Cheltenham Festival 2017 – Ben Leo gets all the latest fashion tips for this year’s Festival
No-one wants to come a cropper in the Festival fashion stakes, we sent our own clothes horse Ben Leo to check out the looks that will ensure you’re the best turned out at Cheltenham this week
RACECARD? Check. Beer money? Check. Dapper outfit sorted? Not until you’ve read this.
Sightings of dodgy shirts, naff trousers and scruffy shoes will be an absolute banker in Gloucestershire this week.
In fact one Cheltenham banker is that plenty of us will fall at the first hurdle in the Festival fashion stakes over the coming days.
But fear not.
The Favourite has teamed up with designer to the stars, Gresham Blake, to ensure punters gallop into the action looking as sharp as Dessie around Kempton on Boxing Day.
The likes of Led Zeppelin and bookies’ favourite Ray Winstone are big admirers of Blake’s quirky clobber.
Yet decking out in stylish race gear is not just confined to the hospitality heroes and Grade One A-listers.
I duly obliged with questionable model duties at Blake’s Brighton base to unearth the hints and tips for looking good on course.
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And Blake had plenty of advice for me ahead of my catwalk debut at this week’s Festival.
He said: “For too long tailoring has been thought of as elitist and, frankly, a bit stuffy.
“It should be accessible and friendly — whether you’re a businessman, banker or builder.
“Cheltenham is all about having fun and also looking a bit flash, but not in the formal Royal Ascot sense.
“We’re going to want deep pockets for all that cash you’ll rinse the bookies of and a bit of risk-taking too.
“Because that’s what Cheltenham is all about, right?”
For someone used to a pair of jeans and Barbour jacket at Fontwell, I was eased into the fashion lark with a simple but stylish number.
Think Hurricane Fly blue, but slightly deeper, with a smattering of checks and slimline fit.
The floral shirt could be ditched for something less in-your-face for those who don’t dig Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
And Gresham insists ties aren’t always a necessity at the races, so don’t be afraid to get those grizzly chests out.
But remember the fancy red pocket square if you decide to swerve the neckwear.
Blake said: “Occasionally it’s nice not to wear a tie, but always remember the square if you decide to ditch it.
Cheltenham Tips: Naps from Matt Chapman, Templegate, Sam Twiston-Davies and Jon Francombe
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- John Francome: JCB Triumph Hurdle - Defi Du Seuil
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“It subtly gives you something else in the absence of a tie and in this instance, with the casual blue, it gives character.
“When wearing blues I like to add browns and greens. They say ‘blue and green should never be seen’ — but they say a lot of silly things.
“Be brave and take risks at the races.”
The blue trousers and jacket come in at around £450, so keep your fingers crossed that weekend acca comes up trumps.
Next up was a shirt that might get the skin crawling in more ways than one. Littered with creepy crawlies, Blake reckoned it was a fitting tribute to the glorious outdoors that Cheltenham prides itself on.
A brown tweed jacket and trousers coaxed out the inner Nigel Farage while a clashing green tie completed the look.
He said: “The shirt with the bugs is great.
“We’re out out in the country at Cheltenham so lets have the bugs running riot under a tie that slightly clashes, which is a sign you’re up for a laugh and taking a gamble.
“With the shoes we’ve stuck with a simple pair of black and brown shoes, which go nicely with the brown colours.
“Footwear is always important.
“You want to look good but also remember you’re going to be standing around a lot and walking between the betting ring, paddock and bar.
“They want to be comfortable.”
Gresham began telling me about a first-time punter pal who cleaned up at Cheltenham last year by picking nags with good names.
He was forced to stop the tale after noticing I was doing up the bottom button of my suave jacket.
Blake intervened: “Undo that. It’s poor form.”
Asked where the rule came from, he said: “I’m not entirely sure but there’s a few stories that go around.
“One is that in the early 1900s King Edward VII loved his food too much and was so fat he couldn’t do it up.
“Nobody wanted to cause him offence so they just copied him and it’s stuck ever since.
“So men, if you’re a royalist, stick to the rule. And if you’re not, still stick to it because it just isn’t done.”
The third and final outfit was easily the most outlandish.
Black, grey and white check trousers with matching waistcoat and jacket - partnered with a plain white shirt and yellow floral tie. And if you looked hard enough you could probably find a crossword or two woven into the fabric.
Think John McCririck after one too many G&Ts.
Blake gushed: “I love the gingham suit. It’s the sort of thing you’d find back in the day of Brighton Rock, up at the racecourse bookies would be wearing exactly this.
“It’s a strong suit. It makes you look like you deserve to win a nice bet wearing it.
“Male racegoers especially can now start taking more risks like this.
“For years ladies have been the ones mixing stuff up while the guys keep it straight and traditional.
“Take a punt of a different kind and you’ll see how easily it can pay off.”
Fair enough if the fashion game isn’t your cup of tea and you’d rather concentrate on the racing.
But whether you’re decked out in tweed or prefer Reebok Classics and a polo, we’re all in it together come 1.30pm tomorrow.