The Reigning Champ: Why the Essentials Tracksuit Has Locked Down UK Street Style (From London to Leeds)

Let’s be real for a second. If you’ve scrolled through TikTok, hopped on the Tube, or simply walked past a student union in the past 18 months, you’ve seen it. The halo of the 3D rubberised logo. The muted, ‘quiet luxury’ colour palette. The perfect, baggy-but-not-sloppy silhouette.

We are talking, of course, about the Fear of God Essentials tracksuit.

Gone are the days when a tracksuit meant something you only wore to the gym (or to pop to the corner shop for a bag of ice). In 2025, the Essentials tracksuit is the unofficial uniform of the UK’s coolest postcodes. From the rainy streets of Manchester to the trendy arcades of Leeds, and the coffee shops of Shoreditch, this is the armour of the modern streetwear enthusiast.

Here is everything you need to know about styling it, wearing it, and owning it across the UK.

The ‘Silent Luxury’ Vibe (That Actually Isn’t Silent)

The genius of the Essentials Tracksuit range (designed by Jerry Lorenzo) is the branding. It’s ironic, really. It’s called ‘Essentials’ and the branding is subtle, yet that tiny ‘ESSNTL’ script on the chest or the massive rubber logo on the thigh screams louder than a Supreme box logo ever did.

For the Gen Z UK crowd, this is the perfect middle ground. We’ve moved past the ‘logomania’ of the 2010s. Now, it’s about knowing. If you know, you know. The thick fleece, the dropped shoulders, the elongated fit—it signals that you understand quality and hype, without needing to be a walking billboard.

City-By-City: How the UK Styles Their Essentials

One tracksuit fits all, but the vibe changes depending on your postcode. Here is your style map for the UK:

London (The Capital Curator)

In London, specifically Shoreditch and Soho, the Essentials tracksuit is treated like high fashion. You’ll rarely see it worn as a full matching set here (that’s considered too ‘basic’ for the capital’s elite).

• The Hack: Londoners love to ‘break’ the suit. Wear the Seafoam Green hoodie with a pair of baggy Acne jeans and loafers. Or pair the matching trousers with a vintage leather jacket.
• Footwear: Forget trainers. In London, we’re seeing the tracksuit trouser tucked into chunky Martens or even clean Adidas Spezials.

Manchester (The Wet Weather Warrior)

Mancunians live in practicality. It rains 365 days a year, but that won’t stop the drip. In the Northern Quarter, the Essentials tracksuit is worn for warmth and utility.

• The Hack: Go for the full set, but size up twice. The baggier, the better. The fleece is thick enough to act as a jacket.
• Footwear: New Balance 990v5s or 991s are the go-to. They offer that ‘dad shoe’ chunky aesthetic that balances the bulk of the trousers. Don’t forget the North Face puffer gilet over the top for that ‘just got back from the Peak District’ look.

Leeds (The Student Staple)

Leeds has one of the biggest student populations in the UK, and the uni corridors are basically an Essentials catwalk. Here, it’s all about comfort and colour drops.

• The Hack: Gen Z in Leeds loves the gender-neutral appeal. The oversized hoodie works as a dress for girls (paired with Ugg Tasman slippers or chunky Nike Blazers), while boys wear the matching shorts (yes, even in winter) with long tube socks.
• The Trend: Look out for the Mocha or Taupe colourways. Anything that matches a Pumpkin Spice latte aesthetic is king here.

Birmingham (The Hypebeast Hub)

Brums love a statement. While London goes quiet, Birmingham goes loud (but tastefully).

• The Hack: Mix your Essentials hoodie with technical cargo pants from brands like Represent or Trapstar. It’s a hybrid of high-end luxury fleece and UK roadman culture.
• Footwear: Nike Dunks or Jordan 4s only. Clean, crisp, and never laced too tight.

Celebrity Influence: Who Made It Cool?

We can’t talk about the rise of the Essentials tracksuit without looking across the pond (and at home).

• Hailey Bieber is the poster child. She single-handedly made the ‘oversized hoodie + baggy sweatpants + slicked-back bun’ look acceptable for dinner at Chiltern Firehouse.
• Central Cee and Dave have been spotted layering Essentials under their leather jackets. This is crucial for the UK market. When UK drill and rap artists adopt a piece, it trickles down to every high street in the nation.
• Kendall Jenner flew the flag for the ‘off-duty model’ look, proving that if you wear it with an expensive trench coat, a tracksuit suddenly becomes ‘business casual’.

The Great Gender-Neutral Debate

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Why is this tracksuit selling out in minutes on Mr Porter, END. Clothing, and Selfridges?

Because it’s genuinely unisex.

Jerry Lorenzo designs with a ‘one size fits all’ mentality (literally, the unisex sizing runs from XS to XXL). For Gen Z, this is gold. A girl can buy a men’s Small for a baggy fit; a guy can buy a women’s Large for a cropped look. There is no ‘his’ or ‘hers’.

• Style Tip for Girls: Cinch the waist of the Essentials hoodie using a hair tie on the inside to give it a cropped, baby tee shape.
• Style Tip for Guys: Don’t be afraid of the ‘Mauve’ or ‘Lilac’ drops. Colour is back, baby.

Fashion Hacks: How to Wear It Without Looking Like You Just Rolled Out of Bed

Wearing a tracksuit is a fine art. Essentials Tracksuit You want the look of effortlessness without the reality of laziness. Here are your non-negotiable rules:

1. The Sock Game is Everything
   Do not show bare ankle. Do not wear no-show socks. You need a thick, ribbed crew sock (think Stance or Nike Everyday Plus) pulled up over the hem of the sweatpants. It stacks the fabric perfectly.
2. The ‘Slight Cinch’
   Those elastic toggles on the hoodie? Use them. Cinching the hoodie slightly at the bottom creates a balloon silhouette that looks expensive. Leaving it loose looks like you’re wearing a bin bag.
3. The Layering Piece (Crucial for UK Weather)
   Never just wear the hoodie on its own if it’s below 10°C.

• Cold day: Essentials Hoodie > The hood up > A black Arc’teryx or Rab jacket over the top.
• Chilly evening: Essentials Crewneck > A white tee hanging out the bottom > A Carhartt WIP Detroit Jacket.

4. Trainers vs. Boots

• Daytime: Birkenstock Bostons with fuzzy socks. The ‘clog’ trend is still massive in the UK for coffee runs.
• Nighttime: Timberland 6-Inch Boots (the Wheat colourway). Nothing looks harder than a clean pair of Timbs stomping through a puddle in an Essentials tracksuit.

Where to Cop (Without Getting Robbed)

Let’s talk money. The retail price for an Essentials hoodie is usually between £90 – £120, and trousers about £85. That’s affordable luxury.

However, the bots eat up the drops on in seconds. For the UK shopper, your best bets are:

• END. Launches (set that alarm for 8:00 AM GMT).
• Selfridges (they usually get the ‘Core’ colours like Black, Oatmeal, and Smoke).
• Depop & Vinted (for the savvy Gen Z buyer). Search for ‘Essentials FOG’. *Pro tip: Look for the ‘Rubber Patch’ era (2021-2022). The quality of the fleece was heavier and better than the newer ‘Puff Print’ stuff.*

The Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Hype?

Yes. Absolutely.

The Essentials tracksuit has transcended a mere trend. It has become a staple of modern British casual wear. It bridges the gap between the guy on the council estate and the girl in the penthouse. It speaks to our desire for comfort post-lockdown, but our equal desire to look put together.

Whether you’re navigating the tram lines of Manchester, waiting for a delayed train at Leeds station, or brunching in Hackney, the Essentials tracksuit tells the world: I value comfort, but I also understand the culture.

So, go on then. Size up, zip up, and get out there. Just don’t blame us when you see three other people wearing the exact same ‘Oatmeal’ hoodie as you. That’s just the UK for you.