How To Dress For The Races - Women’s Guide

It can be quite stressful figuring out what to wear for the races and finding the right outfit and accessories, so we've taken the liberty of coming up with this simple guide on How To Dress For The Races.

A day at the races can be a lot of fun, but for women, it can come with the extra pressure of coming up with an eye-catching outfit - and looking the part.  Many women find themselves googling “what do you wear to the races” as they want to ensure they get their look right, that may even be how you found this blog.

First, consider the time of the year you are attending, summers at the races will require a very different outfit than attending the races in the winter.  Consider the season, as this will influence your choice of outfit and possibly your choice of colours.  Always check the forecast and be ready to add an extra layer, the weather in the UK can be unreliable.

And finally, remember that it is not mandatory to dress up in formal attire for all the races.  Study the dress code of the horse racing event you are attending.  Just remember that Royal Ascot has the strictest dress codes and failure to comply can result in your admission being refused, so be sure to read over the website thoroughly.

Style Tips For What To Wear To The Horse Races:

A day at the races is a great excuse to get dressed up

We asked Sustainable Fashion Stylist Roberta Lee for some style tips for ladies who want to look their best for a day at the horse races.

Here's what she recommends for when you plan your outfit for the races:

"Depending on your personal style and personality, you'll want to use the occasion to be bold and experiment with an outfit you wouldn't wear anywhere else.  Or you may want to go for an understated approach and opt for something that is classy and fabulous. 

There is a lot of value in dresses that you can wear for multiple occasions, that look great dressed up and dressed down.  This is why I love Jenerous dresses which are classic, modest, and versatile, with the extra bonus that they are ethically and sustainably made.  They even have mini-me versions of dresses as well for mothers who love twinning with their daughters."

5 Styling Tips For Women Attending The Races

5 tips from a stylist to help you dress for the races

Style Tip No.1

Start with your footwear, and work your way up. A day at the races means a long day on your feet, and walking on grass, so avoid stiletto heels. You will want to wear shoes that have chunky heels and won't leave you stuck in the mud.

Style Tip No.2

A day at the races is typically a formal affair, my advice is to think of race-day outfits much like a wedding guest outfit. If you have a wedding guest outfit this will undoubtedly translate to the track and you'll fit in.  Fashion at the horseraces is timeless, it's not about following trends. Gravitate towards classic items that you can wear again.

Style Tip No.3

Keep it classy, a day at the races is not the time to flaunt your abs or show off how toned your legs are in mini-skirts or hotpants.  Keep the amount of flesh you have on display minimal. The perfect length of your hem is just below the knee, known as a midi-length.  You can also get away with some events wearing dresses and skirts that stop just above the knee, ideally no more than 3cm.

Style Tip No.4

Have fun with accessories.  Attending the races is a fantastic excuse to experiment with larger-than-life fascinators, over-the-top hats, statement belts and fabulous clutch bags.  The right accessories can truly transform a simple dress.

Do try to borrow, rent or find your hat preloved, as these are the type of purchases that don't often get worn again.  I love browsing eBay and the Oxfam websites, but I would recommend going into a charity shop in person so you can try the hat on.

Style Tip No.5

Be prepared for the great British weather fluctuations and bring a pashmina, a blazer, a jacket or even a coat depending on the time of year.

Dress Codes for Different Horse Racing Events:

How to dress for horse riding events, make sure you check the dress code

We've established that not all events and horse races are equal, some will have different requirements. You'll want to study the dress code for the event you are attending.

●      Ascot has very strict and specific dress code requirements which you can read here

●      If you're attending Ascot, check the headpiece requirements, some areas require hats and some areas are OK with fascinators. The Royal Enclosure states hats should be worn (no fascinators) with a solid base of 4" (10cm) or more in diameter

●      Remember to keep hemlines classy

●      And steer clear of deep V-neck dresses that show more than a little cleavage.

 

How to Dress Appropriately For The Races - Conclusion

How to dress for different horse racing events

Choose the right outfit that you'll feel comfortable in, and if you do buy a new one, make sure that you'll be able to utilise it again for other events.  Don't forget that the UK weather is temperamental, so always plan your look with extra layers that can keep you warm and dry.  Make sure you have the right shoes for race day - and finally have fun with accessories.

Horse Racing Ethics

As an ethical brand, we are aware of the unethical practices that can happen within the sport. We do not condone it, nor do we support it. We do recognise that people will attend racing events regardless of our position on it.  Whilst we are focused on changing lives through ethical fashion - we are not without conscience of the other unethical things going on around us. To find out more about animal welfare within racing at Ascot, please click here

If you enjoyed this blog,  we are sure you'll like our 5 Outfit Ideas for Women For The Races one too.

DISCLAIMER: Images are for illustrative purposes only. We do not endorse, we are not affiliated with any of the brands featured. We strongly recommend borrowing or renting hats for those special occasions like a day at the races.