The Trend Report: Motorsport Fashion

Luxury fashion has been revisiting the codes of motorsport for years, but recent collections have once again brought the aesthetic firmly back into the spotlight. Balenciaga’s Le Dix Motorcycle Lariat, first introduced in 2001, quickly became an icon and, 25 years on, remains hugely influential. In 2022, Chanel’s Cruise collection took cues from Monte-Carlo and the Grand Prix, featuring mechanic-inspired jumpsuits, racing details and tweed reworked in a chequered pattern. 

Last year, Dior’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri fused couture with the high-performance world of motor racing, pairing smart jumpsuits and technical trousers with sporty bombers and graphic black-and-white contrasts.

Meanwhile, Ferrari has translated the world of performance into polished ready-to-wear, with recent collections combining supple leather, precise tailoring, sporty bombers and technical fabrics. The result is a more refined take on racing style – pieces that feel just as at home in the city as they do at the track.

This season, the motorsport mood is being given a more polished, fashion-forward spin. At Miu Miu & Prada, it filtered through sporty leather and technical outerwear. Fendi leaned into leather moto jackets, while Coperni took the trend in a more futuristic direction with technical sportswear and performance-inspired details. The common thread? It’s less about dressing like a driver and more about borrowing the sleek, sporty attitude of the track.

The key is restraint. A technical jacket instantly elevates simple denim and a white T-shirt, while an oversized bomber brings the same energy to tailoring or a slip skirt. Boilersuits are another easy entry point. Offset the utilitarian feel with refined accessories – that help it look polished rather than practical. Accessories are where the trend arguably feels strongest. Zip-detail bags, leather gloves and aviator sunglasses already feel like modern wardrobe staples rather than novelty purchases. At the same time, utility-inspired separates – from zip-front jackets to elevated cargo trousers and refined jumpsuits – are likely to become permanent fixtures. Finally, embrace the colour palette. Racing red, optic white, charcoal, black and flashes of cobalt or yellow all reference the sport without feeling literal. Finish with silver hardware and technical fabrics to give everyday outfits a subtle performance edge.

F1 has become as much a fashion fixture as a sporting one, with the drivers’ partners increasingly bringing their own style to the paddock. Take Alexandra Leclerc, whose polished aesthetic has made her a familiar face alongside husband Charles; Portuguese model Kika Gomes, who is regularly spotted supporting Pierre Gasly; and professional golfer and fashion personality Lily Muni He, whose sporty sensibility complements her fiancé Alex Albon’s Williams colours. Together, they’re helping shape the increasingly style-conscious world of F1.