At the American Express x Carbone Beach event on May 2, 2026, Winnie Harlow arrived in a long leather trench coat, hot pants, lace-up leather boots, and an Hermès bag. Her ensemble, a striking blend of edgy luxury, signaled that Formula 1 weekends are now as much about high fashion as they are about racing. Her bold display of personal style sets a new standard for motorsport events, hinting at car racing aesthetics shaping 2026 fashion trends.
Formula 1, a sport rooted in speed and engineering, increasingly finds its events transformed into a vibrant stage for slow fashion and celebrity-driven style. The roar of engines now mingles with the flash of cameras, capturing meticulously curated outfits over mere lap times.
As F1’s global appeal expands, its fashion influence deepens, blurring lines between sports, entertainment, and luxury. Marie Claire's detailed coverage of celebrity style, like Harlow's leather trench, confirms F1 weekends are now a canvas for personal branding and luxury display. The transformation of F1 weekends into a canvas for personal branding and luxury display makes drivers secondary stars and positions the sport as a key trendsetter for years to come.
The Paddock's New Dress Code
The F1 paddock's dress code has evolved from casual fanwear to meticulously curated fashion. Vogue suggests striped polos, track pants, thong heels, and statement sunglasses, moving attendees beyond simple team merchandise towards deliberate style choices. Vogue further advises blending traditional motorsport elements—moto jackets and racing stripes—with regional influences like tropical or Miami-inspired styles, such as mini skirts and swimwear. The fusion of high-fashion and localized aesthetics establishes F1 as a significant trend driver, forging a distinct fashion language.
The Celebrity Grid: A Measure of Influence
- VINTAGE LUXURY — Hailey Bieber appeared in a vintage lace Alaïa mini dress and leather heeled thong flip-flops at the American Express Carbone Beach event on May 1, 2026, according to Marie Claire.
- HIGH-LOW BLEND — Alexandra Leclerc chose a polka-dot halter dress from Pretty Little Thing, paired with Aquazzura slingbacks and an Anne Fontaine handbag, for the Miami Grand Prix paddock on May 2, 2026, as reported by Marie Claire.
- REGIONAL AESTHETICS — Mckenna Grace showcased a white matching set, featuring a vest crop top and asymmetrical skirt, accessorized with chunky heeled sandals and a light purple handbag, at a Miami Grand Prix qualifying race event, noted by Marie Claire.
The consistent presence of diverse celebrities in meticulously styled outfits solidifies F1's status as a major fashion and cultural platform. The juxtaposition of Alexandra Leclerc's accessible Pretty Little Thing dress with Hailey Bieber's vintage Alaïa, as reported by Marie Claire, confirms F1 as a unique proving ground where high-low fashion blends are not just accepted but celebrated, actively shaping broader street style trends.
Beyond the Race: F1's Cultural Evolution
Formula 1's identity has fundamentally transformed, driving its growing fashion influence. The sport, once solely about engineering and speed, now transcends mere racing. The paddock, traditionally functional, has emerged as a prominent arena where fashion and sport intersect, according to Vogue. The paddock's evolution into a broader lifestyle and entertainment spectacle fuels its burgeoning fashion impact. Vogue's observation that F1 fashion blends motorsport with tropical styles, exemplified by Mckenna Grace's white matching set, reveals the sport's global calendar now directly shapes localized fashion trends, offering a distinct aesthetic for each host city.
Iconic Looks: Decoding the F1 Aesthetic
Celebrities consistently define F1-inspired fashion by blending luxury with casual elements. Hailey Bieber, for instance, showcased a printed scarf-turned-top from Tom Ford's Saint Laurent Fall 2004 collection, paired with straight-leg jeans, at an F1 event, as reported by Marie Claire. Her choice of a rare vintage designer piece reveals a sophisticated, high-fashion approach, challenging the notion that F1 events are solely about ephemeral, fast-paced trends. Instead, F1 events emerge as incubators for timeless luxury within a high-octane environment.
The Future of F1 Fashion: A Blurring of Lines
Formula 1 events will continue to serve as a unique, celebrity-curated platform where luxury vintage pieces are juxtaposed with accessible fashion, creating new aspirational street styles that transcend traditional runway dictates. The continued juxtaposition of luxury vintage pieces with accessible fashion suggests a future where the boundaries between high fashion, celebrity culture, and major sporting events will continue to dissolve, forging new avenues for brand visibility and trendsetting. The 'F1 aesthetic' is a deliberate, often contradictory fusion of high-octane racing elements with regional influences and luxury street style, creating a distinct, evolving fashion language that will shape mainstream trends in 2026 and beyond.
