Spring racing season is one of those rare occasions where fashion really gets to have a moment.

Statement dresses, fabulous fascinators, beautiful heels, bold colours, tailored suits and plenty of accessories… race day is your chance to have a little fun with your outfit and embrace your personal style!

But while we spend plenty of time thinking about what we're wearing on the outside, what you wear underneath can make just as much difference to how your race-day outfit looks and feels.

The right foundation can help your clothes sit beautifully, keep everything comfortably in place and let you enjoy the day without constantly adjusting your outfit.

So, before you head to the races, here's our guide to what to wear underneath some of the most popular spring racing looks.

Start With the Outfit, Not the Shapewear

Our biggest tip? Don't choose your shapewear first and then try to make your outfit work around it.

Start with the outfit.

Is your dress fitted? Is the fabric lightweight or clingy? Does it have a low neckline, open back or thigh-high split? Are you wearing a skirt and blouse, tailored trousers or a jumpsuit?

Once you know what you're wearing, you can choose the foundation that works with it.

The aim isn't to squeeze yourself into something uncomfortable. It's to find a piece that gives you the level of smoothing, support or coverage you want while allowing you to move, sit, walk and enjoy yourself.

For Fitted Race Day Dresses

A fitted dress can look incredible for race day, but lightweight or body-skimming fabrics can sometimes highlight every seam and line underneath.

This is where seamless shaping briefs can become your best friend.

A good pair can help create a smoother silhouette underneath your dress while reducing visible underwear lines. Choose a style with a smooth finish and make sure it sits comfortably underneath the hemline of your dress.

For a particularly fitted look, a bodysuit can also be a great option. It creates a smooth foundation from your bust through to your hips, helping your dress sit neatly without layers of underwear shifting or bunching underneath.

Wearing a Lightweight or Pale Dress?

Spring racing fashion often means lighter colours and fabrics. These can be beautiful, but can also be a little less forgiving when it comes to what's underneath.

The first rule is simple: don't automatically reach for white underwear.

Depending on the colour and fabric of your outfit, a skin-tone shade can often be much less visible underneath light clothing.

Look for smooth, seamless styles without bulky seams, lace edges or details that could show through your outfit.

And always try your complete outfit on before race day. Check it in natural light, sit down, walk around and take a few photos. If something is visible or feels uncomfortable at home, you'll be glad you discovered it before you're standing trackside!

For Statement Necklines

Race day is the perfect excuse to wear a dress you might not normally choose, including gorgeous plunge or low-cut styles.

The last thing you want is your shapewear or bra making an unexpected appearance.

For lower necklines, look for shapewear and supportive underwear specifically designed to work with the cut of your outfit. A plunge bodysuit can provide smoothing and support while staying discreet beneath a lower neckline.

It's all about matching the foundation to the fashion.

If You're Wearing a Strapless Dress

A strapless dress can be a race-day classic, particularly when paired with statement earrings and a fabulous fascinator.

But there's nothing glamorous about spending the afternoon pulling your dress up every five minutes!

If you're wearing a strapless style, look for supportive strapless shapewear or underwear that helps everything stay comfortably in place.

A strapless bodysuit can also be a clever option if you want smoothing through the torso without visible straps.

Just make sure you've tried it with your actual dress beforehand. Different necklines and fabrics behave differently, so a little pre-event testing can save a lot of last-minute stress.

For Skirts and Tailored Looks

Not heading to the races in a dress? A skirt and blouse, tailored trousers or a chic two-piece can look just as fabulous.

For these outfits, shaping briefs can provide a little extra smoothing around the tummy, hips and bottom without adding bulk.

They're particularly useful underneath fitted skirts and trousers where you want your clothes to glide smoothly over your underwear rather than catching or bunching.

And if you're planning to spend hours standing, walking and sitting throughout the day, comfort becomes just as important as appearance.

Don't Forget Your Thighs!

Race day often means dresses, skirts and plenty of walking… sometimes in warm spring weather.

If chafing is something you experience, a pair of shaping shorts can provide an extra layer between your thighs while also offering smoothing underneath your outfit.

Look for a breathable, comfortable style that doesn't ride up as you move.

Because the only thing that should be rubbing you up the wrong way on race day is your bookie's terrible tip.

Think About How Long You'll Be Wearing It

One of the biggest differences between dressing for a normal evening out and dressing for race day is just how long you'll be wearing your outfit.

You might leave home in the morning and still be wearing it hours later.

There could be walking, standing, sitting, dancing, eating, drinking and plenty of photos involved.

So don't choose your foundation based solely on how it looks for five minutes in front of the mirror.

Move around in it.

Sit down.

Walk upstairs.

Bend over.

Wear it for a while before the big day.

If you're already thinking about taking it off after 20 minutes, it's probably not the right piece for you.

Your Race-Day Confidence Starts Underneath

There's no single piece of shapewear that every woman needs to wear under every outfit — and that's exactly how it should be.

Some outfits might need nothing more than your favourite comfortable underwear. Others might benefit from a little smoothing or extra support.

The trick is choosing what makes you feel good.

Think of shapewear as another styling tool in your wardrobe. Something that can help your clothes fit and move the way you want them to, rather than something you have to wear because you think your body needs fixing.

Race day is about much more than looking the part. It's about enjoying the atmosphere, catching up with friends, sipping something delicious, cheering on your horse and feeling fabulous while you do it.

So choose the outfit you love, find the foundation that makes you feel comfortable and supported, put on those shoes and your favourite accessories, and get ready to enjoy the day.

Your outfit should turn heads. Your shapewear should stay quietly behind the scenes.

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