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Since its introduction in 2012, the Royal Ascot dress code has ensured that all visitors to this prestigious race meeting are wearing appropriate attire.
Whilst the less formal Silver Ring has remained relatively exempt from the rules imposed, the only exception being that sportswear cannot be worn, the remaining areas have quite a few rules to stick to. For better or worse, it isn’t always easy to keep to the dress code. So here are some dos and don’ts for the 2015 Royal Ascot:
Do: listen to the dress code assistants
With approximately 300,000 visitors attending the festival, which will be held this year between 16 and 20 June, it can be tough to enforce the dress code.
When it was originally introduced in 2012, the racecourse hired special dress code assistants who would distribute hats, pashminas, ties and waistcoats to help guests who hadn’t adhered to the rules.
Don’t: Spaghetti straps
Despite being a summertime staple for most women, the organisers decided to ban any straps on tops or dresses which were not thicker than an inch. This was unfortunate for Kristina Rihanoff, who wore a fun dress commissioned by Coral and designed by Ben de Lisi, which was made of coral betting slips.
Hopefully the outfit designed by de Lisi, sponsored by Coral and inspired by the jockeys’ silks, will still turn heads whilst sticking to the dress code.
Do: Black or grey morning dress for gentlemen in the Royal Enclosure
The dress code doesn’t just have rules for female visitors to stick to; it also has several restrictions for male guests. Male visitors in the royal enclosure are required to wear black or grey morning dress, a waistcoat (colour choice is at the wearer’s discretion), top hats should similarly be black or grey and shoes must be black.
If looking for a pop of colour, it might be an idea for male guests to look into wearing a snazzy waistcoat to stand out from the crowd as the customisation of top hats with coloured ribbons is forbidden.
Don’t: Fascinators
Popular with the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge herself, fascinators were worn by everyone to seemingly every formal occasion for a long time.
Organisers of the race meeting must have got sick of seeing so many women wearing them so decided to ban them, stipulating that headwear should be a minimum of 10cm or four inches wide at the base.
Do: Suits for the gentlemen in the Grandstand
Male visitors who are in the Grandstand, as opposed to the Royal Enclosure, have a slightly more relaxed dress code of a suit with a shirt and a tie. There aren’t any restrictions on the colours in this area so guests may want to be a bit different and wear a navy suit for the occasion.
