With racing season upon us, the ladies are adorned in dresses, headpieces and wrapped up in all sorts of fan fare over race wear. Now it’s time for the men. As summer suiting becomes more viable and the attention gets shared between both the ladies and gents, Couturing breaks down the best ways to dress to impress at the races.

 

Chances are, your suit from last year won’t make the cut. That’s not to say throw it out—bits and pieces can be paired together to make an outfit fit for this season. Or, treat yourself and buy a brand new, fitted suit.

 

The key to any outfit is the fit. Skip the “off-the-rack” ensembles and spend the extra money on having pants and blazers fitted to your proportions. Tailoring the hem on your trousers won’t hurt either. Inexpensive and fuss-free, tailoring the hem up on your trousers will give them a better looking fit.

 

When it comes to actual suiting options, stock up your sartorial arsenal with out-of-the-ordinary details. Windowpane jackets are a classic, and offer an alternative to plain blazers. With all over square detailing, Windowpane jackets are best done in navy and brown colour-ways, or blue-green and navy tones.

 

Double breasted jackets give a classic look and add to the fit of the blazer. Tone this down with colour and go tie-less for a more casual, daytime look. Pinstripe is a chic and simple safe bet, with subtle details that always look great.

 

Avoid the ordinary; black and white is for night time and leaves you looking plain and boring during the day. Embrace Spring/Summer and wear colour!

 

Patterned ties give any shirt and blazer the ‘wow’ factor and are easy to incorporate into your look. Paisley and polka-dots are always classic prints and on trend. Try a slim tie with a geometric pattern or an understated, dark textured tie contrasted with a pocket square. Contrast collars are an enviable look also—a pink pinstriped shirt with a rounded white collar is sure to impress.

 

 

If you’re feeling brave, micro print blazers or trousers will go great with a white shirt. Always contrast prints, but remember, subtlety is the key.

 

 

This brings us to the next point—attention to detail. Pocket squares are easy to find, simple to pull off and shows that you’ve put in the effort to dress the part for the day.

 

Clean shoes with a bit of polish and they’ll finish off an outfit. Double Monks look great and are easy to slip on and off. Pair navy and grey suits with a dark or light brown pair of shoes. Desert boots offer a casual alternative, as do loafers or driving shoes, and are more comfortable than lace up dress shoes. Stick to lights and browns—black lace shoes are strictly for dark grey and black suits.

 

 

 

Cufflinks seem to go unnoticed, but find ones that pop and they’ll soon be a conversation starter. Think signature Paul Smith stripes or find tasteful novelty ones. If you’re no stranger to suiting, a tie clip or pin can add that bit extra something.

 

A simple, classic watch will not only keep the time but also add to an outfit. It’ll also stop you from checking your phone every two seconds.

 

Don’t copy your partner’s look, but rather, compliment. A matching pocket square is very high-school formal; ditch the cheesy symmetry and dress to impress. If your partner is wearing white, light or bright, then dress accordingly.

 

Colour block in similar colours or choose a light grey blazer and pale pink shirt with brown accessories. Bright orange looks great with light grey, as does black and red. Jeans are an option too. Pair brown shoes with blue jeans and a grey jacket for an easy and classic look. Finish off with a contrasting tie and pocket square.

 

To sum things up, find a slim fitted suit, contrast your accessories and don a pair of light or brown shoes. Prints are great and understated accessories are a safe-bet. Don’t copy but do compliment your partner, and don’t be afraid to mix things up.

 

Don’t shy into the crowd this spring racing season!

 

Images courtesy of The Sartorialist and STREETFSN 

About The Author

Darby-Perrin Larner

Darby-Perrin Larner writes about clothes, people paid to pose and designers. Once he finished high school, he packed his bags and moved to Melbourne in pursuit of something different. Now he juggles university, contributing to Couturing.com and his side project, DASH. Darby digs fashion, music from A-trak to Zee Avi, and has an expensive film habit.

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