Ascot 2025: Ladies Day Everyday

We have been dressing our customers for the Royal Enclosure at Ascot for many, many years and so we have scoured our collective cranial archives for the best, most actionable tips for when thinking about your outfit. Of course, the Ascot dress code is an excellent guide to the 'rules' so here is a refresher from the horse's mouth as it were:

Royal Enclosure

Ladies are kindly reminded that formal daywear is a requirement in the Royal Enclosure, defined as follows:

• A dress or skirt falling just above the knee or longer (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted)
• Shoulder straps that are a minimum width of 1 inch / 2.5cm
• A jacket or pashmina may be worn. Tops and dresses beneath must still comply
• A trouser suit of matching material and colour
• A jumpsuit that falls below the knee and complies with the shoulder strap requirements
• Hats must be worn. However, a headpiece or hatinator with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches / 10cm is acceptable.
   

Queen Anne Enclosure and Village Enclosure

Ladies within the Queen Anne Enclosure are required to dress in a manner as befits a formal occasion and are kindly asked to take note of the following:

• A dress or top and skirt, with shoulder or halter neck straps (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted, no minimum length)
• A trouser suit of matching material and colour
• A jumpsuit that falls below the knee and complies with the shoulder strap requirements
• A hat, headpiece or fascinator

So with the rules understood, what's your next move? Well, besides making a beeline for our store, the first thing to consider is whether you have a dress or coat in your wardrobe that would be suitable? In this day and age, buying a completely new look every year really isn't necessary or sustainable, especially if it can be styled in a new and exciting way. 

If you are in the market for an investment piece however, then we would recommend choosing a coat with a timeless silhouette that can be styled in different ways, whether at Ascot or other smart outdoor events. Svelte longline styles are very flattering and thus never go out of 'fashion', while understated colours such as pastels are more versatile than many bolder designs.

There is of course the all important hat, which begs the question do you choose the clothes first or the hat first? The answer really depends on where your passion lies. If you have a hat or have seen one which completely blows you away, then perhaps you would be better served defining your look around the hat. In our experience, it is often easier to construct a look around a hat, than it is to find a hat to suit a look, simply because stunning hats by amazing milliners such as Atelier Millinery are few and far between.

Tonal looks, or in other words outfits which play to the same tune of colour are some of our favourites and take a lot of decision making out of the equation. Colour-clashing or pattern-clashing can be extremely eye-catching and effective but is very difficult to pull off and can easily look like a mess if you're not careful. Adhering to a more restricted colour palette is chic, sophisticated, and allows you more of a blank canvas to accessorise with statement jewellery.

We design much of our collection with tonality in mind. You'll find that our silk and linen dresses perfectly complement the tonal range across out coat collection. Many of our coats are block colour styles with a contrast colour making up the embroidery details, you you can pick out either of the two in your dress. 

See you at the races!!