Fleece hoodies get filed under "lazy day only," and I understand why, but that reputation undersells them. A good one is doing more work in your actual week than half the smarter things hanging next to it.
Sizing is where people go wrong twice before they get it right. Fleece has some body to it, so true to size usually gives you enough room to layer a t-shirt underneath without the whole thing pulling across the shoulders, while sizing up gets you that slouchy, borrowed feel but means the cuffs and hem can swamp you if you're short. Check the sleeve length standing with your arms down, not reaching forward, because that's when a too-long cuff suddenly covers half your hand and stays there all day. Watch the body length too, some sit cropped and some drop well past the waistband, and that changes what you can wear it with underneath. The hood is worth testing as well, a shallow one sits flat and useless, a decent one holds its shape and actually goes up over your head without yanking your hair.
For everyday wear, it earns its spot with jeans and trainers on a weekend, under a denim or utility jacket when it's properly cold, or over leggings for the school run and back without a second thought. It also layers well under a parka in winter, since the fleece gives warmth without the bulk of a jumper, and it works just as well thrown over joggers for working from home as it does paired with straight leg jeans for picking up a coffee. Before buying, check the inside of the hood and cuffs for any loose stitching, give the zip a tug if it's a zip-through to see if it catches, and look at the drawstring ends, cheap ones fray within weeks. Have a feel of the fleece itself too, rubbing it between your fingers, since thin ones pill almost immediately and start looking tired after a handful of washes.
The difference between a good one and a disappointing one usually comes down to the fabric weight and the finish. A heavier, brushed fleece keeps its loft wash after wash, while a thin one goes flat and bobbly fast. Good construction means flat seams that don't dig in, a zip that sits smoothly without catching the fabric, and ribbing at the cuffs and hem that keeps its stretch rather than going slack after a month.
It will never do smart, and it was never meant to. Judge it on comfort and warmth, not anything beyond that.
