It’s a grey Tuesday in March. The sky over London is that particular shade you only get here — not quite threatening rain, not quite bright enough to be hopeful. I’m standing outside a coffee shop in Dalston, takeaway cup warming my hands, wearing my Essentials Hoodie. Not the first time this month. Not even the first time this week.
I bought mine nearly two years ago now. And like most of my favourite things, it wasn’t a planned purchase. I was in Manchester for work, wandered into a small shop on Oldham Street, and there it was. The fit was what hooked me — boxy but not slouchy, sleeves that sat just right without bunching at the wrists. I tried it on “just to see” and left with the bag in my hand, mentally rearranging outfits before I’d even hit Piccadilly Station.
How the Hoodie Slipped Into Every Part of Life
The Essentials Hoodie isn’t one of those pieces you save for certain days. It’s the thing you grab without thinking. Early train to Leeds? Hoodie over a white tee, chinos, trainers. Meeting a friend in Soho? Same hoodie, black jeans, leather jacket on top. Weekend in Brighton? Hoodie, shorts, battered Converse.
I’ve worn it on late-night walks to the corner shop, on windy cliff paths in Cornwall, in the quiet of the British Library reading room (slightly chilled, always). It’s not “occasion wear”. It’s life wear.
The Tracksuit That Took Me By Surprise
The Essentials Tracksuit was a different story. I’d seen plenty of full sets walking around — mostly in London and Liverpool — and while I liked the look, I wasn’t sure it was me. Then I borrowed a friend’s pair of tracksuit bottoms one a rainy Sunday. Within an hour, I was online ordering my own set.
What I didn’t expect was how versatile it’d be. Yes, it works for lazy mornings and long-haul train rides (I wore mine from Euston to Edinburgh without once wishing I’d chosen jeans), but it also holds its own in the city. A black tracksuit with a camel coat and clean white trainers? Sharp without trying. Grey tracksuit, Essentials Hoodie layered underneath, chunky scarf? That’s me in winter, running errands in Camden or hopping between pubs in Islington.
The UK Weather Test
This country doesn’t forgive bad fabric. You need pieces that can handle damp mornings, sudden gusts, and the occasional burst of low sunshine. The Essentials Hoodie gets top marks here. Breathable enough for a crowded Tube carriage, warm enough for waiting outside a train station when the wind slices down the street.
The Essentials Tracksuit trousers dry quickly if you get caught in drizzle and don’t hold that damp smell cheaper fabrics do. I’ve worn mine after being caught in Manchester rain — by the time I’d finished a coffee in the Northern Quarter, they felt fine again.
Ways I’ve Seen Them Styled (Up and Down the Country)
- Shoreditch: cream hoodie, oversized trench, straight-leg jeans, Veja trainers. Coffee in hand, of course.
- Glasgow: black Essentials Tracksuit, heavy parka, chunky trainers.
- Brighton: grey hoodie, linen trousers, no socks, battered Vans.
- Liverpool: full tracksuit, puffer jacket, baseball cap.
My own combinations aren’t groundbreaking. Grey hoodie with navy chinos for semi-smart days. Full black tracksuit with a padded gilet when I’m not in the mood to think. But the point is, both pieces adapt without fuss.
Durability After Real Wear
Neither the hoodie nor the tracksuit are babied. They’ve been stuffed in rucksacks, worn on night buses, had pints spilled on them. Still, no warped seams, no sagging knees. The prints haven’t cracked, the stitching hasn’t come loose.
Wash cold, air dry — that’s my only rule. It’s partly about longevity, partly because my dryer’s rubbish. I reckon that’s why my Essentials Hoodie still looks almost exactly like it did that day in Manchester.
The Quiet Recognition Factor
There’s a subtle social thing with these. Not everyone knows the brand. But the ones who do? They notice. I’ve had strangers nod at the hoodie in queues, mates ask where the tracksuit’s from, even a taxi driver in Birmingham mentioned he’d been thinking about getting one himself.
It’s not loud branding, which is why I like it. It’s not meant to impress everyone, just the people who share your taste.
Little Journeys
One of my favourite wears was a trip from London to York. Hoodie layered under a waxed jacket, tracksuit bottoms for the train, and changed into jeans when I got there. Another: early-morning walk along the Thames in January — scarf wrapped over the hoodie, gloves in pockets, seeing the steam rise off the water as the sun came up.
These clothes aren’t about one-off “outfits”. They’re about being ready for whatever the day throws, without overthinking.
Cost Versus Value
Let’s be honest — neither the Essentials Hoodie nor the Essentials Tracksuit are bargain buy. But here’s the thing: if I’d bought cheaper versions, I’d have replaced them by now. Instead, I’ve got pieces that still work exactly as they did on day one. That’s the real economy of good clothing. Buy once, wear often, avoid waste.
Care Tips I’ve Picked Up
- Wash inside out — keeps colours even.
- Avoid hot water — saves the fabric.
- Fold rather than hang — hoodies can stretch on hangers.
Do that, and you’ll keep the shape and texture for years.
Wrapping It All Together
The Essentials Hoodie and Essentials Tracksuit aren’t about shouting. They’re about quietly slotting into your life, making it easier to get dressed without losing style. In the UK — with its shifting skies, crowded streets, and mix of smart and casual — that’s worth more than another trend piece.
Whether I’m standing in line for coffee in Dalston, waiting for a delayed train in Birmingham, or walking the cliffs in Cornwall, they just work. And I can’t think of many things in my wardrobe I could say that about.