The Hoodie That Changed Everything: How Belle Époque Reimagined a Classic
It started with a feeling—an idea of how a hoodie could look if it were just a little more intentional. A little more styled. A little more you.
At Belle Epoque Los Angeles, we didn’t set out to follow trends. We followed curiosity. And it led us to create something that didn’t exist yet: a unisex hoodie that feels elevated but effortless, complete with a custom accessory that redefines how hoodies are worn.
From Idea to Icon: The Birth of the Bandanoush
It began with a simple question: What if we had a short bandana tied at the front of a hoodie? That small idea turned into a big moment. A standard bandana was too large for the look we envisioned, so we designed our own—smaller, sharper, and meant to sit just right. We called it the Bandanoush.
But a knot didn’t feel like enough. We didn’t want a tie. We didn’t want anything long. We wanted structure, something new. That’s when the ring came in—our custom-designed 14k gold-plated ring that loops the Bandanoush into place, adding subtle architecture and refined edge to the hoodie silhouette.
French Influence, LA Spirit
At the core of Belle Epoque Los Angeles is a deep connection to French style—a nod to the elegance and spirit of the Belle Epoque era, reimagined for today. Our pieces are inspired by the ease and sophistication of French fashion: confident, considered, and quietly bold.
Even our collections carry that influence. The Manda hoodie, our original unisex silhouette, and the Elie cropped hoodie version, designed for women, are both named with intention—grounded in French sensibility, but with an LA edge. This lives at the core of our brand: timeless design with a rebellious soul.
What Makes the Belle Epoque Hoodie Different?
We knew the accessories were special—but we needed the hoodie to live up to them. So we asked ourselves: What was fashion missing? What kind of hoodie could live between dressed-up and laid-back, between streetwear and statement?
The result is our signature unisex hoodie, made from premium terry cotton, designed to be:
- Generous in fit, but tailored in feel
- Structured, yet relaxed
- Minimal, yet distinctive
It’s a piece that can move between moods. Worn with sweats or trousers, sneakers or boots. It’s not casual. It’s not formal. It’s Belle Epoque—styled in your own way, and never by accident.
From the Gram to Global: A Movement Begins
When we started sharing our vision on Instagram, we had no idea it would take off like it did. But the response was immediate—drops selling out, DMs pouring in, love from across the U.S. and abroad. People weren’t just noticing the design—they were resonating with the feeling behind it.
To meet the growing demand, we expanded with a cropped women’s version: the Elie Collection, recently launched on our direct-to-consumer site. We also introduced new Bandanoush colorways, French-inspired prints, and continued evolving the B ring into a statement of its own.
The Future Is Looking Sharp
What started as a creative experiment is now a movement. A growing community of individuals who want their clothes to mean something—and look good doing it.
Our mission is simple: design clothing that reflects your sense of self—without compromising on comfort, quality, or individuality.
And this is just the beginning.
The next color drop is coming soon. Be first in line by signing up for our newsletter or following us on Instagram. Because when expression looks this good, it never stays in stock for long.
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