Essentials is the basics line from Fear of God, the Los Angeles brand created by Jerry Lorenzo. It launched in 2018 as an evolution of F.O.G., the line Lorenzo made with PacSun, and focuses on unisex hoodies, T-shirts, sweatpants and shorts with a roomy cut, in neutral colours and at a lower price than the main line.
Fear of God Essentials: see what's in stock
If you've searched for "essentials" and found a thousand different brands, this is the one with its name in big letters across the chest or leg. Here's who is behind it, where it comes from, how it fits and which pieces to start with.
Who is behind Essentials: Jerry Lorenzo
Jerry Lorenzo was born in Sacramento in 1977. He's the son of Jerry Manuel, a former Major League Baseball player and manager, and before designing clothes he worked in sponsorship for the Los Angeles Dodgers, at a sports marketing agency and as a party promoter in Los Angeles.
He never studied design. Fear of God showed its first collection in 2013 and made its name with roomy pieces, long layers and an almost monochrome palette, heavily influenced by basketball and 90s streetwear. In 2020 he also signed with adidas: he led its basketball division and launched the Fear of God Athletics line, a partnership that ended in late 2025. That's why his name also shows up on trainers.
From F.O.G. to Essentials: how the brand started
Fear of God's main line has always had luxury prices. To reach more people, Lorenzo launched a more affordable line called F.O.G. with the American chain PacSun, announced in late 2015. It worked: hoodies, long T-shirts and trousers with the same feel as the main collection, at a different price.
In 2018 that idea became Fear of God Essentials, now as a line of the brand in its own right. Since then the formula has barely changed:
- Unisex pieces based on men's sizing.
- An oversized cut, with dropped shoulders and a wide chest.
- Neutral colours that come back season after season: oatmeal (Light Oatmeal, Dark Oatmeal), greys, Iron, black (Jet Black, Stretch Limo).
- A text logo, with no big graphics or complicated prints.
That consistency is exactly what made it popular. You can buy a hoodie today and another one two years from now in the same shade and they'll match.
The lines you'll come across
Essentials has several families. It's worth knowing them, because the cut and the logo detail change slightly between them.
Classic Essentials
This is the core: hoodie, T-shirt, sweatpants and shorts with the "ESSENTIALS" logo raised or printed. It's what most people picture when they think of the brand.
1977 line
The 1977 pieces carry that number instead of the usual logo. It matches the year Lorenzo was born. They keep the same roomy cut and often come in shades like Iron or Dark Oatmeal, like the Essentials Hoodie 1977 Iron.
Classic and collaborations
The Classic line brings back the basic pieces with a very clean finish, like the Classic Short Sleeve Tee Jet Black. And now and then there are collaborations, like the capsule with the NBA, with basketball-inspired T-shirts and shorts.
How Essentials fits
This is the most common question about the brand. Essentials runs big on purpose: it's designed to be worn loose. The general rule is this:
| Piece | For the brand's oversized fit | For a more regular fit |
|---|---|---|
| Hoodie and sweatshirt | Your usual size | One size down |
| T-shirt | Your usual size | One size down |
| Sweatpants | Your usual size | One size down for a narrower leg |
| Shorts | Your usual size | Your usual size (the waist is elasticated) |
Going down a size in hoodies and T-shirts mainly reduces the width, and the length is usually still enough. If you wear women's sizes, it's normal to go down one or two sizes from yours, depending on how loose you like it.
A practical tip: measure a hoodie you like the fit of from armpit to armpit and compare it with the size guide on the product page. It's more reliable than trusting the letter on the label.
Essentials pieces to start with
If you're buying your first piece, these are the ones that sell fastest and are easiest to wear.
The hoodie
The piece that defines the brand: cotton fleece, a roomy hood and a kangaroo pocket. To start with, the easiest shades are heather grey and oatmeal: they go with jeans, joggers and almost any trainer. There's the Fleece Hoodie Light Heather Gray, the Hoodie Light Oatmeal or, if you prefer black, the Fleece Hoodie Black. They're all in the Essentials hoodies collection.
The T-shirt
Heavyweight cotton jersey, dropped shoulders and sleeves that reach almost to the elbow. It's the cheapest way into the brand and the one you'll notice most in summer. You'll find them in Essentials T-shirts, and if you're not sure how to wear them, the blog has a guide on how to style Essentials T-shirts.
The sweatpants
Relaxed rise, elasticated ankle cuffs and a waist with a long drawstring. If you buy the hoodie and the sweatpants in the same shade, you've got a set that works for travelling and for every day, like the Sweatpants Dark Oatmeal. More colours in Essentials sweatpants.
The shorts
For summer, sweatshorts are the obvious choice. Cut above the knee with an elasticated waist. You'll find them in Essentials shorts, and here we explain how to style Essentials shorts.
Which trainers to wear with Essentials
The roomy cut calls for trainers with some presence. With the sweatpants, a retro running shoe balances the volume well, like the New Balance 2002R or the ASICS Gel-NYC. With shorts and a T-shirt, a slim low-top like the adidas Samba keeps the look cleaner. And if you're in oatmeal or grey, any white or cream trainer works.
How to avoid buying fake Essentials
Essentials is one of the most copied clothing brands, especially on marketplaces and social media. There's no foolproof trick for clothing, but there are some sensible checks:
- Look up the item's reference code (for example, 192HO246258F for the Fleece Hoodie Light Heather Gray) and check that it matches that model and colour at well-known retailers.
- Be wary of colours or logo combinations that don't appear at any recognised shop.
- If the price is far below what the usual shops charge, there's normally a reason.
- Buy from shops with a physical address, customer service and a clear returns policy.
At Newcop everything is 100% authentic. You can see the full Fear of God Essentials collection online or come and try sizes in our stores in Madrid (Calle de Tetuán 16), Barcelona (Carrer de la Canuda 37) and Paris (19 rue du Temple).
