Race Day Outfits
Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ascot Ladies Day, Aintree and the Epsom Derby are all great events an important part of the British racing calender. For those who enjoy getting dressed up, having a bit of a flutter along with a glass or two of champagne, you can’t really beat a day at the races. If you are planning to go to any race days this summer, you may be slightly confused about what to wear and if there is any etiquette that you should follow, but it is really quite simple and once you have decided what to wear, you are sure to have a great time.
The type of dress that you should wear will vary for different race courses, events and also which enclosure that you have tickets for. Most race courses will provide some information with regards to dress codes on their website. For some of the really big racing events, the fashion is a really big part of the day. At Ascot ladies day, not only will you get to see some great horse racing but also some great outfits and really eye catching and unusual hats. There is almost a competiton to see who can wear the most stylish and unusual hats.
As a general rule, the more expensive your ticket is, the formal the dress code will be. So if you have a premier ticket at Ascot with access to exclusive areas of  the grandstand, men will be required to wear a suit or jacket and tie. Women are expected to wear equally smart clothes. Those with tickets to the Grandstand are also required to dress smartly and lasies to wear hats. For those in other areas of the racecourse, whilst there is no formal dress code, the organisers encourage smart dress and why not, such a great opportunity to get dressed up.
So what is smart enough to work as a great race day outfit? I always like to wear dresses. A feminine and elegant choice that will allow you to look individual and stylish whilst sticking to any dress code. A dress looks great when worn with a hat or if you don’t like wearing hats, a fascinator. Medium height heels and a smart clutch bag also finish the look off perfectly.
Many race courses now have best dressed awards on Ladies Day presented by celebrities. If you want to have a chance at winning the award, we would suggest choosing an individual outfit that really suits your body shape. Also choose your colour carefully. You should pick a style of hat that really suits your face shape. If the weather is not warm, you will also want some sort of cover up, look for something that really compliments your choice of dress. Finally accessorise with style remembering that sometimes less is more.
You will usually be able to find great race day outfits in occasion dresses shops and departments. Three quarter length dresses or even maxi dresses usually work really well, although shorter dresses are acceptable. If you want to stand out from the crowd opt for bright, bold and punchy colour blocks or patterns.