Let’s be real. If you’ve scrolled through TikTok, walked past a JD Sports, or glanced at a train platform in the last 18 months, you’ve seen it. The Essentials Tracksuit.
Gone are the days when wearing a matching jumper and joggers meant you were either going to the gym or giving up on life. Thanks to Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God sub-label, the Essentials tracksuit has become the armour of the stylishly comfortable. It’s quiet luxury for the GCSE crowd, and it’s everywhere.
But here is the kicker: Not every city wears it the same way. The way you style an Essentials hoodie in a rainy Manchester differs wildly from how you flex it in Shoreditch.
Let’s take a tour of the UK’s biggest style hubs and break down how to master the Essentials tracksuit like a pro.
Why the Essentials Tracksuit is Still ‘That Girl’ (and Boy)
First, the basics. Why does this £100+ tracksuit dominate the UK?
The Silhouette. It’s boxy, it’s cropped, but it’s also oversized. Essentials Tracksuit The elasticated cuffs and heavy-weight cotton hold their shape even after ten washes.
The Palette. We aren’t talking neon. We’re talking Oatmeal, Butter Cream, Smoke Grey, and Jet Black. These are the colours of a Soho coffee shop menu. They go with everything.
The ‘Logos Are Dead’ Vibe. It’s not screaming. It’s whispering. That tiny rubber “ESSENTIALS” badge on the chest? It says “I have taste, but I also need to nap.”
For Gen Z, it’s the ultimate flex. You aren’t paying for a massive Gucci logo; you’re paying for fit. And that, darlings, is the British way.
London: The ‘High-Low’ Hustle
In London, the weather is unpredictable and the street style pressure is real. You cannot look like you’ve just rolled out of bed, even if you have.
The Vibe: High-low mixing.
The Hack: Take your Oatmeal Essentials hoodie and pair it with tailored shorts or baggy denim. Do not wear the matching joggers unless you want to look like you’re off to an airport lounge.
The Accessory: A small tote (Muji or a canvas bag from the Tate Modern) and a pair of chunky New Balance 550s.
The Outerwear: Because it rains in Clapham, throw a cropped ‘shacket’ over the hoodie. The hood peeking out is the London signature.
Celeb Influence: Central Cee has been spotted layering Essentials under tech-fleece vests. It’s that layered, “I’m cold but stylish” look.
Manchester: The ‘Terrace Culture’ Remix
Mancunians do not do “delicate.” The weather is miserable, and the spirit is hardy. In Manchester, the Essentials tracksuit gets a gritty, 90s rave revival twist.
The Vibe: Chunky, dark, and aggressive.
The Colour: Jet Black or Dark Mocha only. Keep the oatmeal for the southerners.
The Hack: Tuck the bottom of your joggers into your socks. Yes, really. Then let the excess baggy fabric bunch over a pair of adidas Samba or Gazelle trainers.
The Accessory: A bucket hat (stone island or vintage) and a cross-body Nike bag worn across the chest over the hoodie, not under.
Cultural Trend: Manchester loves a set. Unlike London, wearing the full matching tracksuit (top and bottoms) is a sign of respect to the ’90s terrace casuals. But to modernise it, they zip the hoodie halfway to show a vintage band tee underneath.
Leeds: The ‘Sports Luxe’ Scholar
Leeds has one of the biggest student populations in Europe. The vibe here is “I have a 9 AM lecture but also a 2 PM bottomless brunch.”
The Vibe: Sporty Spice meets Uni Library.
The Colour: Concrete or the seasonal Eggplant (purple) hues.
The Hack: This is where the gender-neutral appeal shines. Guys are sizing down for a fitted look; girls are sizing up twice for the ‘billboard’ effect. The Leeds girl wears the Essentials sweatpants with an oversized vintage rugby shirt underneath the unzipped hoodie.
The Footwear: UGG Tasman slippers. Don’t laugh. In Leeds, wearing your Essentials with UGGs and a claw clip is the uniform for the Victoria Quarter.
Gen Z Preference: Leeds prefers the Half-Zip pullover over the full-zip hoodie. Why? It looks cleaner in study photos for the ‘gram (sorry, Instagram).
The Gender-Neutral Appeal: It’s Giving ‘Shared Wardrobe’
One of the smartest things about the Essentials tracksuit is that it doesn’t care about your gender. The boxy cut looks good on wide hips and narrow shoulders alike.
In 2024/25, “Boyfriend fit” is dead. “Shared fit” is in.
Couples in London are buying one set of Essentials in a Medium and sharing it.
- Him: Wears the hoodie with cargos.
- Her: Wears the same hoodie as a micro-dress with biker shorts underneath.
This sustainability-adjacent (read: money saving) trend is huge for Gen Z. Why buy two separate wardrobes when you both look fire in a size Large Smoke Grey hoodie?
Style Hacks: How to Not Look Like a ‘Roadman’ Spoof
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Because the tracksuit is so mainstream, it’s easy to look like an extra in a bad drill music video. Here is how to elevate it:
- The Cuff Roll (Don’t do it)
Never roll the cuff of the Essentials jogger. The elastic is designed to sit on your ankle bone. Rolling it ruins the break of the fabric. - The ‘Spoiler’ Lace
Swap the standard flat laces for thick, round, cream-coloured laces (even on black hoodies). It’s a £5 tweak that makes the hoodie look custom. - The Sock Game
Ankle socks are out. Crew socks (preferably plain white or grey with a stripe) go over the joggers. Then you scrunch the jogger up slightly. This is how you show off your clean sneakers. - The Collar Pop
This is controversial, but for the girls in Manchester and Birmingham: Pop the collar of the hoodie. Then tie your hair in a slick bun. It frames the face and looks incredibly chic with gold hoops.
Celebrity Influence: Who Wears It?
We aren’t just copying our mates. The celebs have spoken.
- Hailey Bieber wears the Brown Essentials hoodie with leather leggings (the ‘Bieber bump’ era).
- Stormzy was papped in a full Cream setup at a West Ham match—proving the tracksuit has crossed into ‘lads on tour’ territory.
- Molly-Mae Hague (the queen of the UK affluent aesthetic) religiously wears the Grey set for “clean your room” TikToks.
These aren’t trend chasers; these are trend setters. If Molly-Mae wears it to walk Bambi, you can wear it to Tesco.
Where to Buy (Without Getting Scammed)
Here is the painful truth. The Essentials Tracksuit drops on sites like Mr Porter, END. Clothing, and Flannels—and it sells out in 8 minutes.
Pro tip for the UK shopper: Don’t buy from resale sites like Depop at 200% markup immediately. Sign up for the Fear of God waitlist. Also, check – they have started stocking diffusion lines and often have size runs long after the hype has died.
The Dupes: If £180 for joggers hurts your soul (no judgement), look at Zara’s ‘Athletic’ range or Uniqlo’s ‘Heavyweight’ sweatshirts. The silhouette is identical; the tag just says “Zara” instead of “Essentials.”
Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Hype?
Yes. And no.
For the quality? The 100% cotton, the heavy gauge, the structure? You can find cheaper. But for the cultural currency? The Essentials tracksuit is the key to fitting in from Brighton to Glasgow.
It has replaced the Nike Tech Fleece as the most stolen, borrowed, and loved clothing item in the UK. It bridges the gap between ‘roadman’ and ‘rich mum’. It is versatile, genderless, and (thankfully) machine washable.
So, whether you’re sipping a Flat White in a Leeds indie café, jumping on the Metrolink in Manchester, or dodging scooters in London, wear your Essentials with pride.
Just don’t zip the hoodie all the way to the top. That’s a fashion crime we won’t forgive.
