Spotted on Biz: Why the Spittin' Chiclets Skullet Vertical Hoodie is the Viral Streetwear Craze You Can't Miss"
The Anatomy of a Cult Classic: Why the Paul Bissonnette 'Skullet' Hoodie Is More Than Just Merch
In the sprawling world of streetwear, there is a distinct line between generic branded apparel and pieces that carry a soul. The latter doesn't just display a logo; it tells a story, represents a subculture, and serves as a handshake between strangers who share the same obsession. If you have spent any time in a cold rink, listened to the banter of a locker room, or followed the rise of new-media sports personalities, you know that hockey isn't just a game—it’s a lifestyle.
At the intersection of this lifestyle and modern streetwear sits a piece that has quietly become a staple for fans of the game and followers of the Spittin’ Chiclets phenomenon: the Paul Bissonnette Spittin Chiclets Skullet Vertical Hoodie.
This isn't a sales pitch. It’s a deep dive into a garment that captures the essence of "Biz Nasty" himself—loud, gritty, hilarious, and undeniably part of the fabric of North American hockey culture. Let's break down why this specific hoodie, with its bone-colored hue and macabre-yet-playful artwork, has resonated so deeply with fans across the United States.
The "Mullet" Philosophy: Business in the Front, Party in the Back
The genius of this hoodie lies in its adherence to the oldest rule in hockey aesthetics: the Mullet.
For decades, the mullet hairstyle has been synonymous with hockey excellence (and infamy). It is a hairstyle defined by duality—professionalism and restraint in the front, followed by wild, flowing chaos in the back. The Skullet Vertical Hoodie translates this hair philosophy directly into fashion design.
The Front: Understated Cool When you look at the front of the hoodie, it is surprisingly disciplined. Against the soft, cream-colored fabric, there is a small, left-chest logo that simply reads "Spittin Chiclets" in a classic serif font. It’s clean. It’s minimal. It’s the kind of hoodie you can wear to a casual Friday at a creative office, a coffee shop, or a family dinner without drawing immediate stares. It doesn't scream for attention; it simply exists with a quiet confidence.
This restraint is crucial. In a market flooded with over-branded sports gear covered in neon colors and massive team logos, the minimalist front makes this piece versatile. It acknowledges that the wearer has a life outside of the arena, but still wants to rep their tribe.
The Back: The "Skullet" Unleashed Turn the hoodie around, however, and the "party" begins. This is where the piece earns its name and its reputation. The back graphic is a massive, vertical statement piece that refuses to be ignored.
Dominating the back is the "Skullet" character—a skeleton hockey player tearing down the ice. But this isn't just a generic skeleton; it’s a character loaded with personality. The skeleton boasts a long, flowing mullet that trails behind the skull, a nod to the "flow" that players cultivate throughout the season. The juxtaposition of a deathly skull with the lively, almost comical hair perfectly encapsulates the Spittin’ Chiclets brand: dark humor mixed with an undying love for the game.
The skeleton is geared up, stick in hand, looking like he’s midway through a shift in the eternal overtime. The artwork is gritty, sketched with lines that suggest motion and roughness, rather than a polished, corporate vector image. It feels hand-drawn, authentic, and raw.
Decoding the Design Elements
To understand why this hoodie works, we have to look closer at the specific design choices that separate it from standard podcast merchandise.
1. The Vertical Typography
Running down the left side of the back graphic is the text "Spittin' Chiclets" in a large, vertical orientation. This design choice borrows heavily from 90s streetwear and skate culture. By orienting the text vertically, it frames the graphic and gives the hoodie a structured, architectural look. It draws the eye up and down, emphasizing the height of the design and making the back of the hoodie feel like a poster or a banner rather than just a shirt.
2. The "Est. 2016" Badge
Tucked near the bottom of the graphic is a small, handwritten-style note: Est. 2016. While it seems like a minor detail, this date is significant. It marks the genesis of the podcast that changed how hockey is consumed. It signals to the world that this isn't a fly-by-night trend; it’s a legacy. For the wearer, that date is a badge of honor. It says, "I know the history. I know where this started." It grounds the humor of the skeleton graphic in the reality of the brand's longevity.
3. The Colorway: Why "Bone" Beats White
One of the smartest decisions in the design of this hoodie is the color. It isn't a stark, blinding white, nor is it the standard heather grey that comprises 90% of athletic wear. It is a warm, off-white cream—often referred to as "bone" or "sand."
From a fashion perspective, this color gives the garment an instant vintage feel. It looks pre-washed, lived-in, and comfortable from day one. In the harsh lighting of a sports bar or the fluorescent glare of an ice rink, stark white can look cheap or clinical. This cream tone absorbs light differently, giving it a premium, heavy texture visually. Furthermore, for the messy reality of life—beer spills at the pub, sauce drips from stadium food—the cream color is far more forgiving than white, aging gracefully rather than just looking dirty.
The Muse: Paul "Biz Nasty" Bissonnette
You cannot talk about this hoodie without talking about the man often seen wearing it: Paul Bissonnette. As a former NHL enforcer turned media mogul, Biz represents the transition of hockey from a stoic, silent sport to one filled with personality.
When you see photos of Biz wearing this hoodie—like the candid shots often circulating on social media where he’s deep in conversation at a bar—it contextualizes the clothing. He wears it not like a billboard, but like a comfortable uniform. It hangs loose, the hood often up or resting heavy on the shoulders.
The "Skullet" graphic is, in many ways, a caricature of the enforcer lifestyle that Biz lived. It represents the grinder, the guy who puts his body on the line (hence the skeleton) but does it with style (hence the mullet). Wearing this hoodie is a way for fans to channel that specific energy. It says you appreciate the grit of the fourth-line grinder just as much as the finesse of the superstar goal scorer. It celebrates the "glue guys" of the locker room.
Material Culture: The Search for Comfort
While we are focusing on the visual and cultural aspects, the physical nature of the hoodie plays a massive role in its appeal. In the US market, particularly in the northern states where hockey reigns supreme (from Massachusetts to Minnesota), a hoodie is a survival tool, not just a fashion statement.
There is a concept in fashion called "emotional durability." It refers to clothes that we keep not just because they last physically, but because we form an attachment to how they make us feel. A hoodie like this, with its soft interior and heavy exterior, becomes a security blanket. It’s the thing you grab when you’re heading out to shovel the driveway, the layer you put on after a Sunday morning beer league game, and the comfort piece you wear while recovering on the couch watching the playoffs.
Styling the Skullet: How It Lives in the Wild
How does this piece fit into the modern American wardrobe? The beauty of the Skullet Hoodie is its versatility within the "casual utility" aesthetic.
The Rink Rat Look Pair this with broken-in denim and a backward snapback cap. This is the uniform of the rink rat. The cream color contrasts perfectly with dark blue jeans, creating a classic American color palette. It’s a look that fits right in at a college tailgate or a dive bar.
The Athleisure Approach Worn with black joggers and high-top sneakers, the hoodie transitions into modern streetwear. The vertical typography on the back gives it that graphic edge that fits in with sneaker culture. It stops being just "hockey merch" and becomes a stylized graphic piece.
The Layered Winter Fit Because of the neutral cream tone, this hoodie works exceptionally well under a flannel overshirt or a denim jacket. The hood pops out, adding texture to the outfit, while the graphic remains a hidden surprise until you take the outer layer off once you get inside the heat of the bar.
The Cultural Signal
Ultimately, clothing is a language. When you walk into a room wearing a generic Nike sweatshirt, you are saying you value comfort and athletics. But when you walk into a room wearing the Paul Bissonnette Spittin' Chiclets Skullet Vertical Hoodie, you are broadcasting a much more specific signal.
You are signaling that you understand the nuance of hockey culture. You’re signaling that you likely enjoy the uncensored, behind-the-scenes stories that the podcast is famous for. You are signaling a sense of humor.
The "Skullet" is a symbol of not taking oneself too seriously. In a world that is increasingly polished and curated, the image of a skeleton with a mullet is a refreshing embrace of the absurd. It reminds us that at the end of the day, sports are supposed to be fun. They are supposed to be about camaraderie, chirping your buddies, and having a good time.
More Than Fabric
In the end, the Paul Bissonnette Skullet Vertical Hoodie stands out because it balances design with identity. It isn't just a piece of merchandise pushing a logo; it is a piece of art that captures a vibe.
The cream colorway offers a timeless, vintage aesthetic. The vertical typography provides a modern streetwear edge. And the Skullet graphic itself—the bony, mullet-rocking hero of the design—serves as a mascot for everyone who loves the grit and grind of the game.