Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie twinned in maroon at Cheltenham and they delivered a masterclass in how to style occasionwear.
Zara and Princess Eugenie were clearly on the same page when it came to their outfits for Day 2 of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival as they arrived at the annual racing event looking sensational in maroon. No-one could fail to notice the popularity of burgundy in recent months but the royal cousins proved this rich red colour has a place in a spring capsule wardrobe too. That wasn’t the only style lesson we’ve learnt from their latest looks, as they showed exactly how to master occasionwear.
Date night outfits can be as casual or elevated as you like, but when a dress code calls for something more formal, we’ll be following the approach taken by Zara and Princess Eugenie. Both royals went for timeless silhouettes with a focus on tailoring and one key colour.
(Image credit: Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Shop Cheltenham Inspiration
Phase Eight Pinstripe Blazer
It doesn’t come much more classic than this double-breasted blazer with its notched collar and flap pockets. It has a beautiful navy pinstripe pattern and if you want to recreate a Zara Tindall-esque look, then it also comes with matching trousers.
Zara Plain Knit Burgundy Jumper
This high neck sweater is a versatile piece for cold spring days and has long sleeves with button cuffs and matching ribbed trims. This design also comes in black, navy and white and we’d wear it with tailored trousers.
M&S Cotton Rich Trench Coat
Zara Tindall has worn several different trench coats to the races before and this one from M&S is so versatile. It also comes in black and the double-breasted cut, lapels and belted waist give it a smart feel that’s perfect when you want to elevate an outfit.
Anthropologie Mini Horsebit Bag
This sleek black bag has a distinct equestrian feel with this horse-bit style hardware and it’s big enough for your essentials for a day or evening out. If you prefer to add a pop of colour with your accessories then this also comes in red, but the black version is so versatile and easy to pair with any other shades.
Dune Leather Knee High Boots
Crafted from soft leather and designed with a classic round toe and a chunky block heel, these knee high boots will see you through chilly spring days as well as autumn and winter. They have a buckle strap and side-zip fastening and would look beautiful with a tailored trench coat and midi dress.
Zara Burgundy Wool Belted Jacket
If you love the burgundy shade of Princess Eugenie’s coat but want something a little shorter, then this 100% wool jacket is a lovely choice. It fastens with a thin belt giving it extra shaping and has a smart tailored feel without having a collared neckline.
Princess Eugenie wore a maxi length burgundy coat with crisp lapels, gold-toned buttons and a double-breasted design. This was the focus of her ensemble on Day 2 of Cheltenham and although Zara didn’t reach for a coat herself, her longline blazer had a similar, put-together feel. It was also double-breasted and the pinstripes highlighted its gorgeous structure.
She coordinated her jacket to her wide-leg pinstriped trousers to create a smart suit that reminded us of her navy blue and burgundy outfit from Day 2 of the races last year. This could have looked very workwear-esque with a shirt underneath, but the King’s niece opted for a contrasting maroon jumper which lifted the colour palette and made it more chic.
(Image credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)
This gorgeous knit perfectly matched the shade of Princess Eugenie’s coat and Zara’s cousin also wore a high neckline with her collared outerwear. Her top was black, making her and Zara’s outfits almost an exact inverse of the other’s colourwise. Both went for black boots and burgundy headpieces, with Zara choosing a flamboyant, fun design that balanced the crispness of her tailored suit and Eugenie wearing a timeless pillar box style hat.
Although at first glance Zara and Princess Eugenie’s outfits couldn’t be more different aside from the maroon items, they actually used a lot of the same building blocks. Even if you never set foot at the races, their style is great inspiration for smarter events. As well as incorporating tailoring, they went for generally very pared-back staples and chose to showcase one main colour.
(Image credit: Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Aside from burgundy the cousins stepped out in very neutral tones of grey and black, which allowed the rich red to shine even more in contrast. If you’ve ever wondered what colour suits you and discounted burgundy, then it’s definitely one to consider as it works well with beige, black, white and brown as well as denim. Even if you’re not a fan, then it’s still worth going for just one pop of colour when you’re dressing for a special occasion as it’s simpler and very striking.
The Royal Family are experts at formal styling and these Cheltenham outfits could be worn for an evening out or event during the daytime. Zara’s look in particular won’t be the last outfit we see from her during the festival as the equestrian royal tends to attend most days. Last year Princess Eugenie also joined Zara on Day 2 – known as Style Wednesday – and both looked every bit as elegant then.
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