Tips for Dressing at Ascot

27th March 2018

Spring has sprung, and that means the search for the perfect, rule-abiding outfit for Royal Ascot has commenced. Ascot is a fashion event in and of itself, but one with a twist; there's a dress code, and it's strict. As an Ascot devotee myself, I've found the challenge of dressing for Ascot both exhilarating and nerve-racking. The fear of being rejected as a coat-tailed-clad official, measuring tape in hand, wags a disapproving finger at me because my straps are a centimetre too thin / hemline an inch to short / hat base too skimpy is enough to make me lose sleep. Then there's the added fear of seeing the very same dress or hat you trawled the internet / high street for as you join the long queue for the ladies, clutching a glass of warm prosecco.

So, to help my fellow fashionistas in the same position, Finula Crowe at Finique has put together her style guide for Royal Ascot 2018:

Firstly, the dress code for the Royal Enclosure is considerably more strict than that of the Queen Anne or Village enclosures.

If you are in the Royal enclosure, straps must be at least an inch wide and lady-like midi length, falling just above or below the knee. Hats must have a 4 inch base at the minimum.

Thankfully, the rules for the Queen Anne enclosure relaxed a little last year, and my enquiry to Ascott HQ confirms that Shoe-string straps are permitted. Strapless dresses and sheer straps are still a no-go.

Royal Enclosure:

- Straps must be 1 inch or wider
- Hemline must fall on or below the knee
- Hats must have a base of 4 inches or more

Queen Anne Enclosure:

- Shoestring straps permitted, but no strapless or off-shoulder
- Hemline must fall on or below the knee (no minis!!)
- Fascinators are permitted

Click here for the full collection.