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Travel & Everyday · Ms. Evelyss

What to Wear to the Races in Winter (Jumps Season)

The short answer

Dress for a cold, open racecourse that also has a dress code: a statement wool or tweed coat as the outfit, a knit or tweed dress or smart trousers underneath, thick tights, and heeled or flat leather boots for grass. Add a felt hat or headband, gloves and a scarf, and check your enclosure's dress code first.

EVELYSS in a forest-green wool coat and felt fedora at the races in winter — Ms. Evelyss, AI-generated fashion muse.

“Winter racing is the best-dressed day out in Britain that nobody talks about. Nobody sees your dress for most of the day, so the coat is the outfit. Spend your effort there, and on boots that can cross a wet lawn without a wobble.”Her take

Winter racing is a different day out

Summer racing is about dresses and hats. Winter jumps racing, from the November meetings through the Christmas fixtures and into the new year, is mostly outdoors in the cold. You'll walk between the parade ring, the bookmakers and the stands, often on grass, and stand still in the wind to watch each race.

So dress like you're going to a smart country event, not a wedding. Warmth, comfortable shoes and a coat you love do the work. The style comes from texture: tweed, wool, check, suede and felt.

Make the coat the outfit

Choose one coat that looks finished on its own, because it will stay on all day. Long wool coats, tailored tweed coats, checked coats, a camel coat with a belt or a classic quilted jacket for a more country feel all work.

Length matters. A coat that falls to mid-calf keeps your legs warm and covers whatever you wear underneath, so the silhouette stays clean. Make sure it fastens up, or that a scarf can fill the neckline, and that it isn't too tight across the back to fit a knit underneath.

Tailored tweed or houndstooth coat with a velvet collar.
Long camel or chocolate wool coat with a belt.
A coat in a bolder colour, such as forest green, burgundy or cobalt, which stands out in a crowd of navy and grey.
Faux-fur collar or stole for a dressier enclosure.

What to wear under the coat

Think in layers you can open up in a heated bar or restaurant. Start with a fine thermal layer, then a knit or tweed piece that still looks smart when the coat comes off.

Good combinations: a knitted midi dress with thick tights, a tweed skirt with a roll-neck, smart wool trousers with a cashmere-style jumper and a blazer, or a shirt dress over a thin thermal. Leave delicate summer dresses and sleeveless pieces at home.

Boots, not stilettos

Racecourses are lawns, and in winter they're often wet. Stiletto heels sink and slip. Knee-high leather or suede boots with a block heel, smart flat riding-style boots, or heeled ankle boots with tights all look right and keep you upright.

Treat suede and leather with a waterproofing spray a day or two before, and break new boots in at home. Thick socks or an insole help on a long, cold day of standing. If you want to wear a slimmer heel indoors for a lunch, carry it and change there.

Hats, gloves and accessories

Hats aren't usually required at winter meetings, but they look great and keep you warm. A felt fedora, a beret, a faux-fur hat or a velvet headband all suit winter racing. Choose something that won't blow away in an open stand.

Gloves, a scarf in wool or cashmere and a cross-body bag that leaves your hands free for a race card and a drink finish the look. Leave a large tote at home: it's awkward in a crowd, bags are searched on entry, and many courses set a size limit and turn larger bags away.

Leather gloves, ideally touchscreen-friendly.
A wool scarf that ties neatly inside your coat collar.
A small cross-body bag with a zip.
Hand warmers and a lip balm in your pocket.

Enclosure dress codes and Boxing Day

Dress codes vary by course and by enclosure, so check the racecourse's website before you go. The Jockey Club's courses, which include Cheltenham, Kempton, Sandown and Aintree, dropped formal dress codes in 2023, though they still turn away offensive fancy dress and replica sports shirts. Some other courses still ask for smart dress in premium enclosures and restaurants. Even where there's no rule, smart is what most racegoers wear, and it looks right.

Boxing Day racing feels festive and is often a family outing. It's a good day for a bolder coat colour, a sparkly earring or a velvet headband, with the same warm boots and layers underneath.

Questions people ask

Do you have to wear a hat to the races in winter?

No. Hats aren't required at winter jumps meetings. A felt hat, beret or headband looks smart and keeps you warm, so most people choose one anyway.

Can you wear jeans to the races?

At Jockey Club courses such as Cheltenham and Kempton, yes: there's no formal dress code. Some other courses still ask for smarter dress in premium enclosures, so check the course's website. Dark, smart jeans with boots and a good coat look the part.

What do you wear to Cheltenham in November?

A long wool or tweed coat, a knit or tweed dress or smart trousers, thick tights, block-heel or flat boots, and a hat, scarf and gloves. Expect cold and grass underfoot.

What shoes are best for the races?

Boots with a block heel or a flat sole. Stilettos sink into grass and slip on wet ground.

What do you wear to the Boxing Day races?

The same warm, smart layers as any winter meeting, with a festive touch: a bold coat colour, velvet or a sparkly earring. Wear boots and bring gloves.

The takeaway

One statement coat, warm smart layers, boots made for grass, a hat that stays on, and a quick check of your enclosure's dress code.

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