Written by Menswear Style in Tips & Advice on the 12th March 2014

This famous annual 4 day horseracing festival started way back in 1860, and includes the steeplechase, hurdle and flat racing. The best horses and jockeys from Ireland and Britain compete for the rather nice £4 million in prize money.Even if you are not interested in racing and have never made a bet you can still enjoy an event like this. The venue, people, atmosphere and social cheer make this a must for anyone. And you never know, a sneaky bet might be the icing-on-the-cake of a great day out.

You may be surprised to hear that there is no official dress code at this Cheltenham event. Fancy dress is even permitted with no restrictions as long as the outfit is not offensive.

However, you’ll be glad to hear that gentlemen usually wear a suit in the Club Enclosure and within the onsite restaurants and hospitality facility areas.But this shouldn’t stop us "regular ticket" holding men from dressing up for a day at the races. Since the race is largely during the winter months, the good ol’ British weather can be unpredictable, so it is advised to dress accordingly with heavier fabrics and plenty of layering. The sun might come out but it’s still going to be cold.

So you’ve arrived well before the first race is due off to avoid the crowds, and so you can have a little look around the course and enjoy the pre-race atmosphere, maybe even to take a look at the fascinating museum. But what are you wearing? 

Tweed & Wax Jackets 

Yep that’s right, get your tweed jackets out and wear them with pride teamed with a shirt, tie and mixer trousers... oh and a scarf to keep you warm. You’ll also need a coat so either opt for a wax jacket for an English countryside style or a smarter wool overcoat. If it’s really cold, be sure to layer with a quilted jacket too. Also remember that you’ll be on your feet all day and will need suitable footwear such as smart brogue boots.

Hats 

We don’t get too many occasions where us guys can wear hats so take advantage of this. For an understated look you can go for the popular tweed flat cap. Some other flamboyantly suave chaps will be wearing navy or the popular brown wool Trilby hats, and any royal blooded men will have top hats. If for some random reason we have a heat wave in March, we’d recommend a Panama hat to complete the look. But that's never going to happen!

We ask the question what do men wear for Cheltenham Festival? We advise on layering, tweeds and wax jackets perfect for the cold British March weather.