72 Hours With Tommy Hilfiger at the US Grand Prix in Austin

There's no better place for this American girl to attend her first Formula One Grand Prix than in Austin, Texas, where I spent the race weekend with Tommy Hilfiger and the Cadillac F1 Team. As a denim lover and frequent cowboy-boot wearer, I felt right at home. Still, nothing prepares you for the sheer magnitude of attending an F1 race in person. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't initially intimidated by an event of this scale, but Tommy Hilfiger's Americana spirit kept me grounded, providing me with a wardrobe of pieces I felt comfortable and confident in (ahem, denim). Truth be told, this trip felt like a match made in heaven.

At least I wasn't the only first-timer at the US Grand Prix—it was also Cadillac's first time racing at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Tommy Hilfiger, however, is no stranger to the race. The brand has sponsored F1 teams since the 1990s and created capsule collections that seamlessly blend its classic American sportswear heritage with F1's innovative technical expertise. The latest iteration is the Tommy Hilfiger x Cadillac Formula 1® Team Austin Fanwear capsule. The denim-led edit features special-edition pieces with chrome finishes, American flag chevron artwork, and signature red, white, and blue colorways incorporated throughout. The aesthetic was perfect for my weekend in Austin.

To see how I styled the capsule for 72 hours in Austin with Tommy Hilfiger, keep scrolling.

Day 1: A Warm Welcome to Austin

7 a.m.: Day one started early—and frantically, after throwing on last-minute cowboy boots and second-guessing my bandana accessories (at the risk of dressing a little too on the nose for Texas). After one Instagram scroll through the outfits each driver wore on Thursday for media day, I knew it'd be okay to lean in.

5 p.m.: I arrived at my room at the Austin Proper Hotel to find a closet full of pieces from the Tommy Hilfiger x Cadillac Formula 1® Team Austin Fanwear capsule. The capsule features classic TH pieces like denim and white tees, with an Americana flair that felt fitting for the Austin locale, giving me even more confirmation to embrace the aesthetic for the weekend.

8 p.m.: After freshening up, I headed downstairs to the Proper's Quill Room for a cocktail party and live performance by the legendary JoJo. We collectively sang along to her acoustic versions of "Leave (Get Out)" and "Too Little Too Late." The nostalgia was palpable. After one sparkling water with lime and a pit stop at the Tommy Hilfiger photo booth, I was off to bed.

Day 2: Qualifying Day at the Cadillac F1 Paddock Club

7 a.m.: Day two started with a workout on the Pilates reformer at the Proper's gym, followed by quick coffee and a jaunt to TOMO Mags, a magazine shop in Austin. It's a must for anyone interested in supporting independent artists and print publications.

10 a.m.: Back at the hotel, I selected my outfit for the day. The obvious choice was the Tommy x Cadillac F1® Team Austin Tank Top ($40) paired with dark-wash Tommy jeans, my black boots, and a suede jacket I took off the second I stepped into that late-October Texas heat.

12 p.m.: We arrived at COTA, where I was immediately taken aback by the size of the track. There's an American flag the size of a football field, a full-blown amusement park, and guests flying through the sky in gondolas that transport them between the new trackside clubhouse above Turn 1 and the paddock area. For the international guests visiting COTA, there's no denying it: you're in America now, baby.

2 p.m.: When our group arrived at the Cadillac F1 Paddock Club, we were greeted with cold beverages and crisp air conditioning. We then headed down to the pit garage to learn how mechanics, engineers, and technicians make changes to the Formula 1 cars in real time.

4 p.m.: It was time for Qualifying, so we took our seats outside and watched as the drivers pulled out of the pits. At Q1, all drivers and teams took to the track. Six drivers were then eliminated. The process repeated for Q2. Then at Q3, the final ten drivers competed for the top grid posts. The driver with the fastest single lap time gets on pole position for race day—in this case it was Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Mercedes driver from Italy.

8 p.m.: The day didn't end at the track, of course. Tommy Hilfiger brought together a table full of editors, creatives, and creators at the Proper's La Piscina for a debrief of the events (and some really excellent fajitas). In this moment, it was hard to imagine how day three could top day two.

Day 3: Race Day

9 a.m.: After a jam-packed Saturday, my grand plans of waking up early for a walk along the Colorado River were foiled by the sheer coziness of the Proper's king bed. I reluctantly peeled myself out of the sheets to select my race-day look. I went with a black slip dress, black western boots, and my personalized Tommy x Cadillac F1® Team denim jacket.

10:45 a.m.: With a police escort that made me feel cooler than it should've, we headed back to COTA. The denim jacket was the perfect choice because the Cadillac Paddock Club set up a station to add custom embroidery and patches. It's always a favorite and thoughtful activation at an event.

The next few hours were dedicated to ceremonial race day traditions. We headed downstairs for a walk through the pit lane, watched Train perform "Drops of Jupiter," and witnessed the Grid Walk that takes place 30 minutes before the start of the race. One of the highlights of the day was getting to see the drivers hop on their kick scooters right below us. It reminded me of New York mornings full of elementary school kids scootering their way to class, except here, my view was of the world's most esteemed athletes getting ready to race in front of an international audience. But if anyone can make it look cool, it's Lewis Hamilton.

3 p.m.: The race began with Kimi Antonelli on pole position. However, our eyes were on Cadillac drivers Valterri Bottas and Checo Pérez. The second the drivers started their engines, I understood why earplugs were included in our gift bags. Within seconds, they took off towards Turn 1 and all that was left was the safety car following quickly behind.

4:30 p.m.: We were escorted down to the team garage to be fully immersed in the action. We got an inside look at the nerve center of the operation, where the team studies the screens, analyzes the data, and prepares for potential pit stops.

5 p.m.: The race concluded with Kimi Antonelli as the winner!

9 p.m.: The day didn't end there. I headed downstairs to the Quill Room for one last Tommy Hilfiger party featuring a DJ set by TOKiMONSTA.

11 p.m.: After one last sparkling water with lime and big thank yous to the incredible Tommy Hilfiger team, I was off to pack to catch my 6 a.m. flight back to New York City.

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