Salon Privé 2026
Salon Privé returns to Blenheim Palace
Salon Privé returned to Blenheim Palace for its 21st edition, running from 2nd to 6th September 2026. The concours weekend introduced the Concours Style Award and welcomed the Boodles Best Hat Competition to the lawns, alongside a showcase of our AW26 collection.
The Concours Style Award — a first for Salon Privé
Salon Privé, the UK’s most prestigious luxury automotive event, celebrated style alongside some of the world’s finest cars during its 21st edition at Blenheim Palace. Held across five days from 2 to 6 September, the show crowned two winners for sartorial style: the new Concours Style Award, presented by us, Clements + Church and the longstanding Boodles Best Hat Competition. We were delighted to attend throughout, showcasing our new AW26 collection and discussing fabric, fit and personal style as clients prepare for a season of heavier cloths, layering and cashmere.
We were proud to serve as official tailoring partner for the inaugural Concours Style Award at Salon Privé. The award was won by Billy Hibbs of Texas on 3 September, with a prize worth up to £10,000. Billy also took the La Dolce Vita Class Award, and was Best of Show runner-up with his Maserati 3500GT Spyder Prototipo by Vignale.
Style on the lawns — the Boodles Best Hat Competition
Sartorial flair was also the order of the day at the longstanding Boodles Best Hat Competition, a Salon Privé tradition that champions imaginative, stylish millinery. The celebration of style continued on Friday 4 September, when Ladies’ Day by Boodles brought an array of striking hats, headpieces and occasionwear to the lawns of Blenheim.
This year’s winner was Gillian Carpenter, from Bromsgrove, whose striking hat impressed judges among Salon Privé’s Ladies’ Day guests. Gillian’s winning piece was entirely self-designed and made, drawing on her own millinery brand, Gillys Millinery, based in Worcestershire. She paired it with a soft blush pink dress from Jolie Moi, blush pink kitten heels by LK Bennett and a bag from Coast.
Gillian received a Boodles Roulette Pendant worth £4,000, presented by Boodles sixth-generation Operations Director Geordie Wainwright, alongside a £500 Holland & Cooper gift voucher and £1,000 of Parisian haute couture skincare from GATINEAU.
AW26 among the lawns of Blenheim Palace
We were also delighted to have a spectacular presence at the show and were able to showcase the new AW26 collection amongst, the grounds, bringing the season’s tailoring to the lawns of Blenheim Palace. To discuss the collection or begin a custom-made garment, book an appointment or explore our custom-made tailoring services.
A shared celebration of style
Andrew Bagely, Chairman and co-founder of Salon Privé, said: “Style is a huge part of the fabric of Salon Privé and it was fantastic to see our guests embrace both competitions this year. The standard was incredibly high, and it was wonderful to see so many ladies and gentlemen bringing their own personality and individual style to the lawns of Blenheim Palace. Congratulations to both Gillian and Billy, who each captured the spirit of style and sophistication perfectly.”
Salon Privé returns to Blenheim Palace for its 22nd edition from Wednesday 1 to Sunday 5 September 2027.
