The Essentials Hoodie & Tracksuit: The Only Uniform I Actually Chose

ByJERRY

I’m not big on fashion. That’s not me being modest — I mean I really don’t care about trends or labels. If it’s warm, fits well, and lets me focus on not failing my course, I’m happy. Which is why I didn’t expect to get attached to a hoodie. But here we are.

I got my first Essentials Hoodie halfway through winter last year, right before midterms at uni in Wollongong. It was a classic Tuesday: three lectures, terrible instant coffee, and that weird campus wind that somehow sneaks under your shirt no matter what you wear.

From Freezing to Focused

My mate Bailey was wearing his — stone grey Essentials Hoodie, sleeves pushed up, eating a muffin like life was good. I was freezing and still half-asleep. He told me to try his on. I did. I didn’t give it back. He laughed and said, “Guess I’m not getting that back.”

I bought my own that weekend. Black. Medium. Changed my entire routine. No lie.

Now when I get up at 6:30 for a study sprint or to hit the beach before lectures, it’s the first thing I reach for. There’s something about the weight of it — not too heavy, not too light. It feels like it’s giving you a hug without asking questions.

Little Things You Notice When You Wear Them All the Time

  • You don’t sweat weirdly — breathes better than my gym gear
  • The inside of the hoodie? Feels better after every wash
  • The pockets don’t sag — even with my phone, keys, AirPods
  • The cuffs stay snug — no flapping, no riding up
  • Somehow still looks good even if I haven’t shaved or slept

The Tracksuit Part Came Later

The hoodie was the gateway. The Essentials Tracksuit pants came next — mostly because I couldn’t find a single pair of jeans clean enough for a date night in Newcastle. I threw the trackies on with a button-up shirt and somehow pulled it off.

Now they’re part of the weekly rotation.

Wore them on the train to Central Station, legs folded up like a pretzel. Wore them to Macca’s at 11:30pm. Wore them to a three-hour library session and forgot I had pants on — they’re that comfortable.

The Essentials Fit Is a Student’s Best Friend

Life at uni is chaos. You’ve got early morning labs in Canberra, late-night cram sessions in Brisbane, awkward tutorials in Geelong where you pretend you did the reading… and through it all, you want to feel like you’ve got one thing together.

For me, that’s this hoodie. That’s these trackies.

It’s not that anyone compliments it — though they do sometimes. It’s that I don’t have to think. I chuck them on, I go. One less decision. One more chance to pass that stats quiz I forgot about until the last minute.

Where It Shows Up In Real Life

  • Sitting on the grass outside the lecture hall, hoodie tucked under my knees
  • Walking through Melbourne laneways with mates, tracksuit and crew socks
  • Skating down to the servo in Gold Coast, hood up, headphones in
  • Inside late-night campus laundromats, hoodie zipped, hands in pockets
  • FaceTiming mum from the kitchen, hoodie sleeves rolled, stirring pasta

Honestly? It’s Just Easy

I don’t think the Essentials Tracksuit was made “for uni students.” But it fits the life. The mess. The naps. The last-minute assignment grinds. The 15-minute power walks across campus.

I’ve worn it while celebrating, stressing, failing, and bouncing back. That makes it more than just a set of clothes. It makes it part of the background of my life — like the smell of reheated garlic bread or the sound of early morning buses.

Final Take

Look, I’m not here to sell you anything. I’m not an influencer. I’ve got 1,302 unread emails and a group chat that’s been dead for a week.

But I do know this: if you’re trying to get through life without sacrificing comfort or looking like a slob, this hoodie and trackie set is probably the best $200 I’ve ever accidentally spent.

It’s warm. It’s real. It’s reliable. Just like the friend who sends you lecture notes when you miss class. And in a world that can feel overwhelming, that kind of comfort matters more than ever.