Monaco Grand Prix - Outfit Brainstorming
Fashion trends of the Riviera set
I have a little secret to share — I'm back from Lake Como.
It’s officially event season here on the Riviera, and with time already flying, I’m putting my thousands of unposted photos from the trip to good use to save a little time during this busy week.
There are just 27 days left until the Monaco Grand Prix race weekend - which, in my mind, feels like tomorrow (especially with how slow shipping is down here!). The pressure is officially on to figure out the perfect outfits for the most glamorous of all the F1 races.
Let’s start with the basics: I don’t know my exact plans for race weekend yet, so we’ll break it down into one day look and one evening look for each day of events:
Thursday (Practice Day)
Friday (Practice Day)
Saturday (Qualifying)
Sunday (Race Day)
That’s at least eight outfits needed - half terrifying, half exciting.
The aesthetic of the Monaco Grand Prix is timeless Riviera chic, elegant but with just a touch of skin to avoid melting in the heat. Neutrals are always a safe choice, but this year, the Riviera set seems to be leaning more into color - a shift I just noticed at Monte Carlo Fashion Week.
When it comes to outfit inspiration, my number one source is always the W.A.G.s - the “wives and girlfriends” of F1 drivers.
We begin with Alexandra Saint Mleux girlfriend of the “prince of Monaco” Ferrari F1 pilot Charles Leclerc. Alex is known for her classic styling and more accessible outfits making her a great source of inspiration.
Notes to draw from Alex’s events outfits:
Colors: Whites or complimentary colors (soft blue or bright pinks for her)
Simple styling - Matching sets or dresses with minimal jewelry and a statement bag, in elegant casual daytime looks
More dramatic sparkles or silk for evening/night looks
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Here are some other inspiration looks I’ve curated from Pinterest:
Trends in the among the riviera jet set:
Sparkle - rhinestones added even to daytime looks, sometimes tastefully sometimes not quite
Long ruched skirts with cropped tops - 1/3 of the women at Monaco Fashion Week were wearing this look - highly influenced by traditional Latin American styles
Draped elements - chiffon shawls, scarfs and capes
Vests - this one is older by now but remains everywhere as a classic
Colors & patterns - No specific colors but more floral patterns
Fitted blazers - reminiscent of 50s styles in pastels, shades of white and sometimes even with sparkle woven in
Wedge espadrilles - likely due to the amount of walking involved in daily riviera life combined with a remaining desire to wear high heels.
Embroidery & lace - Usually a heavier cotton lace as a small detail on anything from bags to blazers
Other thoughts…
Vest tops:
Don’t get me wrong - I love a vest top (I wore two just last week!) - but they’ve flooded the market to the point that I can't scroll on Pinterest without seeing them in fast fashion ads.
I highly suspect a huge number of girls attending the Grand Prix will be wearing some form of the long vest over a skirt or the short vest with pants/skirt look. They’ll look fantastic, but as someone who works in fashion, I’m challenging myself to wear something different. I’m predicting that the true "Princesses of the Paddock" will too.
Color:
Traditionally, people lean towards neutral colors (white, black, navy, beige) for the Grand Prix. But since "neutral old money" style became a bit of a trend (even though it’s just normal style for many of us), I can see the Riviera set moving away from that safety zone. I’m predicting we’ll see more experimentation with pastels this year, especially light blue and blush tones.
In summary - Monaco grand prix style is effortlessly elegant daytime looks paired with full glamour when the sunsets reminiscent 90s supermodels’ styles.
Stay tuned - I’ll be sharing my outfit planning process over the next few weeks :)
Thanks for reading!
xx Kenzie Kay