While it's not compulsory to dress up in period clothing for Goodwood Revival, it would be rather silly not to! Each year we see lots of splendid outfits, and none more so than those made up at least partly from authentic vintage pieces. The authenticity, character and history of a 'nicely distressed' vintage piece perfectly matches the spirit of this unique event. Taking time to assemble an authentic period outfit will ensure that you feel fully immersed in the proceedings (a hip flask helps too, but more of that later!)

With the event running over 3 days you have the opportunity to recreate different looks for each day. Fortunately, vintage clothing is comparatively affordable, so you can often put together 3 vintage outfits for the price of just one new outfit. You might choose to work your way through the decades, from 1940s to 1960s - the heydays of motor racing at Goodwood - or cut a dash in a genuine RAF, US Army or Royal Navy Services uniform.

Here are our own recommendations for Goodwood outfits...

The Country Gent - Vintage 3-piece Tweed suit, or 2-piece plus doeskin waistcoat, Tattersall check shirt, woven or shooting style tie, brown or burgundy brogues shoes. Accessorize with Trilby hat or flat cap, pocket watch, shooting stick and hip flask regularly topped up with Hendricks Gin or your preferred single malt. Read our 'Top 10 Malts' post for further inspiration.

Chaps in Summer - Navy blue wool blazer with gold / silver / brass buttons (single or double-breasted), tan cavalry twill or white / cream cotton trousers, striped or plain shirt, paisley cravat, black or brown oxford shoes. Accessorize with Panama hat, vintage cricket jumper (thrown over shoulder on warm days), binoculars in tan brown leather case and hip flask (there's a theme developing here!).

Just Arrived From Town - 1940s, 1950s, 1960s worsted suit with appropriate shirt and tie (this should be tied in a full-Windsor knot for thinner fabrics or a half-Windsor knot for all others), formal leather shoes (preferably vintage) and hat. Accessorize with pocket square, tie clip and, did we mention, a hip flask!? Double-breasted suits are particularly popular for the 1940s (look out for the 'CC41' mark for genuine war-time utility pieces) and 1950s pieces (slightly softer tailoring and cloths), while single-breasted skinny lapel and narrow leg suits, often in a 2-tone weave, are great for the 1960s look.

Officer Class - Goodwood's World War II history means that you'll see lots of chaps in uniform. RAF, Royal Navy, British and US Army all seem perfectly appropriate and you can't help but look smart - do remember to polish your shoes! In putting together your outfit it's worth looking for pieces that date back to pre 1966 to keep with the spirit of the event. Also, if sourcing items from different places, try to ensure that the lacings are all for the same rank.