About Connolly
There aren’t many brands who can say they were there at the very beginning, but Connolly genuinely was. Founded in 1878, their leather ended up on the first Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, Jaguar and Morgan — founder Samuel Frederick was reputedly the only man alive who could get fierce rivals Herbert Austin and William Morris to sit at the same table.
That same eye for getting it exactly right runs straight through the Driving Collection today: owner Isabel Ettedgui has explained that the Rally Trouser came from returning again and again to old photographs of 1950s racing drivers, built from what they actually wore. Goodwood recognised the connection too, commissioning Ettedgui to design a limited-edition Goodwood x Connolly collection — exactly the kind of period-authentic style that fits right in at an event where daily ‘best dressed’ fashion shows are as much a part of the Revival as the racing itself.
1. Rally Trouser
This is where we’d start too, and here at Classic Is Key we honestly can’t pick a favourite between the two. Cut in mercerised cotton with a traditional button fly and an extra side pocket sized for a spanner or a cigar, with just enough stretch to hold its shape from the driving seat straight through to dinner — a properly versatile piece that earns its place in any driving wardrobe. Grab the crisp white for summer, or the heavyweight denim version for the colder months, and you’ve got the look covered all year round.
2. Overalls
A full-length cotton boiler suit inspired by vintage racing mechanics’ kit, sharpened with a crisp white that lifts it well beyond workshop grey. A proper statement piece, and a genuinely fun one to own.
3. Single Breasted Driving Jacket
Knitted rather than woven, in a Swiss technical wool that’s naturally water-repellent with genuine moisture-wicking properties — a brilliant piece of quiet engineering. Real horn Connolly logo buttons and a dense Milano stitch give it proper utilitarian style, without ever looking like it’s trying too hard.
4. Rocker Blouson
A lightweight, versatile summer jacket inspired directly by Connolly’s own racing heritage. Cut in 100% cotton with a cropped length for easy styling, an elasticated hem for the signature blousing effect, and a subtly pleated cuff — a lovely, easy piece to reach for all season.
5. Wool Drop Back Car Vest
Sleeveless, straight-cut, with square sewn-on pockets — this is the gilet that defines the whole Connolly driving silhouette, and it’s easy to see why it’s become a signature. The waffle weave merino wool body is a genuinely thoughtful choice, selected specifically for natural moisture-wicking and heat retention.
6. Chambray Hand Finish Shirt
Created in collaboration with the Neapolitan artisan shirtmakers Finamore, in a lighter weight 100% cotton chambray prized for its softness and breathability. The buttonholes are properly hand-finished — a lovely, quiet detail most shirts this price simply skip. Stock runs genuinely tight on this one, so worth moving quickly if it catches your eye.
7. Rally V Neck
A simple, well-made merino wool V-neck built to layer under the Rally Trouser or the Single Breasted Driving Jacket without adding bulk. Understated, but exactly the kind of piece that quietly does the most work in a proper driving wardrobe.
8. Performance Parka
A technical weatherproof parka that’s just as ready for the drive there and back as it is for standing around in it. Genuine practical edge, without losing Connolly’s tailoring instinct along the way.
9. Mille Miglia Top Coat
Named for the legendary Italian road race, and it lives up to the name beautifully. Made in a super-soft calf leather with a silk lining, cut and made at the Seraphin ateliers in Paris — each piece handcrafted individually, start to finish, by a single artisan. A truly special way to finish any journey.
10. Travel Suit Jacket
An unstructured, double-breasted jacket in a superfine, lightweight wool, designed to sit as well unfastened as buttoned — genuinely built for comfort, not just for show. Works effortlessly over pique, denim, or a classic cotton shirt, which makes it one of the most versatile pieces in the whole collection.
Five Accessories Worth Adding To The Kit
The clothes do most of the work, but it’s the small details that finish the look properly. Here at Classic Is Key, these are the five accessories we’d genuinely reach for — the pieces that turn a good outfit into one that actually feels considered, from the goggles down to what’s on your feet.
Sports Grip Bag with Badges
Crafted in Connolly’s own signature Vaumol leather, finished with palladium-plated solid brass hardware and a hidden external passport pocket. Swing it into the boot the night before a rally, and there’s real pride in knowing this leather will only get better with age, developing a patina that tells its own story, rally after rally.
CB Driving Goggles
There’s a moment right before you drop the roof and pull away where these actually earn their place — tinted properly against the glare, framed for real open-top wear rather than a photo. A lovely finishing touch, and a genuinely functional one too.
Leather Helmet
Pull this on before you set off and something shifts — a classic soft leather driving helmet in the old racing style, the kind that makes an ordinary drive feel like the start of something. Pairs beautifully with the goggles above for the full period effect, wind and all.
Driving Loafers
Slide these on and there’s an actual difference underfoot — soft suede that moves with you, a rubber sole embossed with the Connolly CB logo that grips a pedal properly rather than sliding on it. Made in Italy, and each pair arrives in its own dark green shoe bag with an embroidered car badge, the kind of detail that makes unboxing them feel like an occasion.
Driving Boots
You’ll feel the difference the first time you brake hard — a crepe sole genuinely engineered to flex with the pedal, not just sit stiffly against it. Made in Italy, with a beautifully simple silhouette that never gives away how much thought went into it. Stock is very limited here too, with only a handful of sizes left.
Conclusion
Connolly has always understood that motorsport style was never really about speed. It was about the drivers who stepped out of the cars looking better than when they got in — and building clothing from the same references those drivers actually wore, not just the aesthetic they left behind.
If Connolly’s the wardrobe, our guide to the best Goodwood merchandise rounds out everything else worth owning for the event itself.
