When Americans think of horse racing and fashion, it's probably the magnificent hats of the Kentucky Derby. But when the British think of horse racing and fashion, it's all about the Royal Ascot. To many Americans, the image of the Royal Ascot that comes to mind is the breathtaking black-and-white "Ascot Gavotte" scene from the musical
My Fair Lady.
Today, the hats are just as magnificent, but much more colorful, as are the dresses. There is a fairly strict dress code for those in the Royal Enclosure (originally reserved for guests of the monarch, but membership is currently similar to that of an exclusive country club: sponsorship of two current members plus a membership fee is required). Men are required to wear black or gray morning dress and top hats; women's dresses or skirts must be below the knee, with straps at least one inch wide, and hats or headpieces with solid bases at least four inches wide must be worn. Pants (including jumpsuits) are also allowed for women.
Let's take a look at some of the fashions that have been on display on the first day of the event:
We would expect nothing less than sartorial perfection from the ever-stylish Duchess of Cambridge, and she did not disappoint in a floaty, ethereal ice-blue ankle-length dress and matching hat. At another venue, the high-necked, long-sleeved, bow-tied top might look a bit dowdy, but it fits nicely with the traditional styles of the Ascot, and the sheer sleeves and yoke give it a contemporary flair. Her wide, flat-brimmed hat is tipped at a rakish angle with a large flower tucked under the brim, the light color set off nicely against her sleek, dark chignon.
The Queen herself also opted for a pale blue ensemble, paired a flared 3-button coat dress with a traditionally-style, flower-covered sun hat. She accessorized with a large black patent purse and sensible matching flats.
Princesses Eugenie (left) and Beatrice (right) also wore blue. Eugenie's teal blue pleated dress featured a vivid yellow lining and side inset that coordinated with her pert yellow hat. The bust was not terribly well-fitted, being slightly snug with the darts not quite falling in the right place, and I might have opted for a just slightly lower neckline, but in general it was a nice look, and I loved the daring contrast of the bright yellow. Beatrice wore baby blue lace with an A-line skirt and a wide-brimmed flat sunhat. A bit more conservative than her sister, but very pretty and flattering.
The Duchess of Cornwall wore her signature light pink coat dress, in this case a long silhouette with front pleats and beautiful white appliques down the front, paired with white gloves, a white clutch, and her usual triple strand of pearls, topped with a lovely hat with upturned brim and large flower-and-feather detail. I found it a lovely, flattering, and age-appropriate look.
Many attendees wear deliberately simple dresses in order to call attention to their magnificent hats, as exemplified by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. She wore a simple tan-and-brown frock with a feminine sheer gathered neckline and bell sleeves, topped by a flower-laden tipped sun hat. I like the pop of color in husband King Willem-Alexander's purple tie; his dark ivory vest tied in nicely with her tan color scheme.
Princess Anne followed the trend of coat dresses favored by many of the older royals with this ivory, flared, patch-pocket coat dress over a high-necked ivory blouse. Her kettle-brim, flared-crown hat brought in contrasting brown in its wide hatband and ribbon-edged brim, coordinating nicely with her dark brown gloves, clutch, and pumps.
Lady Kitty Spencer hearkened back to the days of black-and-white ensembles in this demure white lace fit-and-flare dress with a pert white hat and black clutch and heels. Simple but elegant and classic.
Charlotte Hawkins' red print dress had quite a bit of personality with its puffed sleeves and long, full cuffs, topped with a feather-adorned red cocktail hat and strappy red sandals. She brought in just a touch of black with a narrow black belt and ribbon trim on cuffs and hat. I especially love the way the curves of the hat feathers echo the curves of the print on the dress. Eye-catching and fun!
Chelsey Baker certainly caught everyone's attention, not only with her brighter-than-bright fuschia dress, but with her impossibly huge, gravity-defying chartreuse hat trimmed with fuschia bougainvillea blossoms. An absolutely marvelous look.
Ilda di Vico wore a busy black-and-orange print dress with puffy short sleeves and a v-neck, topped by a hat that was less a hat and more a large cluster of red flower blossoms. Although I liked the silhouette of the dress, and the flower headpiece was fun, the colors didn't work together for me, and I found the whole look to be too busy.
Another wonderful pairing of a very simple dress with a magnificent hat was sported by Jodie Kidd. She paired a white dress with flared sleeves and a modified handkerchief hem, trimmed with a simple black belt, with a deliciously whimsical hat formed by multiple brightly-colored small hats stacked together. It caught the spirit of fun of the race in a charming way.
Flora MacDonald Johnston was one of a number of women who chose to wear trousers rather than a skirt or dress. Her bright red, overall-inspired jumpsuit was cute enough, although the hem was several inches too long (I can only imagine how muddy the bottom of her pants were once the rain started later than morning). But the fuzzy, colorless straw hat, although it was a fun shape, didn't work with the jumpsuit for me. Perhaps if it had been trimmed with some red (or even contrasting colored) flowers, it might have worked, but the ensemble as it is was too disjointed and casual for the event.
Georgia Fowler stunned in a long mauve bandage dress and a tall, white-and-pink fascinator, accessorized by a small white bag and matching pumps. Great lines all around.
Zara Sassoon was a little frothy for my taste in an oddly disproportionate white tulle gown with a marabou-laden picture hat and clunky white-and-gray kitten heels. The concept wasn't bad, but everything seemed just a hair...off. The sleeves were a bit too short, the heels were a bit too pointy, the waistline wasn't quite empire but it wasn't quite natural waist either, and the hat was a funny shape. It just didn't come together for me.
I loved the bold orange lace gown worn by this unidentified attendee, with its simple silhouette broken by a marabou peplum, and topped with a magnificent tipped hat accented with orange ostrich plumes radiating like the rays of a star. The large red roses in the center of the hat provided just enough contrast of color to save the look from being too monochromatic. A dramatic and effective look.
Some couples chose to coordinate their (often whimsical) outfits, as did Rebecca Johnson and her escort, with the purple-and-white diamond print of his vest and her dress and jacket echoing jockeys' silks. She finished the look perfectly in a hat with a hugely oversized brim sporting silhouettes of jockeys riding horses. The perfect blend of elegance, tradition, and whimsy that is the hallmark of the Royal Ascot.
Ines Hernandez sported one of the most magnificent hats of the day; a hot pink and pale green concoction with bright and light pink roses at the center of a pinwheel of pointed green organza leaves tipped with bright pink marabou feathers. The underbrim of the hat was a delicate crown of more bright and light pink flowers. Hernandez wisely paired the hat with a simple short sundress of a slightly brighter pink, and a beautiful pair of light green bowed pumps. Simply spectacular.
Viscountess Weymouth wore a short, pleated ice-blue dress topped with a coordinating eyelash jacket with marabou cuffs, topped with a simply wonderful fascinator ornamented with chenille loops forming a flower. I'm not sure how she got around the "below the knee" skirt rule, but it's still a charming and elegant look.
Amanda Wakeley's charming blue velvet hat was designed for fashion, not function, so when the rain came out, she pulled out an umbrella to protect her lovely fitted cobalt blue satin dress with its bright coral underskirt. Too bad she didn't have a coral umbrella!
Some party-goers came as a group, like these lovely ladies in matching crinolined yellow wrap dresses topped with floral headpieces and finished with matching metallic sandals. A pretty but not especially eye-catching look - until you see five of them in a row.
This attendee chose a delightfully vintage 1920s look, with a drop-waisted black and white striped, mid-calf length dress, long pearls, and a black straw cloche adorned with a single black flower on the side. Bonus points for the lovely and period-appropriate embroidered hose.
The staff at the Ascot also wore matching outfits, vivid coral mermaid dresses and short black jackets with coordinating black-and-coral fascinators. I love the touch of individuality in the varying styles of black heels.
This enormous, gravity-defying, attention-grabbing, bright pink lace hat is adorned with a few puffy feathers. Magnificent!
These brightly-colored, oversized, flower-adorned hats were among the many fanciful and fantastical creations at the race. I especially like the yellow hat decorated with purple butterflies and pheasant plumes in the first photo, and the blue hat in the lower photo with its rainbow spray of feathers.
Doesn't it just make you want to go out and buy an amazing hat?!?
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