My Repeat Buy: Polly Sayer On Tracksuits

My love of tracksuits started in lockdown. There was no point buying any tailoring, boxy jackets or jeans – we weren’t going anywhere and sitting in my pyjamas all day quickly grew tiresome. As someone who loves getting dressed, I wanted something to bridge that gap. With a tracksuit, you still have the comfort factor but when it’s matching, it feels a bit more intentional than just chucking on your comfies. Post-pandemic, I’m still living in them on the evenings and weekends. I wear them for dog walks, weekend brunches, and have even been known to wear them to meetings (smartened up, of course). There are plenty of affordable ones out there, though I think it’s worth investing a little more in something higher quality.

I remember buying a light marl grey tracksuit set from Topshop (RIP) in the first lockdown. I still have the bottoms and, although they’re incredibly bobbled and show the signs of a few too many muddy dog walks, I still love them. Around the same time, I got my first Anine Bing sweatshirt for my birthday, which was charcoal black and had a graphic tiger design on the front… I’m sort of embarrassed by how much I wore it. I’ve since invested in a couple more Anine Bing sweatshirts and find them so easy to throw on with jeans and leather trousers. Around the same time, I also fell for a brand called Bikind, which tie-dyes sweat sets by hand in bright colours. 

Life of Ease is now my favourite brand for tracksuit sets. The British brand started life during the pandemic, and was founded by Hermione, who has since become a friend of mine. She couldn’t find the fit and quality she was looking for from other brands so decided to launch her own. Everything is ethically and sustainably made in a small factory in Portugal using organic cotton. I can’t explain how great the quality is. I got my first set almost a year ago and it’s shown barely any signs of wear, despite having been in and out of the washing machine. The fit is also spot on, with just the right amount of slouch and a straight fit through the leg that’s roomy but not baggy. I have a jade green set, one in pastel yellow, and I was lucky enough to collaborate with the brand in the summer on a baby pink colourway. 

Recently, I’ve been living in my Life of Ease red tracksuit set. It was just released as part of the brand’s autumn/winter collection. I love the varsity-inspired logo across the front of the jumper – it’s something a little different. I’ve also got my eye on the olive-green set; the colour looks so chic and versatile.