I’m heading off for a sunny day of sport in a smart Reformation white dress. No, not to Wimbledon, Ascot, Henley, Goodwood, Badminton, or the Boat Race. Instead, I’m going to leafy north-west London — St John’s Wood to be precise — for an ODI (that’s one-day international) between England and India at Lord’s.

Cricket, I’m willing to wager, is the next chic fixture of the summer season. To test the theory, I have somehow made it into the Committee Dining Room in the Lord’s Pavilion. This exclusive enclave is usually open only to members of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), distinctive in their red and yellow striped ties and hats.

But I’m welcomed into the fold, Veuve Clicquot flowing from the moment the clock strikes midday and lunch coming courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks (there are also Ginger Pig hampers). But even more appealing is the sartorial potential. The Lord’s dress code is firmly smart casual, and while fancy dress is banned, it’s perfectly acceptable to play a little dress-up. There were plenty doing so at the ODI.

Over in the Presidential Suite, Ralph Lauren was co-hosting a glamorous event with the MCC, drawing a crowd of immaculately dressed VIPs as part of the former’s Summer of Sports campaign.

The best-dressed in the crowd was Indian actor Janhvi Kapoor, in a cream pussybow blouse and brown pinstripe blazer. It’s striking that a brand so synonymous with Wimbledon appears to be tapping Lord’s as the next fashionable sporting event du jour.

It’s hardly surprising. It has all the hallmarks of a great British summertime day out — green grass, chilled Pimm’s, rules you can pretend to understand and, above all, an excuse to wear something nice.

Little wonder influencers have started posting “Looks of Lord’s” content on Instagram. It’s not hard to imagine Sienna Miller popping up in the stands in an Alessandra Rich mini dress next year, while Bel Powley claps along in a cute Miu Miu look.

Just remember: applause is preferred over cheering, standing ovations are not uncommon (if in doubt, just copy everyone else), Lord’s is a ground, not a stadium, and the Oval is pretty much a banned topic.

I know that the absolute last thing anyone needs in their life is another mind-numbing “core”, but cricketcore feels fresh — collegiate and preppy but still a little unexpected. Plenty of British brands have this encoded into their DNA. One is Kent & Curwen, which began as a university kit producer but has evolved into a stealth London Fashion Week favourite. Its last show starred the perfect twist on a classic cricket jumper.

“It has an enduring appeal because it’s timeless, effortless and inherently genderless: a piece that is designed to be shared, borrowed and worn in your own way,” says a Kent & Curwen designer.

“A classic cricket knit can be layered over a T-shirt with relaxed tailoring or denim for an easy everyday look, or worn more traditionally with a crisp shirt for a refined take. It’s a wardrobe staple that transcends trends, making it as relevant beyond this summer as it has been throughout history.”

’s own Joe Bromley looked dashing in a cricket jumper while hosting a very glamorous quiz for London-based brand Omnes aboard The British Pullman, A Belmond Train, recently. His was by British heritage knitwear label Alan Paine and styled over a shirt and tie.

Meanwhile, Cos’s just-launched line of featherweight cable cashmere feels a bit cricket and is great for when you’re being blasted by office aircon. The mood is catching on in the world of travel, too. Every year, Cotswolds gem The Double Red Duke hosts a cricket match at a local pitch, commentated by the hosts of The Go To Food Podcast.

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In London, Brown’s Hotel has launched “The Brown’s Season” and can ferry guests to Lord’s in its chauffeured Bentley Mulsanne, while ultra- luxury spot 45 Park Lane has noticed an uptick in cricket fans checking in post-match. “We’re seeing a growing trend towards ‘sportcations’, where travellers are choosing destinations based around major sporting events and then extending their stay to experience the city more fully,” says 45 Park Lane’s, general manager, Lee Kelly.

“Cricket at Lord’s remains a significant draw, attracting both domestic and international visitors who want to combine a memorable sporting occasion with London’s culture, dining and social scene. This summer in particular, that combination has been a strong driver of interest and reinforces London’s position as one of the world’s great sporting capitals.”

When I swing by for a post-cricket sleepover in one of the hotel’s 45 discreetly luxurious suites overlooking Hyde Park, there are a few fellow guests who have also made the 15-minute drive here from Lord’s (though I get the sense they might have taken their own Bentley rather than hanging around until Uber stopped spiking, as I did).

You can spot them by their outfits, which centre around impeccable tailoring and crisp whites, and feel plenty smart enough to transition into the glamorous art deco surrounds of CUT, the hotel’s Wolfgang Puck restaurant, or the terrace that’s currently home to a haute take on a British chippy.

All in all, the experience is more than enough to make me consider applying for MCC membership. Waiting lists are notoriously long (typically more than 20 years), but the MCC is considering fast-tracking memberships for women to address a gender imbalance, especially fitting after a record-breaking summer for women’s cricket.

The boys’ club days are over and the fashion fans are coming. Now to brush up on the rules — and prep the outfits.

The Lord’s Ticket Ballot for the 2027 summer opens in early September and closes in late October; lords.org