Let’s be real. If you’ve scrolled through TikTok, walked down Brick Lane, or queued for a coffee in Manchester’s Northern Quarter lately, you’ve seen it. The Essentials tracksuit by Fear of God isn’t just loungewear anymore. It’s a status symbol. It’s a blank canvas. It’s the unofficial uniform for Gen Z from Land’s End to John o’ Groats.
Gone are the days when a tracksuit meant you were heading to the gym (or the corner shop for a vape). In 2024, the Essentials tracksuit is the luxury equivalent of a perfectly worn-in pair of jeans. It bridges the gap between ‘I woke up like this’ and ‘I have a Soho dinner reservation at 8’.
But here is the tea: Not everyone wears it the same way. How you style your 1977 logo hoodie depends entirely on your postcode.
Let’s take a road trip across the UK to see how the cities are remixing this streetwear staple.
The "Quiet Luxury" King (London)
In the capital, less is always more. Londoners have perfected the art of looking like you didn’t try, even though you definitely did.
Forget the loud, head-to-toe neon looks of the 2010s. In Shoreditch and Mayfair, the Essentials tracksuit is treated as technical fabric tailoring.
The London Hack: Size down. While the brand runs famously oversized, the London crowd often opts for a "cropped" or fitted look. They pair the wide-leg sweatpants with a sleek, long wool coat (because it rains every five minutes) and a pair of polished white leather trainers – think Common Projects or clean Dunks.
The Vibe: Coffee at Monmouth, followed by a gallery preview. Essentials Tracksuit It’s relaxed, but the accessories scream "mortgage advisor on a bonus."
Pro Tip: Londoners love a tonal look. If you buy the 'Oatmeal' colourway, you commit to only oatmeal accessories. No contrast stitching. No bright logos. Just beige heaven.
The Retro Terrace Casual (Manchester)
Drive two hours north, and the energy shifts. Manchester doesn't do quiet luxury; it does heritage swagger. The city lives and breathes football culture, Madchester history, and rain-soaked terrace pubs.
Here, the Essentials tracksuit gets a gritty, nostalgic remix. It’s less about Jerry Lorenzo’s California vision and more about how it fits into the 5-a-side league or the post-pub kebab run.
The Manc Hack: Embrace the "bag on bag" look. Manny lads love the oversized drop-crotch. They zip the hoodie all the way up (no t-shirt showing) and tuck the drawstrings into the hood. Footwear is key: it’s either vintage adidas Samba trainers or chunky New Balance 550s.
The Vibe: Watching the match at a brewery, then heading to Depot Mayfield.
Cultural Trend: It’s all about the hybrid. Pair your Essentials hoodie with a Stone Island soft shell jacket over the top. It screams "I have season tickets and a decent crypto portfolio." For the girls? Add a pair of slick Uggs or a quilted bag.
The Elevated High Street Hero (Leeds)
Leeds is the UK’s shopping mecca, and the style reflects that. It’s trend-aware but polished. In Leeds, you need to look good for the club and the tram ride home.
The Essentials tracksuit here is treated like a premium base layer for a night out on Call Lane.
The Leeds Hack: Colour blocking. While London sticks to neutrals and Manchester loves black/grey, Leeds goes for the seasonal drops. Think 'Pistachio', 'Buttercup', or 'Lilac'. They pair a pastel hoodie with raw denim or leather trousers (yes, really).
The Vibe: Shopping at Victoria Gate, brunch at Ivy Asia, then cocktails at Blind Tyger.
Gen Z Preference: Half-zips. Leeds Gen Z has moved away from the full pullover. They love the quarter-zip Essentials pullover worn over a white Oxford shirt collar. It’s sporty but "I have a grad scheme interview tomorrow."
The Coastal Cool (Brighton & Bristol)
Okay, we’re cheating with two cities here, but the vibe is the same. By the sea, the rules float away.
Brighton and Bristol wear the Essentials tracksuit with chaotic, vintage energy. It clashes with the hippie aesthetic, and that’s why it works.
The Hack: Cut and sew. People here take scissors to the cuffs of their sweatpants to make them fray. They tie the hoodie around their waist over a pair of vintage Levis. Logos are often covered with patchwork or safety pins.
The Vibe: Vegan market, record store digging, vaping on the pier.
Gender-Fluid Styling: These cities lead the charge on unisex dressing. Essentials is already unisex, but here, they lean into the "boyfriend" fit regardless of gender. Jewellery is chunky silver; makeup is grunge. It’s the antithesis of the clean girl aesthetic.
Celebrity Influence & The TikTok Effect
Why is the Essentials tracksuit specifically the king of the UK? You can thank the US export of celebs, but the UK has adopted it as our own.
The Beckhams: When Brooklyn Beckham wears an Essentials hoodie to a gas station in the Cotswolds, the nation takes notes.
Central Cee: The west London rapper turned the grey Essentials balaclava and hoodie into a symbol of UK drill romance. If Central Cee wears it zipped to the nose, you know it’s road certified.
SZA & Hailey Bieber: They popularised the "no-pants" look (wearing the hoodie as a dress with knee-high boots), which is huge among UK girls going to Winter Wonderland.
TikTok Trend: #EssentialsUK has millions of views. The current obsession is the "Flipping" hack – turning the cuffs of the trousers inside out to create a French tuck effect.
Style Hacks: How to Make Your Essentials Last (And Look Expensive)
Because you aren't spending £120 on a hoodie just to shrink it in the wash.
- The "Inside Out" Rule: Always wash your Essentials gear inside out, at 30 degrees. The "Fear of God" print is flocked; if you wash it hot, it will peel off like a fake tan.
- No Dryers, Ever: Air dry only. The cotton-heavy blend is prone to shrinking in length, which ruins that perfect "stacked" look over your trainers.
- The Cardboard Trick: Keep the shape of the hoodie's boxy frame by folding it over a piece of cardboard in your wardrobe. Sounds mad, works a treat.
The Gender-Neutral Appeal: One Wardrobe to Rule Them All
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Why do both boys and girls steal each other's Essentials?
Because the sizing is chaos. A women’s XS is often a men’s S. This accidental fluidity is the brand's secret weapon. It is the ultimate "steal from your partner's wardrobe" brand.
- For Him: Worn loose, low on the hips, baseball cap backwards.
- For Her: Cinched at the waist with a belt bag, or worn as a micro-mini with platform Uggs.
- For Them: Layered under an oversized chore coat.
There is no "men's" or "women's" drop. There is just fit. This resonates massively with UK youth who are rejecting rigid fashion boxes.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Hype?
Yes. But only if you wear it right.
The Essentials Tracksuit isn't just about comfort; it’s about cultural currency. In London, it’s your smart-casual cheat code. In Manchester, it’s your match-day armour. In Leeds, it’s your pre-drinks uniform.
The key takeaway? Don't be a "full kit w****r." Never wear the matching hoodie and trousers without a third piece to break it up. Add a jacket, a nice watch, or a wild pair of trainers.
The UK has spoken: The tracksuit is no longer lazy. It’s luxury.
