I learned early on not to wear a linen dress to Royal Ascot. As I queued for the toilet at Costa Coffee on Ascot High Street, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt and a special Philip Treacy hat, I realized how many others were embarking on the same last-minute fashion makeover as me. Whether you’re traveling by car, bus or train, there’s no way to arrive on one of the biggest days of the fashion calendar without your linen dress getting wrinkled.
Royal Ascot is one of the highlights of my year. I’m lucky enough to have been there many times, and often go there several days a year. I have hopefully managed to master the art of dressing for the occasion and how to adapt your outfits over several days, taking on the fashion challenge of bringing something different each time, as well as the nuances that each occur day of the day. meeting will bring.
The world feels increasingly informal and the opportunity to dress modestly seems more cherished than ever. Ascot’s dress code represents more than decorum – it also reflects a huge fashion business for designers and milliners alike; this is their Met Gala to showcase their best work.
“Royal Ascot is the most important event on the calendar,” says milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan, “all our efforts throughout the year lead up to this one week. In an age where people dress up, it reminds us how fun dressing up can be.”
Tackling the rigorous dress code (especially every day of the week) doesn’t have to be a chore, according to Daniel Fletcher, Royal Ascot’s designer and creative director. “I think people feel intimidated by the dress codes, but once you break them down they’re actually very simple,” he says. “You may find many items in your wardrobe that already meet the dress code.” I’ve become quite accustomed to reinventing and reworking outfits I’ve worn over the years.
These days I hope I’m better prepared than the girl in the Costa loos, but I’m still prone to last-minute outfit panic. Planning Ascot can seem overwhelming, especially if you are attending on multiple days. My starting point is usually to find one piece of clothing that appeals to me – whether it’s a dress or a hat – and I build the outfit from there. “Find a shape that suits you and work around it,” advises couturier Fiona Clare, who regularly designs outfits for the queen. “Try to wear something nice that suits you and is flattering to your body. Tonal colors are great so you can mix and match.”
Many attendees, including the royal family – and this was of course the famous case of Elizabeth II – are known for their dedication in attending all five days, often wearing a different, stunning ensemble for each occasion. This ability to mix and match, as Clare calls it, is essential if you want to get more wear out of a garment. Assess what you already have before purchasing anything new, and create your color palettes accordingly.
No look is too special at Ascot, although for me this year it’s about dressing in clothes that make me feel confident and comfortable. A practical pair of shoes is my biggest must-have, because you are assured of a solid number of steps at the end of the day. A few Ascots ago an American lady saved my raw feet: “Here are some plasters!”
Block heels or espadrilles are a safe option. ITV racing‘s Francesca Cumani once advised me to put talcum powder in my shoes to help prevent blisters, and I’ve never looked back.
My Ascot wardrobe: day by day
This year I decided to be a bit more adventurous with my personal style and opted to wear a jumpsuit and more statement hats for the first time.
Opening day
Wool crepe dress, £795, Beulah; Tweed shoes, £295, Russell & Bromley; Hat, £2,450, Jane Taylor London; Satin bag, £345, Lulu Guinness; Pearl and diamond earrings, £1,800, Kiki McDonough
You want a first-day look that sets the tone for a week of stylish ensembles. I chose a cream-colored crepe Beulah dress that I paired with pearl earrings from Kiki McDonough. My hat is from Jane Taylor, shoes from Russell & Bromley and bag from Lulu Guinness. Understated yet refined, the look embodies the sartorial elegance Ascot is known for. Monochrome outfits give a nod to the iconic My fair lady look, without being too literal.
Ladies Day
Lace dress, £400, Self-portrait; Suede shoes £495; Emmy London; Hat, from a selection, Philip Treacy; Earrings, from a selection, Kiki McDonough
Ladies’ Day is the highlight for many and fashion interest is at its highest. It’s a day for peacocking and my plumed Philip Treacy hat fits the mood perfectly. “I design hats to accentuate the face in a certain way,” says Treacy. “It’s essential to make the wearer look and feel like a million bucks, while not forgetting to enhance the underlying personality.”
I decided to let the hat do the talking and paired it with a simple lace dress from Self Portrait with a kick skirt, heels from Emmy London and earrings from Kiki McDonough.
Midweek
Wool crepe dress, from a selection, Catherine Walker; Tweed shoes, £295, Russell & Bromley; Straw hat, £1,450, Rachel Trevor Morgan; Leather bag, £365, Tusting; Rose gold diamond earrings, £8,800, Estates
I chose a soft pink Catherine Walker dress with a fitted bodice and tiered skirt. I paired it with a pink floral hat from Rachel Trevor-Morgan, diamond earrings from Boodles and matched it with my white bag from Tusting and shoes from Russell & Bromley. This ensemble offers a balance between elegance and ease and reflects the relaxed midweek atmosphere.
Men’s Day
Double crepe jumpsuit, price on request, Emilia Wickstead; Platform shoes, £229, Penelope Chilvers; Straw hat, £575, Rachel Trevor Morgan; Raffia bag, £675, Stella McCartney; Opal and diamond rings, from a selection, Parkin & Gerris
I step out of my comfort zone; this will be my first time wearing a jumpsuit to Royal Ascot. This day is all about tailored sophistication and my Emilia Wickstead jumpsuit was designed to reflect just that. I paired this with a less traditional hat from Rachel Trevor-Morgan to contrast the structure of the jumpsuit, wedges from Penelope Chilvers and a raffia tote from Stella McCartney to complement the hat and rings from Parkin & Gerrish.
Closing day
Embroidered Silk Organza Dress, £1,795, Erdem; Leather shoes, £295, Camilla Elphick ; Hat, from a selection, Stefan Jones; Gilded earrings£125 and sapphire and diamond ring£1,650, Parkin & Gerrish
Royal Ascot offers the opportunity to showcase your personal style. Whether you attend one day or all five, I think it’s important to do your best and make every day a style triumph worthy of the winner’s prize. I plan to go for gold on the last day in a beautiful silk organza dress from Erdem, embroidered with small bouquets of flowers. I felt this complemented Stephen Jones’ spectacular hat – a nod to his Welsh heritage. I love the detail on this hat and it resonates with my own rural upbringing. For the finishing touch I added some gold leaf earrings from Parkin & Gerrish.