As we enter race season, attendees will be in the process of deciding what to wear. Whilst a more relaxed dress code has been introduced this year, many will still be looking to dress up in their best.
Once the race day outfit has been decided, the difficult challenge of choosing which bag to pair your look with begins. To help guide those looking for inspiration, Nia Davis, design manager at luxury handbag and accessory brand Fiorelli, shares her expert insights on how to choose the perfect bag to match your race day outfit.
“When deciding which handbag to wear to the races, opt for stylish and sophisticated designs that are going to be lightweight. There is a lot of standing around on the day, so smaller bags are a sensible choice as well as hands-free options. Selecting the perfect handbag is all about creating a balance so that it will enhance your outfit rather than overshadow it,” says Nia.
“A day at the races is the perfect opportunity to dress up in your finest attire and with an array of formal outfit styles, different bag styles may complement a specific style best.”
Jumpsuit
Jumpsuits are a great alternative to a dress, looking stylish with minimal effort. Nia shares that “when choosing a bag to pair with a jumpsuit, you want one which complements the silhouette with a simple yet chic feel. A cross-body bag will give the same fuss-free vibe as your outfit and add even more depth”.
Slip dress
A slip dress is a minimalist yet sleek option, and as they are often made from luxe fabrics, it doesn’t take a lot to dress them up. Nia says to “keep up that same vibe and go for a small trendy shoulder bag in a baguette or 90s-inspired silhouette. Since slip dresses often come with slinky straps, a shoulder strap also fills out some of the negative space”.
Wrap dress
Wrap dresses are an elegant and flattering silhouette, with Nia sharing that “pairing one with the correct accessories can push the look even further. For a classic yet practical look, pair the dress with a wristlet clutch bag in a formal shape such as an envelope style to elevate your look”.
Tailored suit
A suit or tailored co-ord is a powerful yet trendy outfit choice, with Nia recommending to “choose a structured handbag to match the structure of your suit. When it comes to the design, the sleeker, the better. A top-handle grab bag in a clean-cut leather or non-leather equivalent is a perfect choice”.
Puff sleeve dress
A puff sleeve dress is a statement piece, as Nia shares that “it should be the focus of your look. This means you can safely keep accessories to a minimum without having to worry that you’re underdressed. With statement shoulders, avoid any bags with a strap and instead, opt for a simple mini bag to complete your look”.
Ruffle detail dress
Ruffle dresses have lots of depth and dimension that make them exciting to look at but because ruffles need to bounce, they are often less structured and use softer fabrics. Nia recommends “adding hard textures to balance the softness of the dress. A sophisticated and structured clutch will avoid making the outfit too busy and keep it fashion forward”.
The colour of your race day outfit can also play a part when choosing the perfect bag to wear to create the perfect look.
Black
A black outfit is classic and gives flexibility when selecting a handbag, explains Nia. She adds: “For a sophisticated look, keep the colour palette confined to neutrals or metallics, using different textures to create a monochromatic look. If adventurous accessorising is your thing, add a pop of colour with a bag in a vivid hue such as bright pink or cobalt. If you’re using your accessories to add colour, coordinate your hat and bag to bring the whole look together.”
White
If your outfit is white or cream, when choosing a bag, Nia recommends to “keep it light with a bag in a similar shade for a clean and carefree look. If you’re wanting something more playful, opt for a complementary printed design as a contrast”.
Bright shades
For a bright, colourful outfit, Nia suggests to “jump on the dopamine dressing trend and choose a bag in a contrasting block colour. You can do this by choosing two colours that are close together on the colour wheel, such as orange and yellow, or two colours at completely opposite ends for a statement look”.
Dark shades
If your outfit is a darker colour, Nia shares to “pick a bag that’s the same colour but play around with the shades. For example, if you are wearing a dark blue dress, pair it with a handbag in a lighter shade to maintain the balance”.
Pastel shades
A pastel outfit is a perfect choice for the races, with Nia recommending to “choose a bag which is also a pastel shade, either the same colour as your outfit or one that’s different such as a baby pink, dusky lilac or pale blue”.
Floral print
If you’re opting for a floral print outfit, to achieve a balanced style, Nia shares to “choose a bag which is a colour that matches the most prominent colour of your outfit. If, however, your dress features a very bold colour and you don’t want to wear a bag in a similar shade, a solid neutral-coloured bag is also a sensible choice”.
“When choosing which bag to pair with your outfit, there are no rules, just go with what you like and feel comfortable in. The most iconic outfits are those that are worn with confidence, and so it’s all about wearing the looks that you love,” adds Nia.
