How to dress the part at this weekend's Goodwood Revival
When assembling your look for the Goodwood Revival, heritage and elegance are the two boxes you want to tick - and that includes your watch. And thanks to their timeless appeal, choosing the right Rolex to perfect your vintage Revival look couldn't be easier. But just in case you're still deciding, we asked veteran racer and Rolex Testimonee Sir Jackie Stewart to give us his personal picks.
Every year, the Goodwood Revival serves as a haven for fans of motorsport’s heritage. A celebration of the motor car throughout history, this weekend's of racing will draw over 150,000 enthusiastic visitors. But the cars aren’t the only ones that undergo a revival for this luxurious event. Being the only historic race meeting staged entirely in period dress, it is equally a celebration of retro clothing and design, where no outfit ix be complete without the perfect authentic watch.
Thankfully, a pioneer of style since 1905, Rolex, has remained at the height of debonair fashion throughout the 20th and into the 21st century, making it an unmissable addition to your Goodwood ensemble.
For an historic racer like Formula 1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart, Rolex plays an essential role in bringing together all the great drivers and mechanics of the past and present, many of whom get the chance to experience the Revival in the luxurious confines of the Rolex Drivers’ Club. “It is a wonderful relationship,” Sir Jackie told GQ, “because passionate car and watch aficionados understand the great privilege of owning something very special, with great history and elegance.”
Certainly, wherever man and machine been pushing the limits of possibility, Rolex has been right by its side. Sir Malcolm Campbell himself was wearing a Rolex watch when he broke the World Land Speed Record in the Thirties. So, as you look forward to your Goodwood Revival, here is our guide to completing your look with a piece of history in itself.
The Forties
Whether it’s a dapper military uniform, country tweed and a trilby, or the classic mechanic look, the Forties offers a plethora of stylish dress-up options to choose from. There is, however, only one timepiece the Sir Jackie thinks you should be wearing: an original Date Just (above). With its unique Jubilee bracelet and fluted bezel, it is immediately recognisable as a Rolex. In or out of costume, this piece will remain forever in style.
The Fifties
Depending on whether your outfit is more flat caps and cricket jumpers, or slim fitting suits and skinny ties, Sir Jackie Stewart’s top picks from this important decade for Rolex will make or break your look. The Explorer (left) and the GMT-Master (centre) both have an edge with historical significance: the former was inspired by Sir Edmund Hilary's ascent of Everest in 1953; the latter, more stylishly, became the watch of the Pan Am airline pilots. The 1953 Oyster Perpetual (right), on the other hand, carries the same timeless charm that defines the decade.
The Sixties
These two timepieces are the perfect accents to any Sixties look, as both watches epitomise Rolex's role as an innovator during this decade. The Deep Sea Special (left) carries on in the tradition of Rolex pushing the limits of technological innovation. Accompanying the Trieste on the first successful descent into the Mariana Trench in 1960, it emerged from 37,800 feet under sea level in perfect working order. Finally, it comes as no surprise that British racing legend Jackie Stewart has put the Cosmograph Daytona on this list. The watch, designed to be the ultimate tool for endurance racing drivers, is still as classic a timepiece that, in the words of the Rolex testimonee, Sir Jackie ‘Flying Scot’ Stewart, “will add elegance to the attire and bring many a great story to the weekend.”
