Essentials Tracksuit

to style Essentials with a fanny pack for a 90s throwback

The 90s comeback has been building for a while, but few pairings capture that loose, carefree mood better than oversized Essentials loungewear worn with a slung fanny pack. It is a look that nods to hip-hop videos, mall food courts and Bondi skatepark sessions without feeling like a costume. The trick is letting the relaxed silhouette do the heavy lifting while small accessories add the era's signature playfulness.

Australians have already warmed to this kind of styling. Walk down Chapel Street in Melbourne on a Saturday arvo or duck into Glue Store in Sydney and you will spot layered neutrals paired with crossbody bags and chunky sneakers. The Essentials range, with its drop-shoulder hoodies and heavyweight cotton tees, slots neatly into that mood, especially when you treat the fanny pack as a styling feature rather than just a place for keys.

What makes the combination work is the contrast in proportions. Essentials pieces tend to run long, slouchy and slightly cropped in the wrong places, which mirrors the baggy fits popularised in skate and hip-hop scenes. A fanny pack, whether worn at the waist or crossed over the chest, draws the eye back to the centre of the body and stops the silhouette from swallowing you whole. It also gives you somewhere to stash the essentials without breaking the line of the outfit.

Building the Essentials foundation

Start with one piece that sets the tone. An oversized hoodie in stone, taupe or washed black works as the anchor because it has the right amount of slouch without veering into pyjama territory. If hoodies feel too warm for the climate where you live, swap in a heavyweight tee paired with relaxed sweatpants, then layer a boxy zip-up over the top when the sun dips behind the dunes at Coogee.

The key is fit, not size. Essentials gear should drape rather than hang. Look for shoulder seams that drop a couple of centimetres past your natural shoulder and sleeves that finish around the mid-forearm. Pants should stack once at the ankle, not puddle on the ground like you are wading through wet sand at St Kilda. A slight crop in the hoodie also lets a fanny pack sit naturally on the hip rather than riding up under a thick hem.

Stick to matte cotton and brushed fleece. Anything with too much shine, technical detailing or reflective trim pulls away from the 90s mood and starts heading into athleisure territory. The whole point is that the outfit looks lived-in, the kind of thing you would throw on for a Maccas run after a morning at the Bondi markets.

Choosing a fanny pack that feels current

Not every belt bag works with this aesthetic. Look for one in pebbled leather, soft nylon or a washed canvas, ideally in a tone that complements rather than matches your Essentials pieces. Black, dark chocolate, dusty olive and off-white tend to sit well against the muted palette most people build with Fear of God-inspired gear.

How you wear it matters as much as which one you pick. Slung low across the hips with the strap visible gives the strongest 90s reference, while a high chest rig reads a little more festival than street. If you want a subtler nod, wear it around the waist and let the strap disappear under a hoodie. The strap itself becomes a styling detail, so choose something with a chunky buckle or contrasting webbing rather than a thin nylon tape that gets lost against a heavyweight sweat.

Avoid logos screaming for attention. A small embossed mark or a quiet woven label reads more authentic than a massive monogram across the front. The bag should support the outfit, not upstage it.

Colour stories rooted in 90s nostalgia

The 90s palette was grounded in earthy, lived-in tones. Think cement grey, mushroom, faded burgundy and washed navy, often mixed with white or black basics. Essentials drops already lean this way, which is why they pair so cleanly with a heritage-styled fanny pack. Pulling a single accent colour from the bag into another piece, like socks or a beanie, helps the whole outfit feel considered rather than thrown together.

If you prefer bolder combinations, take inspiration from the loud streetwear seen around Fitzroy and Newtown. A safety-orange or cobalt crossbody bag can lift an otherwise neutral look without tipping into costume, especially when paired with classic white sneakers and a slouchy cream tracksuit. Just keep the rest of the outfit quiet so the bag earns the spotlight.

Texture also counts. A crinkled nylon fanny pack next to a smooth cotton tee creates subtle contrast that reads more thoughtful than flat colour-blocking. Mix one matte and one slightly technical fabric for a balanced finish.

Finishing the look from the ground up

Footwear carries most of the 90s weight here. Chunky sneakers like New Balance 550s, adidas Sambas or any of the running silhouettes back in rotation anchor the look. Keep them clean but not box-fresh; a little scuffing helps the whole outfit feel relaxed rather than styled for Instagram. White socks pulled up just above the shoe add another quiet 90s reference without looking like you are heading to aerobics.

Hats, jewellery and eyewear are where you can push a little further. A ribbed beanie, a thin silver chain, small hoop earrings or a pair of narrow rectangular sunglasses shift the mood from off-duty to deliberately retro. Keep it to two or three extras, though. Too many accessories and the Essentials drape loses its easy, throw-it-on appeal.

Layering also helps when the weather cannot decide. In Brisbane or Perth, where mornings can be cool and afternoons scorch, a lightweight shacket or an open flannel shirt over the Essentials hoodie lets you adjust on the go without adding bulk.

Wearing it across Australian weekends

The best test of this styling is how it handles a real day out. Picture a brekkie at a laneway café in Surry Hills, a wander through Salamanca Place in Hobart, or a Sunday session at the brewery in Fortitude Valley. The Essentials hoodie and fanny pack combo moves easily from coffee to casual lunch to an arvo walk along the Yarra without needing a change.

If you are heading somewhere a bit dressier, swap the sweatpants for loose carpenter-style denim and keep the fanny pack as the throwback detail. That single swap keeps the look wearable in venues that do not love tracksuits while still holding onto the mood. At a local gig or a summer festival, the crossbody bag also doubles as a practical carry for your phone and ID, which is why the 90s styling keeps coming back. It looks good and it works hard.

Essentials piece Best fanny pack pairing Vibe it creates
Oversized hoodie in stone or taupe Pebbled leather waist bag in dark chocolate Soft, lived-in, classic 90s hip-hop mood
Heavyweight tee with relaxed sweatpants Washed nylon crossbody in dusty olive Easy weekend, skatepark-ready
Boxy zip-up over a long tee Crinkled technical bag in cobalt or safety orange Bolder, Fitzroy streetwear edge
Cream tracksuit set Off-white canvas bag with chunky buckle Clean, neutral, low-key loud

Essentials that anchor the throwback

Common missteps to avoid