Newcastle Racecourse Winners and Fenwick Team Up to Provide Race Day Style Inspiration

The winners of last year’s Ladies Day Style Awards joined Fenwick Newcastle to chat fashion trends and the dos and don’ts at race day.

To celebrate these upcoming events at Newcastle Racecourse, Bruce Dickens, the first ever male winner at the Style Awards and Barbara Hassan, 2025’s runner up, joined Michael Savage, Fenwick’s personal style manager, at its flagship Northumberland Street store to chat fashion trends and the common style mistakes made at the annual race days. From the right socks to fascinators worn correctly, their top tips are perfect for any hopeful Style Awards winners this year.

Michael Savage’s key trends for men and women this summer racing season.

• Patterns with personality – while florals are a classic and look great on everyone, this season it’s all about the polka dots. We’re seeing these everywhere and they are such a chic way to add a pattern in a way that feels feminine and classy. Go bold with big polka dots or go more understated with smaller dots.
• Timeless elegance – for women, there are some beautiful trends out there this summer when it comes to colours and styles. Why not opt for a trending colour such as a blush pink or blue but in a classic raceday style. This will allow you to feel your best and on trend in an outfit that feels special and something you wouldn’t get to wear every day – it is once a year after all.
• Heritage reimagined – for men, there are fantastic opportunities to nod to the heritage of horse racing. Opting for a suit jacket from the likes of Polo Ralph Lauren allows you to feel on-trend while looking the part by the racetrack. It’ll also be a high-quality, statement piece you’ll wear on repeat.
• Style your way – why not swap your monochromatic suit for styles that you can mix and match. For example, pairing a navy suit jacket with white, cream or khaki trousers. By picking individual pieces that compliment each other, you know you’ll be able to wear them time and time again. 

Speaking on the common fashion mistakes for women, Michael said: “Hats and fascinators are a racing staple and put an elegant stamp on any raceday outfit. However, we often see these worn incorrectly. Fascinators should always be positioned to the right, as this allows the accessory to frame the face, the design to shine and the gorgeous, detailed elements to be on show. This will truly elevate the raceday look!”

He added, “It’s a day to go bold with your fashion choices, so we find that women sometimes go for a highly detailed outfit paired with an extravagant headpiece. I’m a firm believer that you don’t want your pieces to compete with each other, so if the dress is the star of the show, why not opt for a hat or fascinator and accessories that compliment the look rather than work against it. Then the eyes are drawn immediately to your dress as the hero piece.”

Speaking on her top tip for raceday, Barbara says that so many women feel inclined to follow the current trends that year however, she encourages race goers to embrace being themselves and trust their own signature style. Barbara showed off her style at the 2025 Ladies Day Style Awards, wearing a simple yet stunning off-white dress and matching hat.

For 2026, while she’s open to trying something new, she wants to stay true to the classic raceday styles she loves. She said: “I think it’s all about picking an outfit that shows your personality and your character. While it’s great to step out of your comfort zone with new patterns, colours and fits, it’s important that you love what you’re wearing and feel confident all day. Don’t feel inclined to jump on this season’s latest trend, trust your signature style and you’ll feel your best.” 

When it comes to men’s fashion for Plate Day and Ladies Day, Michael says it’s all in the suit tailoring. He said, “This year we’re seeing nods to the 1930’s and suits are a lot more structured. With this, it isn’t always easy to find a structured suit that fits you perfectly. I’d recommend working with a tailor that can help you get the fit right. For example, if your suit jacket is too tight, they will be able to alter the fit to allow for more room across the shoulders and the back. Similarly, your shirt should always be longer than your suit jacket, so they will be able to tailor to your jacket to your arm length.”

For those looking to embrace their signature style, Bruce says to focus on the finer details. He said: “A black suit is a black suit, but it’s what you dress it up with such as a bold tie, pocket square, socks and jewellery that allows you to bring in your signature style.” Bruce won over the judges at the 2025 Style Awards wearing a timeless yet fashion-forward custom forest green Moss Bros jacket with ‘designed by Bruce Dickens’ embroidered to the silk inside, paired with deep maroon and brown accessories.

Tickets are available now for JenningsBet Northumberland Plate Festival and Say When Ladies Day via www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk. Saturday’s Northumberland Plate Day remains the highlight of the festival, bringing together elite racing, fashion and a celebration of the North East’s biggest social occasion of the summer. With a prize fund of £150,000, the historic two-mile heritage handicap continues to cement its status as one of the most sought-after victories in British racing.

This year’s official after party for Saturday’s Plate Day will be held at 97 & Social and Spy Bar Jesmond, bringing the party with DJ’s, drinks deals, beer gardens and plenty of TVs to watch the England World Cup game. Racegoers can take the free shuttle buses after the last race which will drop them off directly at the venue, and tables are available for reservations now.

Say When Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse continues to be a highlight of the North East social calendar, bringing together a celebration of style and exciting racing action as guests come dressed to impress for a day of fashion, fillies, fizz. With 17,000 racegoers attending Ladies Day last year, this summer’s event will once again offer a jam-packed schedule of food, drink and entertainment, with something for everyone to enjoy.

For tickets and more information, visit www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk.

To book a personal styling appointment at Fenwick Newcastle visit, www.fenwick.co.uk/pages/personal-shopping-womenswear.