Cheltenham Festival is known as the most renowned horse racing meet of the year.
People come from all over the country to witness the excitement firsthand and dress to prove a point. But what should you wear to Cheltenham and why?
Tweed is the pinnacle of British countryside fashion and dates back to the early 19th century.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup marked a prominent moment in history after it was introduced in 1942, where spectators would dress to impress and put on their best outfits to look more expensive.
Although there is no set dress code for Cheltenham, dressing in this timeless British style, which represents sophisticated comfort and luxury, shows you understand the culture and the festival’s heritage.
Dubarry of Ireland sales associate, Megan Jones, commented on wearing the traditional woollen fabric for the occasion.
“I think it just is the unspoken dress code.
“It’s a nice thing that people want to dress up for because it is such an exciting event.
“Everyone will be dressed up because it is such a prestigious event, and people really enjoy making the effort to look well presented.
“I think tweed is the thing to wear to Cheltenham because it just represents the stereotype of classic old money and British country style.”
It isn’t just the Brits who are flocking to Gloucestershire this week- it’s the Irish too.
So much so, in fact, that they have a race day – St Patrick’s Day Thursday, in their honour.
Jones added: “We get a lot of Irish people coming to Cheltenham when the races are on, and we are an Irish brand ourselves, but they will always come dressed head to toe in tweed.”
As the festival is held in March, there can be lots of uncertainty over the weather, in which tweed holds its practicality and its versatility come rain or shine.
If you want to get the Cheltenham look, brands to look out for include Holland and Cooper, Dubarry of Ireland, Barbour and Oliver Brown London– but it will cost you!
The average outfit at Cheltenham can range from £150 to £500, with the top high-end brands going well over £1,000.
To dress the part and match the style, men should wear tailored trousers and a shirt and tie, topped off with a tweed blazer and polished smart shoes.
Whereas, women have a bit more range from leather gloves, tweed coats and jackets, skirts or trousers and a gracious pair of boots or comfortable kitten heels are all the rage.
Accessories can complete the look with scarves, hats and brooches topping off the details.
Tweed reflects and allows for confidence and chicness whilst maintaining the classic culture and heritage of British horse racing.
Attending the festival in this aesthetic style is not only about fashion, but it’s also about celebrating the history and longevity of riding and equestrian traditions whilst staying stylish and comfortable.
As the energy in the town continues to build and is buzzing with excitement, show off your best outfits, embrace the atmosphere and enjoy the building anticipation of the biggest horse racing festival of the year!
