Why ‘Essentials’ Is Anything But Basic: The Hoodie That Runs Culture

Let’s be real. If you’ve scrolled through TikTok, walked past a Soho streetwear queue, or accidentally fallen into a Depop rabbit hole at 2am, you’ve seen it. That chunky, tonal hoodie. The rubberised “ESSENTIALS” script across the chest. The oversized, almost architectural silhouette that somehow makes you look like you’ve just stepped off a private jet and out of bed at the same time.
Welcome to the world of Essentials by Fear of God. And no, it’s not just a hoodie. It’s a cultural mood board.
In 2026, the hype around Jerry Lorenzo’s brainchild hasn’t cooled—it’s evolved. What started as a more accessible offshoot of luxury brand Fear of God is now the backbone of modern streetwear. Whether you’re layering it for a Baltic commute or styling it for a date night in Shoreditch, Essentials has cracked the code: it’s expensive feeling, not expensive being.
Let’s unpack how the coolest kids (and their favourite celebrities) are wearing it right now.
The Celebrity Blueprint: Who Wore It First?
You can’t talk Essentials without name-dropping. This isn’t a brand that advertises on billboards. It advertises on bodies.
Hailey Bieber is your poster girl. She’s been snapped leaving Erewhon in a oatmeal Essentials hoodie, bike shorts, and chunky suede Birkenstocks. The look? Effortless. The message? “I didn’t try, but I spent £80 on these sweatpants.”
Then there’s Kendall Jenner, who treats the Essentials tracksuit like a second skin—usually in ‘Putty’ or ‘Seafoam’, paired with vintage sneakers and a matcha latte. Justin Bieber famously wore a full ‘Eggplant’ set during his Justice tour rehearsals, cementing the brand’s stranglehold on musician-off-duty style.
But the real flex? Harry Styles. He wore a cropped Essentials hoodie with high-waisted flares and a pearl necklace. Suddenly, a £75 sweatshirt looked like Gucci.
The takeaway: celebrities aren’t wearing Essentials despite its simplicity. They’re wearing it because of it. It’s a blank canvas for personality.
How Gen Z Wear