Men’s fashion for Goodwood Revival: Dress for the golden era of Italian motorsport

Away from the track, a host of special sets and immersive experiences will bring the mid-century Italian aesthetic to life.  To become a part of this elegant scene, you should look to master sprezzatura — the art of looking immaculate without appearing to try. Whether you are standing by the paddocks or exploring the Revival Style Village, here’s our guide to tailoring the ultimate motorsport-inspired menswear look for this spectacular celebration of Italian style.

Pebble-sole driving loafer: Athletic luxury

Traditional, heavy leather dress shoes are the ultimate enemy of precise pedal work in a cramped cockpit. In 1963, Gianni Mostile, a craftsman in Northern Italy, patented a highly flexible slip-on shoe covered in tiny rubber pebbles, born out of necessity for wealthy gentleman drivers who needed rapid heel-and-toe flexibility. This tactile look was so magnetic that Hollywood icons like Marlon Brando and James Dean went out of their way to emulate the effortlessly sharp look of these European track heroes.

Formula 1’s first World Champion, Giuseppe Farina, was famous for his razor-sharp tailoring and was routinely spotted lounging in the pit lane in impeccably crafted, soft leather slip-ons. For your Revival visit, pair suede driving loafers with tailored ecru chinos or crisp linen trousers to create the ultimate foundation for an authentic trackside look. The perfect sartorial choice for a full day of grid-walking in absolute comfort.

Leather driving gloves: Vintage paddock credibility

During the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, the sun-bleached road races of the Targa Florio and the Mille Miglia birthed a look that was as athletic as it was chic. In this era, the polished wood and cold aluminium of the steering wheels meant driver's hands would frequently blister or slip from sweat. In response, Italian artisans designed specialised leather gloves featuring a perforated, crocheted back for maximum cooling and a securely snapped wrist button. The legendary Tazio Nuvolari was rarely seen commanding a cockpit without his signature leather gloves.

To bring this look to life, simply slip a pair of cognac or tan leather driving gloves into the breast pocket of your linen sports jacket as a historic alternative to a traditional silk pocket square, adding a dash of rugged motorsport pedigree to your tailoring. If you find yourself behind the wheel of a classic car over the weekend, they pair perfectly with a lightweight vintage watch to complete the mid-century ‘gentleman driver’ look.

Tailored racing suit: Grand Prix silhouette

Before the dawn of fireproof overalls, racing uniforms blurred the lines between utilitarian design and high-end tailoring. The ultimate embodiment of this look was that of the legendary Ferrari driver Eugenio Castellotti, who carried the pride of Italy on his heart, metaphorically and literally. Revered as much for his bespoke sartorial choices as he was for his fierce track pace, Castellotti epitomised razor-sharp, mid-century style. Double World Champion Alberto Ascari famously rejected the standard white utility overalls, instead taking to the track in a meticulously tailored, sky-blue racing uniform made of fine cotton, paired with a matching blue helmet.

You can pay homage to Ascari and Castellotti’s trackside elegance by opting for a lightweight summer suit or separate jacket and trousers in a striking Mediterranean sky blue. To keep the look modern yet historically faithful, wear the jacket unbuttoned over a high-quality cream knitted polo shirt, bypassing the stiff, traditional buttoned-up look while fully embodying Revival’s paddock dress code through structured, elegant tailoring.

The Coppola flat cap: Sicilian style to paddock polish

The flat cap carries a distinct cultural history in Southern Italy originating from the local term coppula. Historically, the cap's colour identified strict socio-economic standing, with white favoured by visiting nobles, black worn by the working class, brown belonging to farmers and blue worn by sailors. A vibrant red cap was worn as a bold symbol of rebellion, and the precise tilt of the brim separated a gentleman from a rogue.

The ultimate mid-century motorsport connection belongs to Italian driver Clemente Biondetti, who eschewed heavy helmets in favour of a traditional flat cap turned backward to fight off the Mediterranean wind. At Revival, opt for a breathable linen or lightweight cotton flat cap, styled with a slight tilt to channel that authentic open-road nonchalance. It pairs beautifully with tortoiseshell sunglasses and unstructured blazers, allowing you to seamlessly bridge the gap between traditional British heritage and the effortless charm of the Italian Riviera.

Shopping the perfect pieces

If you are looking to source vintage pieces ahead of our celebrations this September, we highly recommend looking in your local second-hand shop. For a more targeted pursuit, save searches on digital marketplaces such as Vestiaire, Vinted, Etsy and eBay using specific key terms, or try Oxfam online, where they have a curated vintage section.

 E.Marinella, who for over a century have been synonymous with elegance and artisanal mastery, create beautiful silk scarves and ties in the heart of Naples, if you’re keen to embody real Italian style. Froggy Went Courting is a good source of vintage tailoring and accessories, as are Hornets of Kensington in London, Blackout II in Covent Garden, and Breuer & Dawson in Margate. 

Whether you are embodying the gentleman driver with structured, lightweight tailoring and a textured knit tie, or a Riviera grid walker in a slim-fit knitted polo shirt, the golden era of Italian motorsport offers the ultimate style inspiration.

To see how fellow vintage enthusiasts are interpreting this vintage Italian dress code across the weekend, be sure to keep an eye on the Revival Style channel for paddock lookbooks, sartorial spotlights and trackside fashion inspiration.

Images courtesy of Getty Images.

Saturday tickets and 3-Day passes for the Goodwood Revival have now sold out, and Friday and Sunday tickets are limited. 

If you’re not already part of the GRRC, you can sign up to the Fellowship today and save ten per cent on your 2026 tickets and grandstand passes, as well as enjoying a whole host of other on-event perks.