What To Wear At The Races

Are you looking what to wear for a day at the races? Fear not, our teams run through all the options, so you look great and feel comfortable on your day out – whether that is a trip to Royal Ascot or an afternoon at Newton Abbot!

Many people choose to dress up for a “Day at the Races”, and it’s a great day out with family and friends, especially those big occasions such as Glorious Goodwood and the Chester May Festival. The top priority is often elegance and style from head to toe and, although not always mandatory, it is considered part of the race day experience and excitement to dress up. However, you should always remember that your outfit should be comfortable enough to last all day – as you could be standing outside and walking around a lot.

Each UK racecourse has its own different dress codes for specific enclosures which will be mentioned on their websites, plus there’s the British weather to contend, so your outfit choices could depend on the racecourse, the enclosure you are in and the time of year.

Find out more today in our what to wear at the racing guide:

Things to Consider For Your Raceday Outfit

When planning your outfit for a day at the races make sure you take the following factors into consideration:

1. Time of year – a summer outfit at Newmarket racecourse will be different from one at Newbury in winter!
2. Which enclosure you’re in – certain parts of racecourses have different dress codes.
3. Weather – as with any outfit check on the weather so you don’t get caught in a shower unprepared.
4. Is it an evening or day meeting – most race meetings take place in the day time but in the summer months there are often evening meetings (Windsor racecourse hold lots) and in the winter months there is all-weather racing in the evening at Lingfield, Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Southwell, so you may need a jacket, scarf or pashmina.
5. Racecourse – some racecourses are more relaxed in general and at certain meetings, again this information can be found on their websites
6. Dress Codes – certain race days and major racing events have strict policies such as Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby.
7. Season – whether you are going in spring, summer, autumn or winter will naturally affect your choices

So let’s look at some examples…

What to Wear A Horse Racing Meeting – Ladies

For a summers day at the races, you will no doubt want to look and feel good. For this reason, a nice summer light dress is often the choice for many ladies. However, as lovely and warm as the sun can be, it can turn into a race day disaster if you don’t wear the right outfit.

When attending the races in summer the best option is to wear a flowy, elegant dress; something that you feel comfortable in but also stands out from the crowd. The flowy dress gives better ventilation so you don’t get sticky and helps you to avoid any fake tan disasters as we know how terrible that can be!

Simple light colours and pastels are often popular such as this “rose long sleeve pleated midi dress” from Pretty Little Thing.

Any colour can be worn on a summers day although wearing black and dark colours may not be a smart idea as you may get too hot.

Footwear can be a struggle as you are on your feet for most of the day and can be doing quite a lot of walking. Unfortunately, walking boots may not suit the look so we advise you to wear heels such as wedges. Wedges are the perfect footwear for the races as they are comfortable to walk in and they match the summer theme with the sandal type heel.

These wedges are the “ASOS DESIGN Justina espadrille wedges” from ASOS.

Ladies Accessories to Wear on a Summers day?

A hat or a fascinator is an amazing choice, this can make your outfit much more dressy and can also keep the sun out your eyes without having to wear sunglasses!

A little bag would be ideal so you don’t have to carry everything around all day.

What to Wear at The Races in Summer – Men

There’s always plenty of outfits you could wear to the races but it’s finding the right one to stand out on a summers day and not be too hot.

If your someone who likes to dress up in a suit then its best to go with a lightweight suit so you don’t get too hot.

With it being summer why not add some colour? A light coloured suit would match the summer theme – with it being such a bright day, let’s go with some bright colours! You may have a favourite suit and whether its navy or black, why not add a coloured shirt (light pink or baby blue) instead of white to lighten up the outfit. A coloured tie can also be great addition as well.

This shirt is the “New Look long sleeve muscle fit poplin shirt” in light pink, from ASOS and Newlook which we love.

On a sunny day, you want to wear the least amount of layers possible, even on your feet. Loafers are great to wear to the races as you don’t need to wear them with socks (unless you want to) and they are very smart.

These shoes are the “H By Hudson blythe bar loafers” in black suede, from ASOS.

Accessories you could add could be a nice pair of sunglasses to keep the sun out your eyes when watching the horses and a watch to add some bling to the outfit!

What To Wear At A Winter Horse Racing Meeting – Men

Whether it’s cold or wet, we won’t let the weather ruin your day. Generally, when going to the races a suit is the best option as you can dress them up and dress them down.

Whichever colour shirt you feel is best bare things in mind such as the weather, if it is raining then the rain may show on your suit depending and that won’t look good for all the photos you’ll be taking!

Wearing a suit in winter definitely looks smarter as you can add a waistcoat under your jacket for an extra layer and button your shirt to the top with a tie to keep you warmer. It is ideal to wear a thicker, fluffy suit and this would make a huge difference.

You don’t want to be walking around cold with a wet suit all day so why not add a smart overcoat and scarf to keep you dry and warm such as the example below?

The footwear we would recommend would be derby shoes. These are smart and wearable with socks, they basically go with any type of suit as they offer a huge variety of colours.

These shoes at the “Black Briar Derby Shoes” from TopMan.

Going to A Winter Horse Racing Meeting – Ladies

Looking for the perfect outfit for a winter day at the horse races? The most important thing is to stay warm because if you are cold while being at the races this will ruin your whole experience – trust me I’ve been there.

On a cold day, a jumpsuit could be ideal as your legs are fully covered so this could keep you warm. If you’re more of a dress type person then a maxi dress could be best suited as more skin is covered. When dressing for a winter day you need to think about things such as long sleeves and how much coverage you have so you don’t get a breeze.

This jumpsuit is the “Total Goddess Cobalt One Shoulder Wide Leg Jumpsuit” from Pink Boutique.

If you wear a dress you could add some tights to keep your legs warmer and a long, fashionable coat to go over the top.

Footwear for winter is important because what could be worst than numb toes while you’re at the races? You could add some heel boots as these will cover all of your foot and keep them warm but can also look very smart and trendy.

Adding some leather gloves to keep your hands warm would be one of the best decisions you could make or else you won’t be able to feel your fingers by the end of the day. Get a colour to match your style and this could be used also as an accessory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most popular questions we get asked about what to wear at the races:

Can you wear jeans to the races?

Yes, you can wear jeans to the races although this does depend on what stand of the racecourse you are in. If you are based in a formal meeting or in the main grandstand then we would definitely advise you to not wear jeans. Certain racecourses even have dress codes and may not allow jeans – so make sure to check the dress code before choosing your outfits.

What shoes should I wear to the races?

Footwear to the races needs a lot of thought, your shoes need to be comfortable to walk around in as you do a lot of walking but also need to look smart. For women, we would advise footwear such as wedges and for men, we would advise loafers or derbies.

Can you wear black to the races?

Yes, you can wear black to the races, although it’s fun to get suited up for the races and your outfit should mirror that. Therefore, consider choosing a colourful or seasonal outfit that you wouldn’t necessarily choose. Black is trendy, but you can play around with bold colours for the races.

Do I have to wear a hat for the horse races?

The Royal Enclosure, for instance, requires that all gentlemen at all times wear a three-piece morning suit and top hat. At all times, ladies must wear a hat or headpiece in the royal enclosure.

Can you wear a jumpsuit to the races?

Where formal dresses were once your only choice, at most racing events, jumpsuits and stylish formal trousers are now appropriate. Jumpsuits and trousers must be full-length rather than cropped for formal events.

Always check the dress code for the racecourse you are attending before deciding what to wear as some racecourses may not allow jumpsuits.

What to wear at the races in winter?

A wool dress/trousers are heavier than most other fabrics, keeping in a little extra comfort, limiting the need for layers. This will make it easier for you to stay warm outside.

What to wear to the Derby day races?

Black and white is the standard attire. It’s a classic fashion-wise day where the gents are suggested for top hats, lounge suits and pinstripes.

What to wear to Ladies Day at the races?

Bold variations of colours, stylish jewellery, accessories or a unique hat will help you stand out from the competition. Go above and beyond for ladies day and just wear something you love!

Summary of What to Wear At The Races

As you can see there are many variables and options to consider when going for a day at the races.

The main thing is to make sure you that you feel comfortable and have a great day. Most racecourses have different rules and regulations but we hope that we have given you some inspiration, so whether you are going for a summer or winter meeting you have a great day.

Enjoyed this article? Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about horse racing!