Whether you’re a casual racing fan or a devoted enthusiast, what you wear to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is an opportunity to make a statement. Whether that is one of classic sophistication or an opportunity to showcase your own unique style, Breeders’ Cup is the time to put your best foot – or stiletto – forward.
Below, we explore some of the key style takeaways for women and men’s World Championship fashion so you can begin planning your look and feel prepared this November at Keeneland!
Women’s Fashion Tips
Although there are countless outfit options to choose from, the most important part of creating a look is to lean into what you feel most confident and comfortable in. For some, that might look like flats and a pantsuit, whereas to others, it could look like Louboutins and a Kizik Shoes dramatic cape dress. Fashion is an ever-evolving landscape, but certain style choices have a lasting sophistication. Solid, neutral colored dresses and pantsuits with clean lines allow a lot of room for accessorizing in the form of patterned scarves, colorful fascinators, or bright handbags. Since Breeders’ Cup weekend takes place in the fall, this is also prime time to break out timeless fall patterns like plaid and houndstooth. If you have a neutral solid color dress, you can easily pair it with a plaid wool overcoat and boots for a cohesive fall look.
Harness Your Unique Style
While classic outfit choices pair well with Breeders’ Cup traditions, if you prefer stepping out in the latest fashion, this is a great opportunity to embrace your style instincts. Use the World Championships as your runway to try a bold look you’d otherwise have no occasion to wear. Whether that looks like poofy sleeves, highly constructed pleats, visionary matching sets,Nobull Shoes or a slicked back hairdo with a wildly inventive fascinator, there is no such thing as being overdressed. If you are a superfan of a certain horse and you want to show your love, you can get creative and wear clothes in the colors of the owners’ racing silks! Whether it’s as small as a pair of earrings or the color of your dress, Breeders’ Cup is the time to show support for your favorites.
Pair Your Accessories
Hats and fascinators are the perfect touch to any race day outfit. Our advice is to plan the outfit first and then get your hairware – it can be difficult to plan outfits that complement the unique shades of a hat, but there are a multitude of hat options that can go with your finished outfit. Lastly, a big part of choosing your outfit depends on what your accommodations are for the day, what the weather is like, and how much walking you’re planning on doing. When in doubt, bring a pair of flats to change into and a small umbrella or clear poncho. That way, your outfit can remain on display while you stay dry!
Men’s Fashion Tips
First and foremost, a well-fitting jacket is essential to any men’s race day outfit. The sports coat adds an element of sophistication, and as you roam the racetrack grounds in your jacket, those you cross paths with might assume you are an affluent owner of one of the Thoroughbreds competing that day. You will never be ridiculed for being overdressed, so you might as well Vasque Shoes break your best sports coat for the big weekend. Even though it takes place in the fall, save the all-black look for another time and don’t be afraid to break out the classic Breeders’ Cup purple and yellow color scheme. If you prefer to keep it more traditional, stick with colors like navy blue and hunter green.
Men’s Accessories
When it comes to accessories, Breeders’ Cup is also the perfect occasion to sport stylish finishing touches you typically don’t wear. Break out the colorful pair of socks, fedora or bowler hat, fancy belt, pocket square or designer watches. Lastly, remember to bring sunglasses. Even if you are planning on spending most of the day inside, important places at the racetrack, such as the paddock and apron, are located outside. You inevitably will take a trip to these locations at some point during your day at the track, and even in the fall, the sun can shine bright and you don’t want to miss seeing your favorite horses from around the world due to an inopportune glare!