With the Cheltenham Festival galloping ever closer (it’s being held from the 11th to the 14th of March this year), now is the perfect time to plan your race day wardrobe. And Cheltenham isn’t the only National Hunt fixture where our followers and customers will want to step out in style. From Aintree’s Grand National meeting to the Punchestown Festival in Ireland, plus fixtures at Sandown, Ascot and Newbury and plenty of point to points, there are oodles of chances to show off your personal twist on country-inspired dressing while you watch epic races and thrilling finishes.
Unlike summer race meetings, where flowing dresses, heels and wide-brimmed hats reign, winter and spring racing demand a slightly different approach. The fashion is fantastic, but Cheltenham’s official style advice has reminded racegoers to “have the weather as well as fashion in mind” in the past. While you can enjoy beautiful spring sunshine, there’s always the possibility of torrential rain, bitter cold and even the odd snow flurry. And that leads us on to our first style tip:
Dress for the occasion
Race day style at this time of year is about fashion and practicality in equal measure. Classic British materials come into their own at winter and early spring race meetings, where tweed, wool (like our gorgeous Kempton Coat), cashmere and leather deliver both sophistication and warmth. If you prefer outerwear that skims your figure for a comfortable yet stylish look, our Pippa Wool and Cashmere Cape could be just the ticket. Layering is key, so think about wearing a roll-neck jumper under a gilet, a silk scarf tucked into a coat or thermal layers discreetly added under a smart outfit to ensure you stay warm while looking polished.
Use sharp tailoring to sculpt a layered look
We know it’s important to be warm, but you want to look and feel great too! That’s why choosing items that are cut to flatter and show off your figure are important for race day outfits. A tailored wool coat, belted trench or structured tweed blazer will be the perfect statement piece. You can choose from tweed or suede skirts, tailored trousers (take a look at our Nautical Sailor Trousers here) or even smart culottes, all of which will work beautifully when paired with knee-high boots or smart ankle boots. Using a belt - or even a gorgeous printed scarf as a belt - can help keep that feminine form and stop you from looking too bundled up!
Now is the time for head-turning hats and accessories!
Once upon a time a glance around the grandstand would deliver a sea of fedora and trilby hats, and while they are still popular country-chic headwear, statement hats and fascinators are adored at national hunt meetings too. If you love to go bold with big day outfits, this is your chance to wear something truly spectacular!
From the aforementioned headwear to fabulous elbow length gloves to fur-trimmed collars and cuffs to structured handbags and statement scarves, there’s a lot to choose from to complete a head-turning look. Our best-selling cashmere and silk wraps, edged with gorgeous, recycled fur, are a wonderful choice that look elegant and tick the countryside chic box and will keep you toasty warm if there’s a chill to the air. Take a closer look at the full collection here.
For some people, a day at the races is as much about atmosphere, fashion and tradition as it is about the competition on the track. But whether you’re scouring the race card and placing bets on every race or getting that perfect picture with your party at the bar, dressing the part is all part of the fun. If you’re ready to plan your race day look, why not take some time to browse our website for elegant, timeless race day looks?
