🥂 Happy New Year my Darlings! 🥂

Wow, 2025, I can’t quite believe it!
I hope your New Year has started well, what new year resolutions do you have in place?

I started the New Year with New Year’s Day racing at Cheltenham Racecourse, so I thought for my first blog of 2025, it would be a great way to kick things off with a review of the racing outfits I wore to Cheltenham last year.

I have been an annual member at the racecourse for as long as I can remember back now, and I attend every meet, so there’s a few outfits to reflect on! I love looking back on what outfits I thought would be good at the time!

It’s a strange one because in 2024, I struggled a lot with body image, and I really think this was reflected in both the outfits I wore, and how I felt about them at the time, and looking back!

I hope this blog is an interesting read, but more so, gives you inspiration for your own racing outfits for upcoming meets this year. It is worth remembering that Cheltenham hosts National Hunt Meets, which are much more relaxed in dress than the likes of Royal Ascots where you will see lots of high heels, huge hats and summer dresses!

So grab your favourite drink, and let’s get into it!

🐎 January – New Year’s Day & Festival Trials Day 🐎

January is home to two race meets at Cheltenham, the popular New Year’s Day meet, and the Festival Trials day, the last meet before the March Cheltenham Festival.

*Outfit: Hat – J&T Plumes, Jacket – Wellingtons, Belt/Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Jeans – Lovall, Roll Neck – Joules, Bag – Salthouse England.*

New Year’s Day meet – often a struggle if you have been seeing in the New Year the night before. I really liked the simplicity of this outfit. Black and Tan are a really easy combination of colours, and can look well thought out, whilst easy to put together. This outfit didn’t achieve any higher as I just felt it was a bit boring, looking back, it feels like a safe option!

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Outfit: Hat – Josephines Country Collection, Jacket/Roll Neck – Joules, Jeans – Lovall, Bag – (unknown brand), Belt – Fig & Twig*

This was my Festival Trials Day outfit, and I remember at the time how much I loved this one. I went for a simple Tan and Navy combination, which like New Year’s Day, felt a little bit safe. However, I love how well the jacket and hat match, and it was a real feel good outfit. I also think with my pale skin and dark hair, navy is often more flattering than black.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 March – The Cheltenham Festival 🐎

March welcomes the Cheltenham Festival, four days of the best competitive action, and the race meet Cheltenham is most well known for.

*Outfit: Fascinator – High Bird Designs, Cape/Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Roll Neck – Primark, Jeans – Lovall, Gilet – Schoffel, Scarf – That Scarf, Bag – (unknown brand).*

I had recently purchased the pink scarf and I was desperate to wear it. I liked the outfit at the time, but I didn’t love it. I think the Pink and Tan works, and it looks pretty, but the outfit just felt very top heavy, with the really thick scarf and wide cape. Looking back I would have opted for a more fitted jacket to counter the really large scarf and create better balance.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️

*Outfit: Fascinator – Josephines Country Collection, Roll Neck – Primark, 1/4 zip – Schoffel, Skirt – Timothy Foxx, Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Salthouse England.*

I was so pleased with how this outfit turned out for day two of the Festival. The baby blue in the skirt matched the 1/4 zip and fascinator so perfectly, I was really pleased how the look came together. I love adding colour into my outfits, and I think this baby blue turned out well.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Outfit: Fascinator – High Bird Designs, Scarf/Skirt – (unknown brand), Jacket – Welligogs, Bag – Salthouse England.*

I LOVE this fascinator, I rewear it every year, and the same goes for the skirt/scarf combination. I think this outfit is perfection, and I will probably continue to wear it on and on (when I can fit back into this skirt!!!). Being bold and brave with colour can be tricky, but I just got so lucky with this matching skirt and scarf combination, and I love it!

~ My outfit rating ~
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

*Outfit: Fascinator – Josephines Country Collection, Bag/Jacket – Welligogs, Dress – Holland Cooper, Boots – Fairfax & Favor.*

I remember being unsure what to wear for Gold Cup Day, but I am so pleased with how this outfit turned out in the end. The Navy is flattering, and the pop of Tan with the bag really worked out in the end. I love that the fasincator was a different design to what you typically see, but it was still subtle enough to not take away from the rest of the outfit.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 The April Meeting 🐎

April brings in crowds as we head towards slightly warmer race days, with two days of action for The April Meeting.

*Outfit: Hat – Joules, Poncho – (unknown brand), Skirt – Shein, Tights – Holland Cooper, Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Salthouse England.*

Often at the April Meeting, you can move a little bit away from those warmer layers, as often the temperature has dropped a little bit. Instead of a coat, I went for this poncho. I often forget that I have this, and I actually really like how it looks, you can also layer well underneath it to keep it weather appropriate. I do really like this outfit, I keep looking back and reflecting on it, and I just cannot quite work out what it is that I am not happy with, but there is something that didn’t quite make this a favourite look for me.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Outfit: Hat – Somerset Millinery, Cape – Zut London, Scarf – Clare Haggas, Belt – Fig & Twig, Skirt – Schoffel, Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Katie Loxton.*

I love this cape, it is a full suede piece and I think the style is unique and flattering. I think where I went wrong with this outfit was just the combination of Tan’s – no colour is quite the same shade, and I just think looking back, that it looks really messy. The outfit had potential, but it just didn’t come off quite as I had hoped. I should have worn the cape, and then gone with a key colour to compliment, but stand out.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️

🐎 May – Season Finale 🐎

May was the final race meet of the 2023/24 season. This is always an evening race meet, and lots of fun.

*Outfit: Hat – J&T Plumes, Cape – Holland Cooper, Scarf – Clare Haggas, Jeans – Lovall, Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Grays 1922.*

I really like this outfit. There is a really good, balanced mix of Tan and Black (much more so than that New Year’s Day look), and I think how the colours in the outfits are balanced top and bottom really works. The look is simple and safe, but effective. You can also see how the scarf combines all colours, but also adds a tiny distraction with the yellow and red.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 October – The Showcase 🐎

October is the start of the new season, so this time kicking off the 2024/25 season. This October meet was so much more busy than it usually is (typically attracting annual members, or regular racegoers), which is an amazing sign for the popularity of racing.

*Outfit: Hat – Joules, Roll Neck – Schoffel, Cape – Hunt & Hall, Belt/Boots/Bag – Fairfax & Favor, Skirt – Shein.*

I really do like this outfit. The Moss Green Fairfax & Favor regina boots were a newer addition to my collection, and I have been loving styling them. They team so well with the Hunt & Hall Cape, which you will have seem featured multiple times through my race day looks. This outfit combined colour with a neutral base, and I think it looked streamlined and elegant.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Outfit: Hat – Josephines Country Collection, Roll Neck – Primark, Coat/Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Skirt – Shein, Belt – Mackenzie & George, Twilly – Clare Haggas, Bag – Barkworth Reeve.*

I just LOVED this outfit. I felt so good in this, and the combination of Tan with Plum just ended up working out so well. If you follow the rule of three (three pieces in one colour) with a statement colour, you can balance an outfit well, and the hat/jumper/boot combination for evening out the plum just worked perfectly (chefs kiss 🤌). This Fairfax & Favor coat is also such a statement piece, it is so beautiful and really elevates an outfit look.

~ My outfit rating ~
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

🐎 The November Meeting 🐎

The first big meet of the new season, 3 days of thrills and spills as we start to see the talent of the season coming through.

Outfit: Fascinator – Josephines Country Collection, Scarf – That Scarf, Roll Neck – Primark, Skirt – Shein, Belt – Mackenzie & George, Jacket – Welligogs, Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Grays 1922.

Another outfit I am OBSESSED with!! I think it is Plum in general, it works SO well with race day looks. This whole outfit just came together perfectly, I couldn’t improve on it. The combiion of plum, how it is set off against the black, the feminine fit of the base outfit with the chunky scarf over, the whole look just works. I would 100% wear this again.

~ My outfit rating ~
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

*Outfit: Fascinator – Josephines Country Collection, Scarf – Shein, 1/4 Zip – Schoffel, Skirt – Shein, Trench Coat – Holland Cooper Clothing, Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Katie Loxton.*

I had a real vision for this outfit in my head, and it just didn’t come through. I don’t think this outfit worked. I really wanted to add the pop of colour with the coral, but the scarf and fascinator just didn’t work in my opinion in the end. I also didn’t like the addition of the baby blue in the 1/4 zip. The outfit had potential, but in the end looking back, I just didn’t like it.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Outfit: Fascinator – High Bird Designs, Roll Neck – Holland Cooper, Jacket – Zara, Belt – Mackenzie & George, Jeans – Lovall, Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Grays 1922.*

Day 3 of 3 can always be harder to prepare for, and this outfit felt quite casual compared to the other two looks in the November meeting. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. I think probably because to me it did really feel casual. The outfit matches well, and it works okay, it just wasn’t one of my favourite looks.

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐎 December – The Christmas Meeting 🐎

Outfit: Hat – High Bird Designs, Scarf – (unknown brand), Jacket – Welligogs, Roll Neck – Primark, Boots –
Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Salthouse England.

There it is, the return of the scarf! I think I probably would have worn the skirt too, if I could have fit into it, but hopefully that will make a return next year. I really like the Red/Black combination. I have worn this hat in previous years, and I think it works really well with this scarf. The rest of the outfit was neutral, which allowed the hat and scarf to really speak for themselves and show off. I think this look turned out so well, and I would definitely wear again!

~ My outfit rating ~
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

*Outfit: Hat – J&T Plumes, Roll Neck – Primark, Cape – Ella & Cherry, Jeans – Lovall, Boots – Fairfax & Favor, Bag – Salthouse England.*

I have to admit, I was feeling a little worse for wear this day, so I went for a very basic outfit. The cape from Ella & Cherry allowed me to layer up really well underneath, and I just teamed this piece with an all black look. I actually think the look came off quite chic, definitely more so than I was feeling, but it was just a bit boring!

~ My outfit rating ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cheltenham racecourse outfits 2024 wrapped:

🐎 Wore 16 outfits

🐎 A hat featured 9 times whilst a fascinator featured 7

🐎 I wore jeans 6 times, a skirt 7 times and a dress once

🐎 The Fairfax & Favor Regina boot featured most, a total of 5 times, followed by their Octavia boot featuring 4 times

🐎 Welligogs coats were my most worn outerwear piece, featuring 5 times

🐎 4 outfits of the 16 received a full 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 outfit rating!

So there we have it, a rating of all of the outfits I wore to Cheltenham racecourse in 2024. I hope this inspires your own outfit planning for race days this upcoming year.

That’s all for now my darlings, see you in the next blog!

Lots of love, Lucinda

“The racehorse, by virtue of his awesome physical gifts, freed the jockey from himself. When a horse and a jockey flew over the track together, there were moments in which the man’s mind wedded itself to the animal’s body to form something greater than the sum of both parts.”
– Seabiscuit