Whether you adore Royal Ascot, are crazy about the Cheltenham Festival or want to feel great at Goodwood Races, choosing the right outfit for race day is all part of the thrill. In this blog, the Luxury PR Team share their fashion advice and tips alongside three experts in the world of race day glamour.
Best Foot Forward
Our luxury PR team attend many race days, and whether we are enjoying VIP hospitality or in public stands, one thing we have learnt is comfortable footwear is everything! Make sure you choose shoes that your feet won’t hate after an hour of wearing them. Go for a heel height that you won’t have you teetering on the edge of misery.
Heads Up
Your choice of headwear is going to be crucial to your outfit. Check the dress rules according to your ticket as enclosures and racecourses do vary. Some demand a hat with a brim of a certain size and others do not allow fascinators, so it is worth double checking the dress code before you splash out on a new hat. Think about the wear you will get out of the hat too. If you are only going to wear the hat once, then perhaps hiring something would be a better option. Dress-2-Impress is a brilliant hat hire service for Royal Ascot Races Week. Their service allows you to hire your hat for the day of race attendance and return your hat on the same day at their pop up stand at Ascot Community Tennis Club across the road from the racecourse grandstand. Our luxury PR team have one word for this…genius!
Dress Or Two Piece?
Do you opt for a dress or two-piece tailoring (skirt or trousers?) Most racecourses allow you to choose the latter option, as long as both the jacket and bottoms are in matching fabric. However, ensure that the skirt length is acceptable for the enclosure regulations. If you are planning on buying a dress, again, check the rules. Some enclosures have strict dress codes regarding strap widths and dress length.
The Big Trends
Anna Butler of Butler Stewart, our beautiful British heritage tweed client, has a couple of top style trends which racegoers should take notice of;
“The biggest key trends can be found in racegoers accessories. Baker boy caps are very on trend for this season and complete an outfit, as well as keeping racegoers warm, especially when the wind picks up on the racecourse. For men, a vibrant spotted silk tie looks superb set against tweed and adds a welcome pop of colour to an outfit. Our biggest sellers are our ladies and men’s coats in a rich colour palette of forest greens, deep reds and luxurious browns. Ladies can also elegantly style their coat with a hat and vintage accessories reminiscent of a by-gone era of glamour.”
“Jewellery should always make a statement” Explains fine jewellery designer, Sylvia Kerr.
“Wearing the right piece of jewellery will make an outfit. Choose bold for plain outfits. For busy or patterned outfits, keep pieces small but interesting. Try not to interrupt patterns and prints on clothing by adding jewellery on top. Choose bracelets and earrings which add interest to your outfit without being too ‘busy’. A simple pair of drop pearl earrings can add a classic twist to an otherwise contemporary outfit.”
Whatever The Weather
‘Foxxy’ clients, Timothy Foxx are renowned for their fashionable tweed, and as Rosalie Eustace, designer and founder of the brand explains, dressing for the weather is imperative:
“Choose garments that reflect your personality so that you will feel comfortable in them and therefore get more wear out of them! And secondly, dress for the weather. Tweed is such a fantastically versatile garment that it really can be worn all year round with some clever styling. Swap a blouse for merino knit polo neck and up the denier on your hosiery if the weather is particularly harsh.”
