I’m not big on routines—my shifts change every week, my mates are all over the place, and half the time I’m up early to bake pastries, or pulling a closing shift when everyone’s drunk on coffee and flat whites.
So when my friend, Jules, gave me her old Essentials Hoodie, I thought I’d wear it a few times, then lose it in a pile of doona covers. But somehow, it stuck. Hard.
Why This Hoodie Just Works
Every morning starts the same: alarm goes off at 5:30 am. I stumble into the kitchen in my Essentials Hoodie and trackies, but as soon as I’m waiting for the oat milk to froth, I tuck my hands into that kangaroo pocket and go — warmth creeps in, brain gears shift. I’ve found it’s not just clothes. It’s a ritual.
It’s imperfect. I’ve spilled matcha on it. I’ve splashed oat milk across the chest just before a big catering run. But it’s never stained (and definitely worth five bonus points when the manager doesn’t grill me on attendance for the day).
Brisbane Heat, Shift after Shift
Humidity here is relatively high. But on those early Sunday shifts? It’s glorious. Hoodie on in the dark, hoodie off by 10 am. Trackies swapped for shorts at 1 pm, then swapped back again when the arvo breeze hits around Kangaroo Point.
I know the shift cycle: humid café nights, then cold windows in single-windowed houses, then back to sticky mornings with lineless milk. Through it all, this set doesn’t quit.
The Tracksuit That Never Let Me Down
I grabbed the Essentials Tracksuit pants a couple of weeks later, mostly because I needed something to wear while washing milk frothers and stocking pastries. The trackies fit the squat test (knees down, get up—the end of the day). They don’t ride too high or drag across the floor. No saggy butt either. They just… fit.
By the time evening hit, I was showing up at friends’ places looking like I’d made an effort. Soft, neat, relaxed. Not ridiculous. The tracksuit bridged my worlds—the mug-holding high-speed one, and the one that just needed socks and a sense of calm.
Real Moments I Didn’t Expect
- The day I ran from a downpour to a house party, hoodie soaked, but still wearing the same trackies I wore to work
- Sliding into Ubers in the evening, noticing the driver nod when I’m in comfort—“mate, I get it” energy
- Drying it by dusk in my courtyard, hoodie on the line, trackies over the chair, coffee-steam behind me, smoke from the dragon fruit candle… quiet moments that feel like home
Why It Fits My Life
We’re not talking fashion here. I barely follow latte art trends. But here’s what I see:
- No awkward show-off branding
- Relaxed fit that still shows you put a stitch of thought into it
- Grabs your coffee and leaves without hesitation
- Doesn’t get caught under your apron or waistband
I’ve seen mates in Paddington wearing it with leather jackets. I’ve seen baristas in West End making damn good brews with it on. I’ve seen early 20s warehouse guys grabbing deliveries after a shift, hoodie up, trackies down — decent boots on, life happening.
Final Thoughts?
So yeah—it’s not a hoodie and trackies. It’s a feeling. It’s the quiet relief of “I got this” on a Monday when it feels like everyone else already has it figured out.
It’s a safety blanket that doesn’t scream “I’m insecure,” but whispers, “All good here.” It’s practical — but it also honors the small moments of grace in service jobs and messy houses and fallen espresso shots.
If you ever find yourself fumbling for clothes that do the job without making you feel “done up,” the Essentials Hoodie and Essentials Tracksuit might be the little lifeline nobody tells you about.
