As the Saudi Grand Prix heats up—both in temperature and in spectacle—so too does fashion’s latest obsession: racecar driver style. Gone are the days when motor racing belonged solely to pit lanes and petrolheads. Today, the racetrack is a runway in its own right, and the Grand Prix aesthetic is speeding headlong into high fashion.
Motorcore, speedwear, racer revival—call it what you will, but the look is unmistakable. Think leather jackets with aggressive shoulders, branded jumpsuits, wraparound sunglasses, and an abundance of zips and studs. The trend, which also favours leather mini-skirts, vintage sports tees, heavy chains, and fringed flourishes, has screeched its way from Dubai to Manhattan, Tokyo to Copenhagen, and even the runways of luxury fashion houses.
At the 2025 Spring Paris Fashion Week shows, Vaquera opened the runway with a racing tee emblazoned across the chest like a sponsor logo. Dior took the idea of sportswear to eveningwear, sending down the catwalk a riff on track trousers and moto-check jackets. Even the minimalists have been seduced: Jil Sander’s collection showed in Milano whispered racer chic through precision tailoring and subtle nods to performance gear and moto jumpsuits.
This isn’t just a passing fad—it’s fast becoming big business. Saint Laurent released a belt unmistakably inspired by motorcycle hardware. TAG Heuer teamed up with streetwear giant Kith to relaunch a limited edition Formula 1-themed collection of watches and accessories, merging Swiss craftsmanship with circuit culture. And last year, Dior, whose ongoing flirtation with Formula One took a turn when they tapped none other than seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton—known for his iconic paddock fashion—to design a capsule collection that blends couture with motorsport-inspired elements co-created with Dior Men’s former Artistic Director Kim Jones.
And just when fashion and F1 couldn’t get any cozier, LVMH hit the accelerator. The luxury…
