Derby Festival 2024 – Epsom Downs Racecourse
What To Wear To The Epsom Derby 2024?
The Epsom Derby is an exciting two days of racing at Epsom Downs Racecourse that are very much looked forward to. If you’re considering attending or already have tickets, figuring out what to wear to such a prestigious and historic racing meet is an important step. The Epsom Derby 2024 dates are Friday the 31st of May and Saturday the 1st of June. Your time to figure out what outfit to wear to the Epsom Derby is running out, read on to see what SUAVE OWL can do for you.
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Epsom Derby Dress Code
The Epsom Derby dress code for the Derby Festival has three levels, depending on the enclosure you will be attending in. Fancy dress is not allowed in any enclosure over the duration of the Derby Festival.
The Tattenham Enclosure at Epsom Downs Racecourse has no strict dress code for the Epsom Derby. Guests are asked to ‘dress appropriate for the Derby Festival’. Sportswear, sleeveless vests, or bare tops are not allowed. Denim must be presentable and not frayed, torn, or ripped. Guests cannot wear sportwear or trainers.
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The Duchess’s Grandstand is slightly stricter. Gentlemen must wear a jacket and collar, ties are encouraged. Jeans, sports shorts, denim, and trainers are not permitted.
The Queen’s Stand Dress Code differs over the two days of the Derby Festival. On Ladies’ Day, the 31st of May 2024, gentlemen must wear a jacket, collar, and tie. Jeans, denim, sports shorts, and trainers are not permitted, neither is fancy dress. On Derby Day, Saturday the 1st of June 2024, black or grey morning dress with a top hat, service dress, or full national costume is obligatory.
Whilst the amount of stylistic freedom does differ over the enclosure and over the days of the Derby Festival, this doesn’t mean you can’t dress as you please and incorporate your own stylistic flair. Read on for how…
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What Should Men Wear To The Epsom Derby At Epsom Downs Racecourse?
If you’re in the Tattenham Enclosure, you could consider a smart casual raceday outfit or a full formal men’s raceday outfit. The choice is entirely up to you. Some gentlemen like to dress for the event and see their men’s raceday outfit as an extension of the day. However, this may not be the case for you.
For full formal men’s raceday outfits, you can’t go wrong with a 3-piece or 2-piece suit. In this enclosure, you can do this as you please. Skip the waistcoat or wear one in a different suit style to the rest of the outfit. Choose between a tie, bow-tie, or nothing. Accessorise as you please. Check out our main suits collection for SUAVE OWL suits and see what captures your attention. You want to feel confident for a day at the races, wearing something you’re excited by and feel good in is a sure way to do so.
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For smart casual men’s raceday outfits, consider what element of a suit is your favourite. Are you a fan of jackets, a waistcoat, or like the feeling of wearing suit trousers? Add your favourite suit piece, we’d always recommend a SUAVE OWL suit piece of course, to your outfit. Then, add a causal piece. This could be a T-shirt, chinos, unripped jeans, or even clean trainers in this enclosure. Consider then what your outfit lacks and fill in those gaps. Consider if you’re going to go for formal or casual footwear. Consider whether you want to wear a suit jacket or an overshirt, coat, or casual jacket. Blending your formal and casual pieces into a smart casual outfit for the races can be a process. Try on your outfit in advance to make sure it looks how it does in your imagination, experimentation can be essential to making sure your smart casual race day outfit looks it’s best. For more about smart casual outfits for the races, read our blog Smart Casual Race Day Style Guide For Men.
For attendees of the Duchess’s Grandstand, your outfit choices are slightly more restricted. A jacket, formal shirt with collar, and tie is a necessity. However, there’s still some freedom to be had with the requirements and restrictions. You obviously have full choice over what jacket, shirt, and tie you wear. However, are you going to wear it with a waistcoat? Are you going to opt for suit trousers or chinos? Additionally, are your suit pieces going to match or will you opt for mixed pieces for a more eclectic look? When choosing what to wear, consider your comfort and own personal style. If you want to feel comfortable and confident, wear what makes you feel best and often this is what you gravitate towards in your other outfit choices.
If you’re a gentleman who likes to be at his most formal for an event, a men’s formal raceday outfit is for you. A 3-piece suit, brogues, tie, and other accessories is for you. If you want to add some more intrigue to your outfit, consider wearing a different waistcoat to your suit jacket and trousers, there’s interesting combinations to be found. Visit us in store to see what works for you or check out our main suits to see what SUAVE OWL has to offer.
If you prefer to relax the dress code and like a smart casual men’s raceday outfit, keep to the base requirements – a jacket, shirt with collar and tie. Opt out of a waistcoat. Wear chinos or clean, unripped jeans. With a pair of go-to comfortable smart shoes, you will have relaxed the dress code perfectly within restrictions.
The Queen’s Stand Dress Code is the most restricted. On the Friday, attendees are as free as the Duchess Grandstand. However, on the Saturday, black or grey morning dress with a top hat, service dress, or full national dress is a necessity. If you want to be allowed into this most exclusive enclosure, following these requirements is a must.
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Raceday Style Tips For Men
When you have an idea of what you want to wear as your men’s outfit for the races, you can still do a little bit more to make sure you look and feel your best. This style advice will help you take a good outfit to a perfect outfit!
Clothing fit is essential, no matter if you are dressing casually, smart casually, or formally. Your clothes should not constrict or restrict you, but they also should not hang off your frame and add bulk. An outfit that is too small or too big will not flatter you. At SUAVE OWL, we have diverse size ranges in our items and you can buy a 3-piece suit in separate sizes, so you can find the best fit for you in your jacket, waistcoat and trousers. Discover more about finding the perfect suit fit in our blog The Ultimate Guide To Men’s Suits, which offers in depth information about how each element of your suit should fit you. You can also utilise our size guides on our website or try on suits in store to see what works, our friendly team is always happy to offer advice and help you find the perfect suit size.
Don’t forget your accessories. They may seem like small detail, but they can elevate an outfit so much. Additionally, they are a key way to implementing personality into your men’s outfit for race day; they make you stand out. You can implement colour, a funky design, an intricate tie knot, or a family heirloom accessory to make an men’s race day outfit feel more like you. you’re in need of some extra accessories, check out our men’s accessories collection. Don’t forget about the little details like your socks too; keep your socks a neutral colour so attention isn’t drawn to them instead of your outfit.
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Lastly, it is very important to keep on top of your grooming. However your outfit looks, it will never look its best if you don’t! Get a haircut, trim your beard, wear your favourite cologne. All of these steps will help you both feel and look your best as you should for the Epsom Derby!
More From SUAVE OWL
For more outfit ideas for the races and raceday style guides, read Cheltenham Festival - Race Day Style Guide, Aintree Races - Style Guide For Men, Bath Racecourse - Style Guide, and Goodwood Racecourse – Race Day Style Guide.
For more about suit styling, read The Ultimate Guide To Men’s Suits and Navigating Men’s Formalwear: A Comprehensive Style Guide. Our main suits range can also be a source of inspiration, check it out now!
Stick with SUAVE OWL and you'll pick a winner every time! Follow our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok for more race day style ideas.
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