Honestly, nobody expected a middle-aged actor from Boston to become the face of a high-fashion streetwear movement. But when Ben Affleck showed up in that neon orange and pink Dunkin’ tracksuit during the 2024 Super Bowl, something shifted. It wasn't just a commercial. It was a cultural reset for a brand that usually focuses on glazed donuts and iced coffee. The Dunkings track suits went from a punchline in a star-studded ad to a legitimate grail for collectors and hypebeasts alike.
Marketing is weird. One day you’re a coffee shop, and the next, you’re selling out of polyester apparel in nineteen minutes.
The Chaos Behind the Dunkings Track Suits
The whole "Dunkings" concept started as a self-deprecating gag. Ben Affleck, a man famously photographed by paparazzi while struggling to carry multiple Dunkin' coffees, leaned into the meme. He formed a fictional boy band called "The DunKings" alongside Matt Damon and Tom Brady. They wore these incredibly loud, some might say "hideous," tracksuits. Bright orange. Electric pink. Massive crowns.
Most brands would stop at the commercial. They’d run the ad, get some laughs, and go back to selling breakfast sandwiches. But Dunkin' saw the social media data. People weren't just laughing; they were asking where to buy the gear.
When the brand finally dropped the official Dunkings track suits on their "ShopDunkin" website, the digital infrastructure basically buckled. It was a limited release. If you weren't there in the first half-hour, you were looking at eBay listings for five times the retail price. It’s a classic case of "so bad it's good" aesthetic. The "ugliness" was the point. It was ironic, bold, and deeply tied to a specific type of East Coast pride that Ben Affleck embodies perfectly.
Why Quality Actually Mattered Here
Usually, promotional merch is cheap. You know the type—scratchy fabric, screen-printing that peels off after one wash, and zippers that snag constantly. Dunkin' didn't do that. They went for a heavy-weight polyester blend that actually holds its shape.
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The jacket features a full-zip front with a mock neck, and the pants have that classic tapered fit that doesn't make you look like you're wearing a garbage bag. The embroidery is thick. The colors are saturated. When you see someone wearing one in the wild, you notice it from three blocks away. It’s not subtle. It’s a neon sign for your body.
A Masterclass in Ironic Fashion
Fashion in the mid-2020s is obsessed with "camp." Camp is all about artifice, exaggeration, and being "extra." The Dunkings track suits are peak camp. You aren't wearing them because they are elegant. You're wearing them because you want to show you're in on the joke.
It’s about the "IYKYK" (If You Know, You Know) culture. If you see someone in the full kit—the fuzzy bucket hat, the orange pants, and the pink-accented jacket—you know they were either fast enough to grab the drop or willing to pay the resale premium. It’s a status symbol for people who don't take themselves too seriously.
The Secondary Market and the Resale Boom
If you missed the initial drop, you probably felt the sting in your wallet. Within hours of the "Sold Out" sign appearing on the official site, listings began popping up on StockX and Grailed.
- Original retail price: around $120 for the full set.
- Resale peaks: as high as $500 for a complete, unworn set in popular sizes.
- The "Vibe" factor: priceless for certain Bostonians.
This isn't just about Ben Affleck. It’s about the democratization of "drops." Usually, this kind of frenzy is reserved for Nike or Supreme. Seeing a coffee chain command the same level of secondary market heat is a signal to other brands. If you make it weird enough, they will come.
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How to Actually Style This Much Orange
Let’s be real. You can’t just throw this on with a pair of dress shoes. If you’re lucky enough to own one of the Dunkings track suits, you have to commit to the bit.
You've got two real options here. First, you go full Affleck. You wear the whole suit, the hat, and maybe even some white sneakers to keep it grounded. This is a "look." It says, "I am the main character today."
The second way is "fragmented" styling. Take the jacket and pair it with some dark denim or black cargos. It breaks up the intensity. It makes you look like a human being instead of a walking advertisement. The pants are harder to pull off solo, but if you’ve got the confidence, a simple white tee can balance out the neon orange.
The Longevity of the Trend
Will people still be wearing these in five years? Probably not.
But that's the beauty of it. It’s a time capsule. It represents a moment when a Super Bowl ad actually managed to be funny and a brand actually understood its own meme potential. It’s a piece of pop culture history you can wear to the grocery store.
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The Dunkings track suits also proved that celebrity endorsements work best when they feel authentic. Ben Affleck’s love for Dunkin' is documented and genuine. It doesn't feel like a paid shill; it feels like he finally got his dream job. That authenticity translates to the product. People didn't buy the suit because they like polyester; they bought it because they like Ben.
Taking Care of the Kit
Since these are mostly synthetic materials, you have to be careful. High heat is the enemy of neon dyes. If you toss this in a hot dryer, the orange will start to look sad and faded within a month.
- Wash cold. Always.
- Turn it inside out. This protects the embroidery and the "Dunkings" logo on the back.
- Air dry. Hang it up. It’s polyester, so it’ll dry fast anyway.
- Avoid the iron. Unless you want to melt your suit into a puddle of pink goo.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Collector
If you're looking to get your hands on a piece of this history now, you need to be smart. The "Dunkings" era isn't over, but the easy buys are gone.
- Verify Authenticity: Look for the specific "ShopDunkin" inner tags. There are fakes floating around on cheap overseas sites that use thin, "shiny" fabric that looks terrible in person.
- Check Local Listings: Sometimes you can find a better deal on Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark from people who bought it on impulse and realized they can't pull off neon orange.
- Watch for Restocks: While Dunkin' hasn't officially announced a permanent line, they often bring back successful merch during the holidays or major sporting events. Sign up for their rewards program notifications—that's usually where the leaks happen first.
- Size Up: These suits tend to run a bit slim, especially in the jacket shoulders. If you want that relaxed "Ben Affleck at a gas station" look, go one size larger than your usual.
The Dunkings track suits phenomenon teaches us that fashion doesn't always have to be serious. Sometimes, it can just be a bright, loud, caffeinated celebration of a guy who really, really likes his coffee. If you own one, wear it with pride—and maybe a large iced coffee with extra sugar.