In 1990, Julia Roberts accidentally set the precedent for sports spectator style. We all remember the brown and cream polka dot dress she wore to the polo match in Pretty Woman – it’s remained a moodboard fixture ever since, whether you’re headed to Ascot, Wimbledon or Formula One. 

There’s no denying that Julia Roberts looked gorgeous, but 30 years later and spectator style has become a little stagnant. There’s an expectation of elegance: crisp whites and pressed linen, boat shoes and kitten heels. For lots of young sports fans, this means dressing up to become someone you barely recognise, ageing yourself by 20 years and cosplaying yacht-life on an M&S budget. 

Thankfully, a new influx of gen Z F1 fans are here to rip up the rulebook. This weekend, the annual British Grand Prix took place at Silverstone, where Monegasque Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc took home the trophy, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton also made the podium, coming in P3. 

As for the fashion moments, they can be categorised into three distinct groups. There are those who simply wear merch in support of their chosen team – kitted out in full Ferrari red, McLaren papaya or Mercedes blue. There are the prim and proper types, who, like Pretty Woman’s Vivian, go for the classy but boring, become-someone-you’re-not route. And then there are those who refuse to be watered down by dresscodes, and as a result, are easily the best dressed. 

For gen Z, adhering to ‘effortless’ stereotypes often requires significantly more effort than simply dressing for themselves, with their own individual flair. Thankfully, the British Grand Prix has a reputation for being the most stylish circuit on the F1 calendar, and the fashion at this weekend’s race did not disappoint. In the same way that London Fashion Week separates itself from the other fashion capitals with its DIY, rebellious attitude, Silverstone distances itself from the lavish, Monaco motorsport stereotype. 

Behind the scenes at Silverstone, I met British-Indian artist Navinder Nangla, who was handing out stickers that read “Fassion is my pashion”, while dressed in a combination of Raf Simons and Yohji Yamamoto. As it turns out, Nangla actually designed a special Silverstone helmet for Dazed cover star, Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, which is what brought the artist to the Grand Prix in the first place. 

Elsewhere, Y-3 and adidas Originals stole the show with the Mercedes team merch, and there was a heavy presence from Louis Vuitton and Issey Mikyake too. In the fan zone, at the Amex Racing Club, attendees were spotted adding bling to their outfits, clipping special Silverstone charms to their phones, bags and belt loops. 

The best looks were the most nonchalant – oversized team t-shirts styled with frou-frou skirts and chunky boots, or that one guy wearing a Geese t-shirt. The most memorable outfits are always the ones that allow your own personality to shine through, so whether you’re a fan of F1 or of Cameron Winter, say it with your chest (literally). Swipe through the gallery above for all our favourite looks from the British Grand Prix 2026.