Let’s be real for a second. If you’ve scrolled through TikTok, walked past a student union, or queued for a coffee in Soho recently, you’ve seen it. The Essentials Tracksuit by Fear of God has stopped being just an outfit. It’s a vibe. It’s a postcode connector.
In 2024, the luxury loungewear market is booming, but one label sits firmly on the throne. Whether you’re navigating the grey cobbles of Northern Quarter or braving the wind off the Irish Sea, the Essentials tracksuit has become the UK’s favourite armour: cosy, unassuming, but undeniably rich.
But does a Londoner wear it differently to a Mancunian? Absolutely. Here is your ultimate guide to styling the cult-favourite hoodie and jogger combo across the UK’s coolest cities.
The “Essentials” of the Hype: Why We Can’t Get Enough
Before we hit the streets, let’s talk about the magic of Jerry Lorenzo’s baby. Unlike the loud logos of the 2010s (we see you, vintage Moschino), Essentials Tracksuit is about quiet luxury for the Gen Z wallet. It’s the “Ferrari of fleece” with a VW Golf price tag (well, mostly).
- The Fit: Oversized, cropped, but slouchy. It hugs your ankles but swallows your torso.
- The Palette: Oatmeal, Buttercream, Washed Taupe, and that specific shade of “Concrete Grey” that matches the Manchester sky.
- The Feel: French terry that feels like a hug from a rich auntie.
Gen Z loves it because it’s gender-neutral. Non-binary? Male? Female? Doesn’t matter. The Essentials hoodie doesn’t care about your pronouns, only your proportions.
City Breakdown: How the UK Stylises Its Essentials
London: The Layered Minimalist
In the capital, a plain tracksuit is a rookie move. Londoners treat their Essentials like a base layer for a statement piece.
The Look: Soho coffee run.
Wear the Oversized Cropped Hoodie in Oatmeal over a white Uniqlo Airism tee (that little white hem poking out is mandatory). Pair this with the tapered “87 Cut” joggers. But here is the London hack: Trainers are currency. You cannot wear bog-standard runners. It has to be the ASICS Gel-1130, New Balance 1906R, or a scuffed pair of Timberlands.
The Hack: Throw a chore coat or a vintage Carhartt jacket over the hoodie. In London, we respect a man who is warm but looks like he might be going to a gallery opening later.
Manchester: The Indie Sleaze Revival
Mancunians are a bit moodier with their fashion (we mean that as a compliment). The weather forces creativity. Here, the Essentials tracksuit meets the indie sleaze revival of 2024.
The Look: Night out at YES or The White Hotel.
Go for Black or Dark Moss Essentials. Fade is good—washed black is better. The twist? Footwear. Ditch the socks. Wear chunky leather loafers or beat-up Dr. Martens Jadons. It’s the “scally-clean” aesthetic.
The Hack: Roll the cuff of the joggers up once to flash a sliver of ankle (or a thick pair of Nordic socks). Add a beanie—even indoors. In Manchester, if you aren’t wearing a beanie, are you even there?
Leeds: The Third Place Tracksuit
Leeds fashion is pragmatic but flashy. Students and young pros in Leeds live in their car or on the train, so the tracksuit needs to work for uni, lunch, and pres.
The Look: Call Lane casual.
Leeds loves a matching set. Do not mix your tones here; wear the Buttercup yellow hoodie with the exact matching joggers. But texture is king. Look for the “Fine Knit” Essentials pieces (the cashmere-blend dupes are massive here).
The Hack: Cross-body bag. Specifically, the Uniqlo shoulder bag or a Lululemon belt bag worn across the chest. It breaks up the bulk of the hoodie and says, “Yes, I’m comfortable, but I also have my vape and keys organised.”
Birmingham: The Sneakerhead Blend
Brum is the home of the UK sneaker scene. In Birmingham, the Essentials tracksuit is just a canvas for the heat on your feet.
The Look: Bullring & Grand Central.
Keep the tracksuit neutral (Taupe or Putty). The joggers shouldn’t stack too much—hemmed clean or cinched tight. Why? To show off the Nike Dunks (Pandas or University Reds) or the Yeezy 350s.
The Hack: “Puddle watching.” Gen Z lads in Brum tuck the drawstrings of the hoodie inside the hoodie and let the hood sit flat. No bows. Clean lines. It’s minimal effort, maximum dopamine.
The Celebrity Influence: Who Wears It Best?
You can’t talk Essentials without the paparazzi. The tracksuit has become the celebrity “uniform for running errands.”
- Hailey Bieber (The Rhode Skin Effect): She made the Coconut Milk hoodie iconic. She wears it unzipped over a sports bra with the joggers swapped for biker shorts. UK girls have copied this for the gym-to-cafe pipeline.
- Stormzy: Our Guy. Stormzy stepped out in a full Navy Essentials kit with a pair of crisp Air Max 95s. He proved that the tracksuit isn’t lazy; it’s intimidatingly cool when worn with confidence.
- Central Cee: The king of UK drill romance. Cench often layers his Essentials hoodie under a heavyweight leather jacket. The rule? Hood up under the jacket collar. It gives mystery. It gives “I just woke up like this.”
Gen Z Rules: Gender-Neutral & No Logos
The reason Essentials has dethroned Nike Tech Fleece? The energy is different.
Nike Tech screams “look at my fit.” Essentials whispers “I don’t care if you look, but you will.”
The Gender-Neutral Appeal:
Shops like ASOS and END. report that Essentials is one of the few lines where women are buying “men’s” sizing and men are buying “women’s” colours (Lilac and Rose Quartz are sold out constantly). The dropped shoulder and relaxed seat mean no body con, no pressure. It’s the tracksuit for the body-neutral movement.
The Cultural Trend: Quiet Bathroom Selfies.
On TikTok, the “Essentials Check” is a sub-genre. If your bathroom lighting hits the rubber logo on the hoodie just right, you’ve made it. It’s a status symbol for the renting generation—£150 on a hoodie they saved for three weeks, and it lives on their desk chair like a throne.
5 Fashion Hacks to Upgrade Your Essentials Kit
Because we know you have last season’s colour stuck in the wash.
- The “Flipped Cuff”
If your hoodie sleeves are too long (they always are), fold the elastic cuff inside the sleeve. It creates a bell-sleeve drape that looks very high fashion. - The Shoestring Budget Fix
Lost the tension in your jogger cuffs? Take a hair elastic, tie it around the ankle inside the hem. Pull the fabric over it. No one will know, and you won’t look like a parachute. - Mix the Metallics
Silver jewellery is back. A chunky Cuban chain over the hoodie (not under) takes it from loungewear to going-out wear. - The Sock Reveal
Don’t hide your socks. Pull them over the joggers for a 90s raver look, or wear bright neon cycling shorts that hang below the hoodie hem (very Berlin, very chic). - The Hair Tie Zipper Pull
Swap the boring metal zipper pull for a chunky black hair tie. It makes the zipper easier to grab in winter and adds a tiny texture detail that sneakerheads will clock.
Where to Cop (Without Getting Scammed)
Let’s address the dragon in the room: StockX vs. Depop.
- The Drop: Fear of God Essentials Tracksuit drops on their website (prepare to queue virtually) and via Mr Porter and END. Clothing (UK based, so no customs fees—vital!).
- The Resale Market: Depop is flooded with fakes. Look for the “ESSENTIALS” rubber lettering. On a real one, the letters are thick, slightly raised, and connect seamlessly. On a fake, they look like iron-on stickers from a printer in Shenzhen.
- Vinted Goldmine: Search for “Essentials FOG” with spelling errors. You’ll find mums selling their son’s old kits for £40 because “he grew out of it.” That is your win.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Hype?
Yes. But only if you wear it with intention.
The Essentials tracksuit isn’t just for the gym or the sofa anymore. It’s for the airport, the lecture hall, the date at a dive bar, and the Sunday roast. It bridges the gap between looking like you’ve given up and looking like you’ve curated your laziness.
In a cost-of-living crisis, spending £200 on a tracksuit feels insane. But spending £200 on a uniform that works in London rain, Manchester wind, and Leeds brick terraces? That’s ROI, baby.
So, whether you’re sipping a Flat White in Shoreditch or a VK in Popworld, do it in Essentials. Just don’t be shocked when three other people are wearing the exact same fit.
No comment yet, add your voice below!