Fast, Fearless, and Fashionable: Shirley Muldowney and the Women Who Made Racing Chic

By: Arantza Asali

Beyond the roar of engines and the thrill of a win, the racing track provides a stage for another massive industry - fashion. Motorsport has transformed from the early days of practical, no-frill racing suits to something very different. These days, most racing weekends come with a fusion of luxury attire and high-performance gear. The track has turned into a catwalk, but it wasn’t always that way.

While drivers and their sponsors today can push the envelope in the world of racing fashion if they want, and likely be championed for it, the familiar names we associate with motorsport fashion in the 2020s are hardly the first people to bring chic into the industry. Many of the early fashion pioneers who refused to compromise their style while racing were women.

The Legacy of Shirley Muldowney

One such name is Shirley Muldowney. A racer synonymous with breaking barriers in drag racing, Shirley shattered gender norms in a male-dominated sport and brought her sense of individuality and flair to the track. Her impact, alongside other women in motorsport, has played a crucial role in shaping the relationship of fashion and racing today, and making space for the young women racers of motorsport – and the men too - to bring their authentic style to the track.

‘The First Lady of Drag Racing’, Shirley Muldowney paved the way for female drivers in professional drag racing. She was the first woman to earn a National Hot Rod Association Top Fuel licence in the 70s and went on to become the first person to win three Top Fuel titles. She won a total of 18 NHRA national events. In other words, she made history in a sport that people saw as an exclusive boys’ club.

The winning she did was done in style. In her career, she embraced bold racing suits, statement helmets and shoes, was featured in some of the very first fashion campaigns by a racing driver and always kept a confidence that transcended her environment. In an era where racing attire was strictly about functionality, Muldowney proved that style and performance were two sides of the same coin. Clothing brands soon took notice of this, and the great love affair between racing and fashion that we are used to started to blossom.

Credit: Carole Nash

Motorsport and Fashion Evolving

The shift towards fashion expression in racing began when teams incorporated bold colours, unique sponsor logos, and customised designs into their suits. Previously made with only protection in mind, this shift constituted the merging of separate industries. Suddenly it wasn’t just about what the suits were capable of doing, but how good they looked doing it.

For women in motorsport, this meant a levelling of the playing field. Female drivers not only had to prove themselves on the track, but they were also often scrutinised for their looks and ability to navigate expectations as women. As inspiring women do, many female racers and team members chose the emerging importance of fashion in motorsport to shine a light on themselves - incorporating their style into their racing gear and challenging stereotypes in the process.

Credit: Piotr Wilk

Women as Fashion Trailblazers in Motorsport

Shirley Muldowney wasn’t the only woman to bring flair to racing, and it isn’t only her shoulders on which the current racing fashionistas walk now. Pat Moss, who achieved huge success in rallying, was as much a light for the English prep style you still see favoured by motor racers today as her brother, Sterling. Hellé Nice broke ground with her daring style in the 1920s, and it took her to a win in the first Women’s Grand Prix in June 1929.

But fashion in motorsport is shaped by more than those behind the wheel. Women working as designers, stylists, engineers, trainers, and media personalities have played a key role in redefining the sport’s aesthetic. From designing custom helmets to working with teams on sponsorship activations, female creatives are leaving their mark and opening space for people to bring their own take on style and personality to motorsport.

Today, motorsport serves as a powerful platform for fashion innovation. Female-led initiatives are making strides in sustainable racing fashion, with brands like Stella McCartney and PACE (Promoting Advanced Clothing Efficiency) exploring eco-friendly uniforms and sustainable materials for race suits. Again, we see ingenious women take the lead in the next destination of motorsport fashion.

Credit: Matt Easton

Motorsport as a Platform for Fashion

Beyond sustainability, the influence of women in motorsport fashion is helping push the boundaries of gender norms in a traditionally male-dominated space. Female racers and team members continue to introduce new aesthetics, proving that motorsport is not just about the fastest lap times but also about making a statement.

In the 70s, Shirley Muldowney’s impact on motorsport was not just about her racing achievements - it was about breaking barriers and setting new standards, both in competition and in self-expression. Thanks to pioneers like her, today’s motorsport world embraces individuality, style, and inclusivity more than ever. Though some might qualify this as a tiny element of a massive sporting space, a useless one even, the ability to be oneself in your environment is more than a luxury. Women have given all people in motorsport access to that.

As we continue to celebrate women in motorsport, one thing is clear: their presence extends far beyond the track. They are redefining what it means to be a competitor, a brand ambassador, and a style icon in a sport that continues to evolve. The intersection of motorsport and fashion isn’t just a passing trend, it’s a testament to the power of self-expression in an industry driven by speed, ambition, and innovation.