Guide to the Royal Ascot Dress Code in the Royal Enclosure

Last year, Royal Ascot tightened the reins on dress codes for both the Royal Enclosure and the Grandstand. It may be a restriction on dress but it shouldn’t restrict your sense of style. But before you go shopping for that special Ladies Day outfit, make sure you know the rules.

Royal Enclosure. - Formal daywear required.

The style you should be aiming for is a flamboyant glamorous look which is also sophisticated and well groomed.  Think along the lines of a dressy wedding outfit without the worry of upstaging the bride.

The dress code you must adhere to are as follows. If you do break them you run the risk of being refused entry:

Necklines

No halter necks, strapless gowns, off the shoulder or spaghetti straps. Dress straps must be at least one inch wide. And wearing a jacket or matching bolero over a dress does not count – the actual dress has to follow the guidelines.

Jane and Marilyn specialise in racing day dresses especially for the Royal Enclosure. The top image shows their Veronica dress in coral. In 100% matka silk and fully lined, with a flattering pleating across the bust and fishtail godet at the back. Length is just below the knee. Price £455

Also readily available in banana, slate, ocean and stone.  Other colours are available on request.

http://shop.janeandmarilyn.co.uk/katherine-352-p.asp

If you are looking for a strappy dress, then when shopping, take a tape measure to ensure you are following the dress code. And if in doubt – don’t buy!

The Jaeger block stripe flare hem dress just makes it past the finishing post for the Royal Enclosure necklines. The straps are 1 inch wide, Price £250

Click here for direct link to Jaeger dress

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Skirt length:

 No minis or shorts, dress length should be no shorter than just above the knee. 

The skirt length of Jane and Marilyn’s Katherine dress falls below the knee. In 100% matka silk and fully lined, with a draped cowl neckline and fishtail godet at the back. Price £395

Shown here in banana yellow but also available in coral, slate, ocean and stone, plus other colours on request.

http://shop.janeandmarilyn.co.uk/katherine-352-p.asp

 Susannah dresses are ideal for the Royal Enclosure as they are usually inspired by the 40s and the 50s with skirts at knee length. This golden yellow dress with dark gold horizontal stripes gives a modern take on the 50s silhouette whilst still keeping the lady like knee length.  The dress has a close fitting bodice with a low waistband and a full skirt to the knee. Plus side pockets to keep those important betting slips handy .Price £750

http://www.suzannah.com/dresses/cocktail-dresses/retro-stripe-event-dress.aspx

Midriffs:

Definitely no bare midriffs and that also means no midriffs just covered in sheer fabrics. If you are proud of your super toned body, go for a figure hugging dress instead of a exposing your midriff. But remember to stick to the skirt length and dress straps rules.

Phase Eight’s stretchy Lulu Rose print dress will show off your shapely figure. The length is 105cm centre back. Price £140

http://www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/phase-eight//Lulu-Rose-Crush-Dress/201984736

Trousers:

Trousers are only allowed if worn as part of a suit. They must be full length, so definitely no shorts or cropped pants. The colour and fabric of the trousers have to match the jacket, i.e. it has to be a true trouser suit.

 Note: The top underneath still has to comply with the neckline rules.

White trouser suits always look stunning especially when worn with a contrasting coloured hat. The MADELEINE white trouser suit is 98% cotton to keep you cool on that hopefully sunny Ascot day, and 2% spandex for a better fit. Trousers are slightly flared with a centre crease. Price £249

http://www.madeleine-fashion.co.uk/shop/trouser-suits-5/page-2/trouser-suit-heels-15103386/trouser-suit-1002050/index.html

Worn here with gold leather MADELEINE sandals handmade in Italy.  The heel is slightly chunky making it an ideal choice for walking on grass at the races. Approx 8cm high. Price £149.95

http://www.madeleine-fashion.co.uk/shop/sandals-51/page-1/slingback-heels-6603000/slingback-heels-1000959/index.html?cf=6!10

Be bold in a floral trouser suit. MandCo have a Meadow print blazer and matching trousers.

Jacket has a fitted shape and is fully lined.  Price £59

Click here for direct link to floral jacket

Trousers have tapered leg. Price £39

Click here for direct link to floral trousers

Fabric for both is 97% cotton 3% elastane. Lining for jacket is 100% polyester.

For tops, you have a wide range of colours to choose from. Go for classic white or pick out the yellow, pink, green or blue in the pattern.

Headgear:

A hat or a substantial head piece has to be worn at all times. A substantial head piece means that the base is 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter. Take your tape measure when buying a headpiece to make sure it is 4 inches. And if in doubt don’t buy.

You’ll have no trouble with the Cartwheel hat by milliner Sean Barrett. Price £585. This fishnet straw hat has a Racello braid and trim. Available in all black or with white Racello braid trim. The silk flower is optional and is available in different colours to match your outfit. See the top image of the Veronica dress showing the Cartwheel hat with a coral flower. Contact Jane and Marilyn for more details.

http://shop.janeandmarilyn.co.uk/cartwheel-hat-472-p.asp

Fascinators are no longer permitted. What is the difference between a headpiece and a fascinator I hear you say? The difference is the base diameter. Many fascinators have a flamboyant display of netting, feathers and flowers etc. but may only have a tiny base. It is the actual base without the trimmings that counts in the Royal Enclosure rules. As long as the base is 4 inches or more in diameter then it falls under the headpiece category.  

If you do prefer to wear a small headpiece, this button headpiece called Leah by milliner Bundle Maclaren is 16cm x 16 cm and so complies with the Royal Enclosure dress code.  Here shown in coral and adorned with 2 black and white chequered quills. Can be made in other colours. Price £102 Available from Boticca:

http://boticca.com/bundlemaclaren/leah/

And definitely No fancy dress, novelty or promotional/branded clothing is allowed in either the Royal Enclosure or Grandstand.

Royal Ascot is 300 years old this year!

It’s hard to believe that Royal Ascot is 300 years old! Right from the start in 1711, when Queen Anne declared the area would be ideal for horseracing, it has attracted the fashionistas of society. And to celebrate the Big 300, Vivienne Westwood and Stephen Jones have designed three outfits collectively named the Three Graces. Each ensemble represents a different century- 19th, 20^th and 21^st.

The first gown is in the style of the Victorian era and made from a select silk taffeta named Quality Viola. The word taffeta is Persian in origin and means ‘twisted woven’ and is a luxurious fabric often used for ball gowns. The fabric has 100 thread counts per square centimetre and is hand dyed with 300 different colours producing an overall grey ombre shading from soft yellow, gold to violet, mauve and black.  Honouring the sewing process of the late 1800s the machine used to create the gown is more than 150 years old and each thread had to be introduced individually by hand in to the machine.

Stephen Jones bonnet is made with the same taffeta silk as the dress and is reminiscent of the prim ‘poke’ style worn in the Victorian times (called poke as the ladies could poke their hair inside the hat). But rather than hide the face with the typical forward projecting rim, Jones’ rim soars upwards to frame and reveal the face. The bow tied around the neck is flamboyantly large instead of dainty and demure, and complements Westwood’s gown. The hat’s style also is reminiscent of the jockey’s cap.

The second gown nods to the Edwardian ‘Belle Epoque’ period and was inspired by the black and white Cecil Beaton dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1964 My Fair Lady movie . In the film Eliza Doolittle attended Royal Ascot at the time of ‘Black Ascot’ in 1910 when the ladies wore large black picture hats out of respect for the death of King Edward VII. The Edwardians loved wearing white, cream or ecru as it was a symbol of wealth- it meant that you could afford plenty of maids to clean your soiled hems made dirty from a leisurely stroll on the lawn. 

Wider hats were fashionable and became a statement of extravagance with their over the top trimmings of large cabbage roses or gerberas, lace, bunches of berries, rosettes and ribbon streamers. And Stephen Jones’ large fascinator with its ears of wheat, bows, plumes and flowers is in keeping with the era and also pays homage to Cecil Beaton’s hat worn by Hepburn in My Fair Lady.

The third creation brings us in to 21st Century glamour. This lipstick red demi-couture piece is from Westwood’s Gold Label collection.  It is hand sewn with red embroidery on black silk with an all over flower theme. Sculptural finishes are seen around the neckline and shoulders.

The hat is of hi-tech lacquered straw in the same deep red as the dress. Fashioned in Jones’ signature miniature top hat style and softened with veil netting.

Throughout the fashion stakes, you can see the style may have changed but the flamboyant look always remains stable. 

The Right Dress for Royal Ascot

Going to Royal Ascot ladies?

Then look no further than Jane and Marilyn dresses – they were made for events such as Ascot, where you want to look gorgeous but also need to follow a dress code.

Well OK if you have not been invited in to the Royal Enclosure, then the dress code is not as strict but you never know, a dashing gent in splendid morning attire may rush up to your side and say he needs a partner suitably dressed to escort in to the Royal Enclosure. And where would you be if you were wearing a strapless dress hey? - Definitely not in the Royal Enclosure.

So what is the Royal Enclosure dress code?

No halter necks, strapless gowns or spaghetti straps – dress straps must be at least one inch wide.

No minis, dress length should be to the knee or below

And of course a hat or a substantial head piece which covers the crown of your head.

So let’s look at a few of the Jane and Marilyn dresses

Peacock dress

Royal Ascot is all about being on show, like a peacock.

And in the silk taffeta Peacock dress you won’t be blending in to the background. 

The below the knee swing skirt  with button front fastening and matching wide belt gives a fashionable retro 50’s look with a sophisticated twist in the guise of a wide neckline collar and bracelet length sleeves. 

Fully lined in silk, you only have to decide whether to go for peacock blue or peacock green. 

Of course this dress would look great with a bold feathery head piece. 

Price £845

 

Joan dress

For the warmer sunny days we all hope will appear during Royal Ascot, the Joan dress is ideal.  

 A summer cotton frock again with the retro 50’s swing skirt.

Here the front may be high giving nothing away until you turn around to reveal a low glamorous back.

Go doubly royal at Ascot with the Royal blue print, or opt for the classic black and grey print.

Fully lined in pure silk and priced at £595.

 

Jane dress

In sexy lipstick red, body skimming with a fluted kick panel at the back and cut low at the front, the Jane dress is the most daring for Royal Ascot but still within the dress code with straps wider than one inch

In 100% soft lightweight wool and fully lined in pure silk, the price is £710.

Audrey dress

Stylishly chic is Audrey a simple shift dress in either classic black or bold violet with a cheeky double box pleat at the back. 100% soft lightweight wool and fully lined in pure silk, price £695

Elizabeth dress

Vibrant violet is the only colour for the Elizabeth dress, inspired by the late Ms Taylor’s striking eyes.

Also famous for her Hollywood curves, this pencil dress will help emphasize yours with its plunging neckline, gathering under the bust and fluted hem at the back.

 100% soft lightweight wool and fully lined in pure silk. Price £735.

Sophia dress

They say Italians do it better and the Sophia dress shows us how to be a vamp in black without exposing lots of flesh. 

The matching wide belt cinches in the waist whilst the flared fluted hem at the back emphasizes the curves.

The wide neckline is just asking for a diamond necklace

100% soft lightweight wool and fully lined in pure silk.

Price £740.00

Ava dress

Tailored whilst raising temperatures is the Ava dress in mercury silver grey.  

 The low cut neckline with soft gathering under the bust contrasts well with the sharp collar and tailored pencil silhouette with its box pleats at the back.

The bracelet length sleeves can be worn up or down, I’m thinking up for another sharp edge to the look.

36% silk and 62% cotton keeps the mercury cool. 

Fully lined in pure silk and price £695.

 

Grace dress

Play it cool in the elegant shimmering pearl grey Grace dress with its simple boat neckline, pencil silhouette and matching wide belt. Then make waves with the heavily panelled fluted back that gives a sexy twist to this otherwise demure dress. Also available in classic black. 100% soft lightweight wool and fully lined in pure silk. Price £740.

For more details go to their website www.janeandmarilyn.co.uk

Now to complete your Royal Ascot look, all you have to find is your hat.