Okay, this isn’t something I’d normally sit down and write. But lately, I’ve been thinking about how I keep wearing the same thing — like, genuinely, almost every day — and I figured I’d share it in case someone else is feeling just as fed up with deciding what to wear.
It started with this Essentials Hoodie, right? Just a basic one. Plain, grey. Clean lines. No loud logos or anything, which I liked. Looked decent in the online pic, and I just wanted something simple for winter. I didn’t even think that much about it at the time.
Chilly Mornings in Sydney – It Begins
I threw it on one cold morning in Newtown when I was running late to grab a flat white before work. Pulled it over my head, paired it with a beanie, and jogged to the café. No mirror check. No thought. Just pure comfort.
Not gonna lie, I felt oddly… sorted. Like I didn’t try, but still looked like I had it together.
A couple of days later, I was in the same Essentials Hoodie again. Didn’t even think twice. Grabbed it off the chair, pulled it on, went to the servo, did groceries, then chilled at a mate’s for dinner.
Quick Dash to Melbourne – Same Gear, Different Feel
By now, I’d probably worn the set more than 15 times without properly washing it. It’s a bit grim, I know, but I threw it in the machine before a last-minute trip to Melbourne. Went from sunny Sydney to moody laneways and surprise rain.
You need layers in Melbourne. Hoodie? Perfect. Tossed a flannel over it and was good to go. The pants? Honestly, ideal for wandering around Fitzroy or just sitting in a café for hours “working” (aka people-watching).
I swear, every third person in Melbourne is wearing something that looks like the Essentials Tracksuit. But mine actually fits. Doesn’t sag or do that weird twist thing after a wash.
Then Came the Tracksuit – Big Mistake (Or the Best One?)
You know how the algorithm knows you better than your mates? Yeah, well, after a week of living in the hoodie, I started seeing ads for the Essentials Tracksuit pants. I caved. Clicked buy. Fast forward, and I had the full set.
The first time I wore both together, I literally said out loud, “Okay, this is too comfortable.” Wore it on a long drive from Sydney to Canberra, and it honestly made the whole trip better. No waistband digging into my gut, no weird tightness behind the knees. Just easy.
Canberra Cold Can Be Rude
So I stayed in Canberra for a weekend, visiting my cousin. It gets brutally cold there at night, and we were walking near Lake Burley Griffin in the wind. Everyone else looked like they were wrapped in a doona. I had on the Essentials Hoodie layered under a bomber jacket and the Essentials Tracksuit down below, and I was sweet. Warm but not sweating.
Cousin said, “Did you pack anything else?” I laughed, but I kinda didn’t.
Flights, Delays, and Hoodies
A few weeks later, work dragged me to Brisbane. My flight got delayed. Then the Uber took 30 minutes. I was stuck in airport limbo, tired and cranky, but at least I was in the hoodie. It made the whole ordeal slightly more tolerable.
Wore it again in the hotel, wore it out to breakfast the next day, wore it to the gig I was working at in West End. Nobody cared. That’s the thing about the Essentials Tracksuit set — it just blends. Doesn’t scream “look at me,” but it doesn’t look sloppy either.
One Night in Perth – Realisation Hits
I’m not proud of it, but by the time I got to Perth to see my brother, I didn’t even bring another proper outfit. Just the hoodie, the tracksuit pants, a couple of shirts, and some socks. That’s it.
Didn’t matter. He picked me up from the airport, we grabbed late-night takeaway, and I stayed in the gear the whole night and the next morning. Even went to a Bunnings with him like that. Bloke at the checkout said, “Comfy setup, mate.” That’s when I knew — this wasn’t just clothes anymore. This was a lifestyle now.
Why This Set Works in Australia Specifically
We’ve got weird weather here. Cold mornings in Adelaide, sticky arvos in Brisbane, and frosty nights in Hobart. The Essentials Hoodie and Essentials Tracksuit somehow adapt to all of it. And people don’t really care what you wear in public as long as it looks clean.
It’s all about the fit and the fabric. You can layer the hoodie under a coat or over a tee. The tracksuit pants don’t bunch or fall apart after two washes like some of the cheap stuff.
It’s not flashy. It’s not fashion week. It just makes sense — especially if you’re like me and kind of over making decisions every morning.
I Didn’t Expect This
I started wearing it because I was cold. I kept wearing it because I didn’t want to think. I’m still wearing it because, to be honest, it feels like me now.
So if you’re the type who’s tired of overthinking outfits or freezing your toes off in thin hoodies that don’t even reach your wrists — maybe this is your answer too.
Just don’t be surprised if three months go by and you’re still in your Essentials Hoodie and Essentials Tracksuit, wondering what happened to your jeans.