skirt outfit into something you'd wear to school, not just out.
How to style a hoodie over sweats
Matching or tonal: black sweats, black tee, gray hoodie tied around. It pairs well with chunky trainers; more on that in what shoes to wear with sweatpants.
How to dress up a hoodie
If you want to dress up a hoodie outfit, tie a clean, plain hoodie (no big logos) around straight-leg trousers and a crisp white tee or shirt, with loafers or clean white sneakers. It softens a smart outfit without looking try-hard.
Flannel and jacket versions
How to wear a flannel around your waist
Flannel is the original grunge version, and honestly the easiest to tie because the fabric is thinner.
- Button the flannel first (or at least the top two buttons) so it lies neatly.
- Hold it behind you, collar down.
- Tie the sleeves at the front or side.
- Wear with ripped jeans, a band tee, and boots or high-tops.
For how to style a flannel around your waist with a dress, tie it low and to the side over a slip dress or tee dress with chunky boots.
How to tie a jacket around your waist
- Denim jackets: stiff, so use a side knot and let it hang. It's bulkier, so keep the rest of the outfit slim.
- Windbreakers and track jackets: lightweight and easy; any tie works.
- Work jackets or leather: usually too heavy. Carry these instead.
How to tie a jacket so it doesn't fall
Double knot, not single. Tie it on your hips, where it has something to sit on, rather than your natural waist. If it's slippery fabric, twist the sleeves together twice before knotting.
Wear what's already in your drawer
You now know how to wear a hoodie around your waist three ways. WORN is a waitlist page for a planned outfit diary, not built yet: one tap, one photo a day, and after a month it tells you the twelve things you never touch, maybe including that hoodie. Drop your email to hear once when it opens.
FAQ
How do you tie a hoodie around your waist so it stays?
Tie a double knot, not a single one, and sit it on your hip bones rather than your natural waist. Zip up a zip hoodie first so it lies flat and doesn't slip.
Is tying a hoodie around your waist in style?
Yes. It's part of the '90s, grunge and skater revival and shows up a lot in fit checks. It looks best when the knot is intentional, low on the hips, with a contrasting color.
Can guys wear a hoodie around their waist?
Totally. The low-slung tie with an oversized tee, baggy jeans or cargos and skate shoes is a classic skater look for guys.
How do you wear a flannel around your waist?
Button it first so it lies neatly, hold it behind you with the collar down, and tie the sleeves at the front or side. It's the classic grunge look with ripped jeans and boots.
What's the best way to tie a hoodie around your waist with a skirt?
Use the side knot. Tie the sleeves at one hip and let the hoodie hang angled, so it adds shape without covering the whole skirt.