The Reigning Champ: Why the Essentials Tracksuit Has the UK in a Chokehold (In the Best Way)

Let’s be real for a second. If you’ve scrolled through TikTok, walked down Oxford Street, or queued for a bagel in Shoreditch lately, you’ve seen it. The uniform of the moment isn’t a suit or a pair of rigid jeans. It’s the Essentials Tracksuit.

What started as a high-end diffusion line from Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God has become the de facto armour for Gen Z and Millennials across the United Kingdom. From drizzly Manchester afternoons to trendy coffee spots in Leeds, the Essentials tracksuit is the sartorial equivalent of a warm hug—but make it fashion.

But why is everyone so obsessed? Is it just the hype? Or is there something deeper about how this fleece has become a post-pandemic, gender-neutral staple?

Let’s take a tour of the UK’s biggest cities to see how the locals are styling theirs, plus the celebrity nods and fashion hacks you need to know.

The “Essentials” Effect: More Than Just a Logo

First, a quick debrief. The Fear of God Essentials Tracksuit line launched to bridge the gap between luxury pricing and streetwear credibility. The palette is simple: oatmeal, taupe, jet black, slate grey, and the occasional pop of “Ceramic” or “Buttercup.” The fit is boxy, cropped at the waist, and voluminous in the leg.

Unlike the slavish loyalty to a monogram (we love you, Gucci, but this is easier to clean spaghetti bolognese off), the Essentials tracksuit whispers status rather than shouting it. The signature “ESSENTIALS” rubberised print across the chest and thigh tells those in the know exactly where your loyalty—and your disposable income—lies.

City Style Guide: How the UK Wears the Essentials Tracksuit

The beauty of this suit is its chameleon-like ability to adapt to the vibe of any UK city. Here is the cheat sheet.

London: The Layered Minimalist

In the capital, the weather is unpredictable and the fashion scrutiny is high. Londoners wear their Essentials suit with intention.

• The Vibe: Effortless cool. Think “I just rolled out of bed in my Soho house members club.”
• The Styling: Londoners love the half-zip hoodie worn over a simple white tee (with the collar popped, obviously). They pair the wide-leg cargo sweatpants with chunky trainers like the New Balance 550 or the ASICS Gel-1130.
• The Hack: Throw a longline trench coat or an oversized denim jacket over the top. As soon as you add a coat with structure, the tracksuit moves from “loungewear” to “evening wear.”
• Footwear: Clean white Dunlopillo sneakers or classic Nike Dunks.

Manchester: The Indie-Rave Hybrid

Mancunian fashion has swagger. It’s louder, bolder, and nods to the city’s rich history of guitar music and warehouse parties.

• The Vibe: Sporty spice meets brunch pint.
• The Styling: They tend to size down on the hoodie for a slightly cropped look, showing off a sliver of waistband. The bottoms are often cinched at the ankle. Accessories are key here—specifically a beanie (even in June) and a cross-body bag.
• The Hack: Swap the clean trainers for a pair of beat-up Converse or, better yet, a retro football trainer (think Samba or Spezial). It anchors the American streetwear look in Northern grit.
• Footwear: Adidas Samba OG or Nike Air Max 95.

Leeds: The Luxe Lounger

Leeds has a massive student population and a thriving nightlife scene (hello, Beaver Works). Here, the Essentials tracksuit is treated almost like evening wear for pre-drinks.

• The Vibe: “Trackleisure” – tracksuit as leisurewear for dinner reservations.
• The Styling: Monochrome is king. Full black or full oatmeal head-to-toe. They keep the hoodie loose and let the drawstrings hang long.
• The Hack: Add a “nice” watch. The juxtaposition of a stainless steel watch or a silver chain against the soft fleece elevates the look instantly. Also, cuff the trousers once to show off those statement socks.
• Footwear: Yeezy Slides (with socks, obviously) or Jordan 1 Lows.

Bristol & Brighton: The Colour Blockers

These coastal cities reject the London sombreness. They’re the ones hunting down the rare pastel drops.

• The Vibe: Artistic and relaxed.
• The Styling: They mix collections. A “Desert Taupe” hoodie with “Eggplant” shorts. They aren’t afraid of colour clashing.
• The Hack: Cut the cuff off the bottom of the hoodie for a raw, frayed edge. It’s a DIY move that screams vintage archive.
• Footwear: Birkenstock Bostons with thick socks.

Celebrity Influences: Who Started It?

You can’t talk about the rise of the Essentials tracksuit without acknowledging the celebrity army that lives in it.

• Hailey Bieber (Mrs. Rhode): The queen of off-duty model style. She often wears the oversized hoodie as a dress with knee-high boots. Pure fire.
• Kevin Durant & NBA stars: The US athletes wore this on the way to games, making it the default “travel day” uniform for sports fans.
• Central Cee: The UK drill scene has fully adopted the aesthetic. Central Cee has been spotted in muted Essentials pieces, pairing them with luxury accessories (think a diamond chain and a Casio watch—the ultimate flex).
• Stormzy: He brought the baggy comfort to the BRITs red carpet after-parties, proving you can be a superstar in sweatpants if they retail for £100+.

Why Gen Z Loves It (The Psychology of the Puddle)

Why do Gen Z prefer a £130 tracksuit over a pair of skinny jeans? Comfort + Clout.

The “Puddle” Effect: The trousers are deliberately long, pooling slightly over the trainer (the “puddle”). This hides the trainer silhouette and creates a continuous line of fabric. It looks expensive because it wastes fabric.

The Gender-Neutral Appeal: This is massive in the UK right now. The Essentials Tracksuit is inherently unisex. There is no “women’s cut” that cinches the waist. It’s boxy, it’s forgiving, and it fits every body type. Couples are sharing wardrobes. You buy one suit, you both wear it. That is efficiency and romance rolled into one.

The Quiet Luxury adjacent: Gen Z is moving away from logo-mania (Supreme box logos are on the decline). Essentials offers the “if you know, you know” cachet. It’s quiet luxury for people who can’t yet afford The Row, but refuse to wear Primark fleece.

Fashion Hacks: How to Make Your Essentials Last (And Look Fresh)

You’ve just dropped £150-£200 on a hoodie and trouser combo. Here is how to keep it looking mint.

1. The “Inside Out” Wash Rule
   The rubberised “ESSENTIALS” lettering is the crown jewel. Turn your hoodie and trousers inside out before every wash. Use a cold, gentle cycle. Never, ever use fabric softener—it breaks down the fleece fibres.
2. The Towel Hack for Pilling
   That soft fleece will pill (get little bobbles) between the thighs. To fix it, lay the tracksuit flat, run a disposable razor (yes, a Biro) gently over the bobbles, then run a lint roller over it. Good as new.
3. The Silent Flex: Shoe Choice
   To elevate the look, keep the silhouette wide. Avoid skinny trainers.

• Yes: Balenciaga Runners, Nike Vomero 5, Hoka Bondi.
• No: Vans Slip-ons (they get lost under the puddle).

4. The “Cropped” Illusion
   If you find the trousers too long (a common problem for shorter frames), don’t hem them. Buy a “T-bar” suspender clip inside the waistband to hike the crotch up slightly. This creates a higher, more tailored pinch without scissors.

The Verdict: Is It Worth the Hype? (And the Import Fees)

Let’s talk turkey. Buying Essentials in the UK is a pain. You either battle the bots on the Fear of God website (and pay huge international shipping), or you buy from resellers like Depop, StockX, or END. Clothing. You will pay over retail. A hoodie might retail for £85, but resale hits £130-£150.

Is it worth it? Yes, but only if you treat it as an investment piece. This isn’t a cheap ASOS set that fades after three washes. The cotton-poly blend is thick, the cut is deliberate, and the resale value is insane. Wear it for a year, keep the tags, and you can sell it for 80% of what you paid.

Final Styling Checklist (Before You Hit Checkout)

Before you tap your Apple Pay, ask yourself:

1. Am I buying the right colour? Oatmeal and Black are the safest. “Moss” is brave.
2. Do I have the shoes for it? Chunky trainers only.
3. Am I okay with looking like everyone else in the queue at Gail’s? If yes, proceed.

The Essentials tracksuit isn’t just clothing; it’s a cultural flag for the 2020s. It says you value comfort but refuse to look sloppy. It says you follow culture but you’re not trying too hard. Whether you are catching the tube to Clapham, getting a kebab in Leeds, or walking the canals in Manchester, zip up that hoodie.

After all, looking essential is the only brief that matters right now.