Are you heading to this year’s Cheltenham Festival and already planning your outfit? Or perhaps you’re heading to a race meeting before then and would love some sartorial suggestions to make sure you feel like a million dollars on the day? In this blog we’re helping you choose your winning look for the Festival and the myriad other National Hunt and point-to-point meetings that are racing towards us in the calendar. So, without further ado, let’s share our top tips for what to wear to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival!
What to wear to the Cheltenham Festival
This year’s Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday the 12th to Friday the 15th of March and if you’re lucky enough to be going, you can look forward to exceptional racing and fabulous fashion! The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest race meeting in the British National Hunt calendar, with four days of scintillating high-class racing and horseboxes full of top Irish raiders making their way over the sea to compete for the prize money.
The fashion at the Cheltenham festival more than equals the standard of the racing too, with visitors embracing classic British country styles and fabrics as well as the very latest trends and designs. Plus, if you’re hoping to head to Sandown or Aintree later in the spring, you’ll want to put your best fashion foot forward there as well! The key to having an enjoyable day at the races is to dress for fashion and the weather and remember that you'll be on your feet for a lot of the day. Depending on which enclosure you’re in, you could find that you’re standing on grass to watch the racing or crammed into a grandstand with hundreds of other racing fans. The weather in March can be unpredictable, with some years seeing the festival at risk from frost and snow, others suffering heavy ground from endless rain, and, occasionally, some lovely warm spring sunshine.
Dressing for a day at the races with the Etton Taylor collection
If you’re still wondering what to wear for the Cheltenham Festival this year, we’ve done the legwork for you and curated the perfect list from the Etton Taylor website to help you nail your outfit. Or, if you’re going along for more than one day (in which case, lucky you!), you can mix and match to make sure you’re turning heads every time you walk through the gates.
Sophisticated wool and cashmere capes
If you want to ensure your outerwear is flattering, warm and gives off seriously feminine vibes we recommend talking a closer look at our Pippa Capes. Available in navy blue, camel or a stunning bright red, they are hand-cut in Britain from a luxurious cashmere and wool blend that’s the perfect weight fabric to hang beautifully. If you’re looking for a winner in the style stakes for a day at the races, you can’t get more sophisticated than a cape.
Tailored tweed
Once upon a time, tweed was practically the dress code at Cheltenham, but you’ll now see an array of gorgeous colours and materials on show! Of course, if do fancy wearing tweed this year, you must take a look at our tweed collection. Launched in 2023, our tweed coats, jackets and gilets are crafted from 100% British wool and they’ve been incredibly popular! We love the Annabelle Lovat Herringbone Tweed Coat – Etton Taylor Clothing for a tailored long cover up for chilly days, complete with a flattering cut, vintage brass buttons and brown velvet turn back cuffs and brown velvet underneath the collar. Or if you prefer a shorter style, the Catherine Harris Tweed Jacket is as stylish as they come.
Elegant wraps
The changeability of the weather at Cheltenham can make staying warm challenging, which is why wearing an Etton Taylor bestseller can really come into its own. Our fur-trimmed wraps come in a huge range of colours and styles, but they all effortlessly keep you warm and ensure you look elegant at the same time. If there’s some warm spring sunshine, you might even find that you can leave your coat in the car and step out in with a wrap and gilet as your only outwear. How’s that for a stylish solution to British weather?
Stylish layers
Our favourite looks revolve around a blouse or dress shirt layered with a coat and wrap for milder days, or with a cosy sweater when the temperatures drop. Our glorious ruffled and frilled blouses are such a simple way to elevate any outfit, and you can choose from a range of colours and styles! Check out our knitwear collection for cold-weather options including jumpers, cardigans and knitted dresses, and consider throwing a gilet in your car or suitcase just in case.
Affordable accessories
If your budget doesn’t stretch to a new outfit or jacket (or you’d like to keep your pennies for a flutter on the day!), why not use accessories to revitalise your look? A statement belt to cinch in a dress or pair with your favourite trousers can really make a difference, or you can add a fur collar and cuffs to really ‘zhuzh’ up your favourite coat. If it’s a breezy day (which it so can often be at Prestbury Park…) our Herringbone Harris Tweed Baker Boy Cap is a stylish way to keep your hair under control and look seriously smart to boot!
