Look Grand For The Races

The Grand National is a great excuse to dress to the nines and show off your smartest and most fashionable attire. This is a televised event in which what you choose to wear is almost as important as the horse races themselves.

On the surface, mens race day outfits are pretty simple: you will need a suit, a collared shirt, smart shoes and the option of a tie to get you started. It’s the details that go into each of these that makes it a fashionable race day outfit. With that in mind, here are our top tips on how to style for The Grand National, or any other upcoming races you’re attending.

Multi-coloured Diamond Print Long Sleeve Formal Shirt

How to pair a patterned shirt with a suit

In recent years, wearing a patterned shirt has been a leading fashion trend for men's race day outfits. The boldness of the pattern can be selected to reflect your personal taste and the level of a statement you want to make. It’s also a great way to separate the race day event from your more regular formal occasions, such as weddings, and gives you further freedom to experiment with exciting patterns.

The Multi-coloured Diamond Print Formal Shirt boasts a fine pattern that will balance your outfit effectively when worn with a plain coloured suit jacket and matching trousers. This is a shirt that has just enough detail without being too in your face and doesn’t require a tie. Featuring a classic collar, darted back and slightly swept tail for expert fitting, choose from tailored fit or modern regular fit to suit your shape. 

Mini Paisley Print Formal Shirt, and Navy Paisley Print Long Sleeve Formal Shirt

If you’re looking to dress a little louder, a paisley print is not only a classic, but according to Augustman, it’s a print that’s proving popular in 2023. Balance your look with a neutral and plain design jacket and trousers, and keep accessories minimal. Skip the tie on this one and let the shirt pattern speak for itself. Control the boldness of your race day attire by considering the size of paisley you choose: keep it toned down by opting for small and subtle detail, or stand out from the crowd with a larger paisley pattern statement. 

Non-Iron 100% Pure Cotton Twill Shirt in Blue, Pink or Lilac

How to style a plain shirt for the races

If you prefer a more classic approach, rest assured that men’s race day outfits don’t always require bold patterns to keep on trend. A simple, high quality mens formal shirt will always pair well with a sharp suit and ensure you impress at the races. The great thing about a plain shirt choice is that it gives you much more range to explore when it comes to your suit and accessories. A suit jacket with a checked style or pinstripe, or a tie with a floral pattern will take your outfit to the next level.

When styling this kind of traditional look, consider the quality of shirt you choose. You’ll always feel like a winner in a non-iron shirt, with anti-wrinkle properties to help keep you looking sharp throughout the event. It’s important that the type of fit you choose should suit your body shape. If you want a slightly fitted silhouette, a slim fit shirt is designed to look more tailored around your waist, without clinging too close to your body. Equally, a modern regular fit shirt will always look smart tucked in, and provides that extra room if you prefer a more comfortable fit.

White Non-Iron Pure Cotton Twill Shirt - Double Cuff

The Paradigm by Double Two range comes in five timeless colours, crafted with 100% cotton twill, non-iron and anti-allergenic properties for a quality that is unmatched. Keep your race day outfit classy when you choose a light shirt colour, such as lilac, pink or blue. These colours will pair well with a light grey suit jacket, and look sharp for spring weather. You can then elevate your look with the addition of cufflinks and a silk tie. The Paradigm formal shirt range is available with double cuffs for those who frequent black tie and formal events. However, the single cuff style Paradigm shirts come with a duo cuff feature which allows space for cufflinks. This gives you the option to accessorise with cufflinks or not, depending on the occasion and your outfit. It also means you can wear the shirt for less formal occasions, such as in meetings, keeping your race day outfit more cost effective by making your shirt purchase an investment.

Slim Fit Light Blue Striped Formal Shirt and Navy Multi-Stripe Formal Shirt

Wearing a striped shirt with a suit

Place your bets on statement stripes making an appearance at this year's Grand National, whether it’s a classic pinstripe suit, or a plain suit worn with a sophisticated striped shirt. Matching a vertical striped shirt with a tailored suit will never fail to be a hit when done well. 

There’s two key things you need to consider when wearing a striped shirt with a suit: the thickness of the stripe, and the colour. Choosing a light colour or white shirt with thin vertical stripes will give you a base to build upon. A subtle pink or pale blue stripe shirt, such as the slim fit light blue striped formal shirt above, will look smart with a navy jacket, or most darker colour jackets. A white formal shirt with thin stripes will pair easily with any suit colour, as long as if it’s plain or if it’s patterned, the pattern is subtle and doesn’t clash with the shirt stripes. 

Typically, the thickness of the stripe determines whether the shirt veers towards casual or formal styling, with a thicker stripe appearing more casual. Therefore, a thinly striped shirt is your best bet when looking for a race day outfit that is polished and sophisticated. A solid colour tie and pocket square with smart shoes will pull your Grand National attire together.

White Non-Iron Pure Cotton Twill Shirt - Double Cuff

Make It A Double Two Shirt

Whilst there’s no official dress code for the Grand National, fancy dress and sporting clothes are not permitted. You can’t go wrong with a high quality white formal shirt with a classic collar worn with a well fitted suit. Dress to impress in tasteful bold patterns or bright solid colours for a race day outfit that becomes a talking topic. Or look effortless in a light coloured shirt, which will always look timeless with a classic grey or navy suit. However you choose to style your Grand National outfit, a Double Two shirt will always have your back.