The Definitive Guide to Salon Privé Style
What does one wear to the UK’s most exclusive automotive garden party?
Against the magnificent backdrop of Blenheim Palace, Salon Privé calls for a dress code that reflects the occasion: refined, elegant and considered, with plenty of room for individual style.
To help you prepare, Salon Privé Style Correspondent and fashion expert The Hon. Isobel Kershaw shares her guide to mastering automotive garden party attire, from summer tailoring and elegant silhouettes to statement millinery, footwear and the finishing details that make all the difference.
Whether joining us for the Concours, Ladies’ Day or Supercar Weekend, discover how to dress for the occasion with confidence and unmistakable Salon Privé style.
WOMEN | Garden Party Elegance
The women’s interpretation of lounge suit is garden party elegance: refined summer dressing with a contemporary fashion sensibility and room for individual style.
Silhouette & Cut
- Knee-length, midi and longer hemlines set the right level of formality.
- Dresses, skirt ensembles, elegant separates and trouser suits all work well.
- Look to fluid column dresses, fit-and-flare silhouettes, asymmetric lines, defined waists and modern tailoring.
- For trouser suits, softer construction, an elongated jacket and fluid or wide-leg trousers move tailoring away from the corporate arena.
- For tops, halter necks, asymmetric necklines, sleeveless cuts and an elegant décolletage offer a feminine counterpoint to tailoring.
- Consider the line of the complete outfit when introducing statement millinery.
Fabrication
- Silk crepe, georgette, organza, lace, fine wool crepe, jacquard and beautifully structured cottons lend themselves particularly well to summer occasion dressing.
- Fabric should either hold an architectural form or create controlled fluidity and movement.
- Texture, transparency and subtle lustre can give depth to an otherwise minimal silhouette.
- Reserve heavily embellished and overtly evening fabrics for after dark.
Colour
- Pastels, saturated summer colour, sophisticated neutrals and tonal palettes all work beautifully.
- Monochromatic dressing can look particularly strong when different textures and finishes create depth.
- Avoid the need to match. A complementary or contrasting shoe, bag or hat creates a more contemporary styling direction.
- Remember that colour behaves differently in natural daylight. This is an outdoor summer occasion.
Millinery & Accessories
- On Ladies’ Day, build the hat into the look from the outset rather than treating it as a final accessory.
- The classic hat with an angled brim remains a strong and elegant choice.
- Sculptural millinery can give a simpler silhouette a more directional edge.
- Avoid the traditional fascinator. For a smaller headpiece, choose a refined headband as the more contemporary alternative.
- Jewellery, eyewear and bag should support the look rather than compete for attention.
Shoes
- Block heels, wedges, refined slingbacks, elegant sandals and sophisticated flats work particularly well.
- Very fine stilettos are impractical on grass.
- Pay attention to the line and visual weight of the shoe. Footwear should enhance rather than interrupt the silhouette.
Avoid
- Trainers and casual footwear.
- Denim and casual daywear.
- Short hemlines and body-con silhouettes.
- Sequins, heavy embellishment and evening-led dressing.
- Corporate tailoring.
- Traditional fascinators.
- Over-coordinating every element of the outfit.
MEN | Lounge Suit or Club Style
Salon Privé sits within the lounge suit dress code, with scope for a more relaxed club-style interpretation. A beautifully cut suit is always correct, while a tailored blazer with chinos offers a less formal alternative. Think summer tailoring rather than business suiting.
Cut & Construction
- Prioritise cut, fit and proportion. These are what distinguish good tailoring.
- A softly constructed jacket creates a more relaxed summer line than heavily structured business tailoring.
- For separates, ensure the jacket and trouser have a deliberate relationship in weight, colour and level of formality.
- Chinos should be well cut and refined rather than casual in appearance.
Fabrics
- Choose lightweight wool, cotton and summer blends with enough structure to retain a sharp silhouette.
- Lighter construction and reduced lining create a more seasonally appropriate jacket.
- Avoid heavy cloths that immediately give the appearance of autumn or business tailoring.
Colour
- Move beyond corporate charcoal and black into a more sophisticated summer palette.
- Stone, cream, soft blue, tobacco, sage and lighter shades of grey and blue work particularly well.
- A classic navy blazer remains an excellent choice when contrasted with a lighter trouser.
- Tonal dressing can also create a particularly polished and contemporary effect.
Sartorial Details
- Pocket squares, waistcoats, cravats and a well-chosen watch introduce individuality without compromising the dress code.
- Ties are not obligatory, but are a good move within the hospitality enclosures, where the level of dress naturally becomes more formal.
- On Ladies’ Day, a Panama is an excellent summer choice and works particularly well with lighter tailoring.
- Keep accessories edited. Good sartorial dressing is about detail rather than decoration.
Shoes
- Loafers, brogues and refined leather or suede shoes complete the look.
- Consider the relationship between shoe and trouser. A lighter summer suit often benefits from a less formal shoe.
- Trainers, including luxury styles, take the outfit outside the intended dress code.
Avoid
- Dark corporate business suiting.
- Heavy or overly formal tailoring.
- Trainers.
- Jeans and shorts.
- T-shirts.
- Baseball caps and casual headwear.
- Too many sartorial statements within one outfit.
The Salon Privé Look
The defining principle for both women and men is occasion. The clothes should acknowledge the setting, season and calibre of the event while retaining individuality.
Refined, contemporary and impeccably put together, with a clear distinction between dressing for Salon Privé and simply dressing smartly.
Written by The Hon. Isobel Kershaw
Fashion Expert & Correspondent, Salon Privé
