Cheltenham Races Style Guide

Frankie in the Kauto's Stars silk tie (FJ Studio Collection)

A Gentleman's Guide to Dressing for the Cheltenham Festival

Cheltenham is where I grew up, and once a year—whether you were a horse racing fan or not—March brought the town to life. As a sporting event, the Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of jump racing, and as a race meeting it has a charm and sense of style that's completely its own.

Getting ready for the races in my early twenties are some of my first memories of really caring about what I was wearing. The ritual of fastening a tie, pulling on an overcoat, and filling a pocket with cash still gets me excited. While my first Cheltenham Gold Cup featured a cream suit better suited to Goodwood, countless festivals since have refined my style—and put me in a good position to offer some guidance on what to wear to Cheltenham.

What to Wear to Cheltenham: Suit or No Suit?

There's no question about wearing a shirt and tie at Cheltenham, but beyond that, you have options. A full suit works just as well as a jacket and trousers, both are perfectly acceptable.

Chinos with boots offer a slightly more relaxed look when paired with a tie and jacket, while a two- or three-piece suit naturally feels smarter. If you are wearing a suit, thicker materials such as tweed or wool are always a good choice. The sun may shine, but this is still early March in England.

My take: The Festival gets smarter as the week goes on. Chinos work on Tuesday, but I'll always be in a full suit for Gold Cup Day on Friday.

Frankie in the Penguin Print silk tie (FJ 100 Collection)

Layering for the Cheltenham Festival

Arguably the most important part of your Cheltenham outfit (besides your Franc James tie) is what keeps you warm. A good overcoat is a lifelong investment and one that will serve you perfectly at Cheltenham. It looks smart, works with almost anything, and does exactly what it's meant to do, go over everything.

Underneath, a solid middle layer like a V-neck jumper adds warmth while keeping your collar and tie on show.

My take: One of my favourite Cheltenham combinations is taking the trousers and waistcoat from a three-piece suit and swapping the jacket for a thick overcoat. It's sharp, practical, and perfect for the après-racing when all you need to do is hang your coat up.

Fox Print silk tie (FJ 100 Collection)

Cheltenham Festival Ties: Our Collection

Our limited-edition fox print tie from the Franc James 100 collection is a perfect partner for the festival and pairs beautifully with traditional "Cheltenham colours".

If you prefer your tie to tell a story, both Kauto Star and Desert Orchid are legendary Cheltenham Gold Cup winners. You'll find ties inspired by famous racehorses like these within the Franc James Studio collection.