Occasion wear for women
Tailored suits and separates for the races, awards, celebrations and every event where you want to look sharp without reaching for a dress.
Women's occasion wear
Tailored suits and separates for the races, awards, celebrations and every event where you want to look sharp without reaching for a dress.
How occasion tailoring works
Consultations in our Mayfair showroom, at home or by video. Fittings are also available in Manchester, Zurich and New York.
Race days and sporting events
Ascot, Cheltenham, Henley and beyond. A tailored suit that fits the dress code and stands out from the crowd.
What to wear
Race days have their own rules, and they vary by enclosure. Royal Ascot is the strictest. Other events are more relaxed. Your tailor will know the dress code for your event and help you stay on the right side of it.
A tailored suit in a bold colour or a rich texture is the strongest option. A fitted blazer with wide-leg trousers works just as well if a full suit feels like too much. Summer race days call for lighter cloths: linen, silk blends, and open-weave wools that breathe in the heat.
Colour
Race days are one of the few occasions where colour is expected. Deep rose, cobalt, emerald, dusty pink, cream, and bright primaries all work depending on the event and the time of year. Your tailor will help match the colour to your skin tone and the setting.
Awards, work events and corporate functions
When the dress code is a step up from the office but not quite evening formal. A suit that says you belong in the room.
Reading the dress code
"Smart," "formal," "cocktail" and "business formal" all mean slightly different things, but the answer is usually the same: something sharper than your work clothes that fits the room. A tailored suit in a richer cloth, a bolder colour, or a three-piece is often all you need.
If the event says "black-tie optional," a tailored suit with silk detailing works well. For full black-tie, see our Evening Wear page.
What to consider
Time of day matters. A daytime awards lunch calls for different cloth and colour than an evening gala. The venue matters too. A City hotel is different from a country house. And if you know the room will be full of dark suits and safe dresses, a well-chosen colour or a sharp silhouette helps you stand out without trying too hard.
Celebrations and milestones
Christenings, big birthdays, graduations and family events. Smart without being stiff, personal without being loud.
What these events need
A christening, a milestone birthday, a graduation, or a family event usually needs something smart but relaxed. A lounge suit in a colour you love is almost always right. Navy, mid-grey, or a softer shade like sage or dusty blue works for most settings. A three-piece adds a bit of occasion. A waistcoat on its own with tailored trousers is another option for warmer days.
These are good events for personal touches. A bold lining. A contrast button. A cloth with some texture. Small things that show you put thought into it without drawing too much attention.
Getting wear out of it
A suit made for one day should work for many. A good cloth in a colour you like works at future events, dinners, and even the office. We always think about the second, third and fourth time you will wear it, not just the first.
Cloth, colour and style
Wools, silks, linens and blends across the full colour range. Picked for the season, the setting, and how you want to feel.
Choosing cloth
The cloth sets the tone. A fine wool in a rich colour reads polished. A silk-wool blend catches light and moves well. A lighter linen or cotton works for outdoor summer events. Your tailor will bring samples so you can see and feel the range. What works for a winter awards dinner is very different from what works for a July garden party.
Colour
There are no fixed rules beyond the dress code. We make occasion wear in everything from classic navy and charcoal to dusty pink, sage, burgundy, cream, cobalt and bold primaries. If you have a colour in mind, we will find a cloth to match. If you are not sure, your tailor will help based on your skin tone, the event, and what you already own.
Style
You are not limited to a matching two-piece. A blazer and contrast trouser. A waistcoat worn on its own with a silk shirt. A long-line jacket with wide-leg trousers. We make what suits the event and what suits you, not what a tailor thinks a woman should wear to something smart.
Fit and process
How we work with you from first consultation to final fitting. Built around your body, your schedule and your event date.
How the fitting works
Women's tailoring is different from men's. The fit points are different. The curves are different. The way cloth sits across the bust, waist and hips needs more care and more skill. We take detailed measurements at your first visit, assess your posture, and talk through the silhouette you want. From there, we build a pattern and cut the cloth.
You will have two to three fittings before the piece is finished. At each one, we check the fit, make adjustments, and make sure you are happy with how it looks and feels. The whole process takes about 6 to 8 weeks.
If you have never had anything tailored before
That is completely fine. Many of our women's clients are coming to a tailor for the first time. The consultation is relaxed and there is no pressure to know what you want before you walk in. We will show you options, talk through what suits your shape, and help you make decisions at your own pace. This is meant to be enjoyable, not stressful.
Timeline
We suggest booking at least 8 to 10 weeks before your event. That gives us time for cloth, cutting, fittings and any tweaks. If your event is sooner, talk to us. We can often work to tighter deadlines.
START WITH A CONVERSATION
Got an event coming up? Book a consultation and we will talk through the dress code, the venue, and what will work for your shape and your style. No pressure. Just an honest chat about getting it right.
We see clients in London (Mayfair), Manchester, Zurich and New York. Home visits and video calls also available.
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Nathalie May - Tailor at Fielding & Nicholson
What the invitation does not say
Dress codes, enclosure rules and the practical detail nobody prints on the card.
Can women wear trouser suits at Royal Ascot?
Yes. The Royal Enclosure allows trouser suits, but they must be full length and the jacket and trousers must be the same colour and the same cloth. That rules out a contrast blazer and trouser pairing in that enclosure, so we cut both pieces from the same length of cloth. Other enclosures are more relaxed. Rules are reviewed each year, so check the official style guide for the meeting you are attending and tell us which enclosure you will be in.
Do I have to wear a hat with a suit?
It depends on the event. Royal Ascot's Royal Enclosure asks for a hat, or a headpiece with a solid base of at least 10cm, and fascinators are not accepted there. Cheltenham and most other meetings have no formal headwear rule at all. Tell us if you plan to wear a hat, because it changes the lapel width and neckline that will suit you best.
Is a suit right if the invitation says cocktail attire?
Yes, and it often looks sharper than the dresses in the room. The trick is cloth rather than cut. A silk blend, a satin lapel or a deeper colour reads as evening, while a flat day wool reads as office. Add a silk camisole underneath and heeled shoes and you are in the right register.
Can I wear a tailored suit as a wedding guest?
Yes. Avoid white, ivory and cream unless the couple have asked for it, and check whether they have set a colour theme for the wedding party so you do not match the bridesmaids. All black head to toe reads as sombre at some weddings, so we usually add colour through the cloth or the top underneath. If you are the one getting married, see our wedding suits for women.
What do I wear under the jacket?
A silk camisole, a shell top, a fine knit or a blouse all work. A bodysuit is the most reliable option for a long day because it will not ride up or untuck when you sit and stand. Bring the top you have in mind to your fitting, or ask us to make one, because the neckline changes how the jacket sits across the chest.
Will the jacket gape or pull across the bust?
It should not. Gaping happens when a jacket is sized to the chest and the shaping is guessed. We add the fullness where you actually need it through the darts and the seams, then set the button so it sits at the narrowest point of your waist rather than across the fullest part of the bust. If you have had this problem with off the peg jackets, say so at the first appointment.
Can I have trousers and a skirt made with the same jacket?
Yes, and it is one of the most useful things you can do. Order both at the same time so they are cut from the same length of cloth. Cloth from a different batch can be a shade off, which shows badly in daylight. One jacket with two bottoms gives you a summer version and a winter version of the same outfit.
Will linen crease if I am sitting down all day?
Yes. Creasing is what linen does and no finish stops it completely. For a garden party or a walking event that is part of the charm. For a seated lunch, a long car journey or a day of photographs, we would put you in a linen and wool blend or an open weave wool instead. You get the same lightness and it recovers when you stand up.
Should I bring the shoes and underwear I plan to wear?
Please do. Trouser length is set to the exact heel height, so a change from flats to a 3 inch heel leaves the hem in the wrong place. The same applies to the bra or shapewear you plan to wear on the day, because both change your shape through the bust and waist. If you cannot bring them to the first appointment, bring them to the fittings.
Do the pockets actually work?
Yes. Every pocket we make is a real pocket, and we can make them deeper than standard if you want to carry a phone rather than a lipstick. We can also add an inside jacket pocket, which is worth doing if you would rather not carry a bag all day. Tell us what you need to carry and we will size them to it.
What if my size changes before the event?
Tell us as soon as you know. We leave extra cloth inside the main seams so a suit can be let out or taken in later, usually by a size or so either way. If your shape is likely to change between now and the date, we can hold the final fitting closer to the event. Your pattern stays on file, so future alterations start from a known point.
