A stone’s throw from the stables, seasoned pun- ters gather, racing papers tucked under their arms. Families too come to soak up the atmosphere in the stands and on the turf. Everyone is relaxed and smiling. In these eclectic surroundings, some racegoers have opted for pea coats, pullovers and coats with sailing stripes – a classic style revisited by Longchamp. Others have gone for a more feminine look, pairing a pants suit with a frilly blouse or layering a shearling gilet over a taffeta dress; As Creative Director Sophie Delafontaine explains: “I love the concept of layering, since it lets you create the cozy, cocooning feel you need in winter, while still looking chic and casual. ”

The Box-Trot bag in bold new shades of cobalt-blue and grass-green, as well as a new baguette format, accessorizes long dresses in fluid crepe, creating a refined, contemporary silhouette. Let’s not forget the racehorse owners, strolling around the paddock in straight-cut flannel pants and matching shawl-collared blazers for a dandyish total look. Tennis stripes are a key theme of the collection, epitomizing its chic, sporty spirit.

But what really sets the heart pounding and the hippodrome pulsating is the horses and their jockeys. The collection draws inspiration from racing silks – the famous jackets worn by jockeys whose eye-catching colors and patterns are unique to each stable. “It’s fascinating to work with all the characters who bring a racecourse to life,” says Sophie Delafontaine. “Of course, the horse and jockey pairing has a very special place in my heart – it is the entire history of our Maison that I am revisiting with this collection.”

Longchamp thus unveils a series of patterned pieces: dresses and blouses in silk and cotton with a black and white checkerboard motif, chunky and fine-knit cashmere pullovers emblazoned with horses and riders, and bomber jackets with bold diagonal stripes evocative of racing silks. New to the Epure line is a bag that takes the shape of a binoculars case – a must for following the race. Le Pliage, too, gets in on the action with designs in the vibrant colors of racing liveries: maroon, sky- blue, orange, red, grass-green, yellow and pink.