Seriously! I want to know what could possibly be better than the Ascot time of year?! The verdurous perfection of manicured racing lawns and meticulous gardens alongside the racecourse, the scent of that freshly mown grass intermingled with Floris White Rose (Her Majesty's alleged favourite), and of course the perfect smattering of Lock & Co. Top Hats and enormous extravagant, Titanic-esque proportioned masterpiece hats worn by the ladies, add to this the sound of carriage wheels approaching and God Save the Queen playing and I assume I would just swoon/go into a fit of giggles just from the sheer thrill of it all. It's somewhere between the My Fair Lady Ascot scene and one of the Buckingham Palace Garden Parties I always catch myself watching on youtube. Simply Put, it seems like the stuff of dreams. To me anyway, a dream is all it is, as i haven't been (fml) However, pictures are worth their fair share of words so I thought I'd give you some racetime inspiration for us all to lift the standard for Melbourne Cup!
There were dress codes mailed out and posted online prior to the event this year
, and the standards have certainly been lifted, not only for the uber exclusive Royal Enclosure (Prince Harry, give me strength) but for the regular ticketholders as well. These are some of the rules they enforced:
Ladies
Dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer.
Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater.
Jackets and pashminas may be worn, but the dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Royal Enclosure dress code.
Trouser suits are welcome. They should be full length and of matching material and colour.
Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat.
Ladies are kindly asked to note the following:
Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck and spaghetti straps are not permitted.
Midriffs must be covered.
Fascinators are no longer permitted; neither are headpieces which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches / 10cm).
Gentlemen
(Gentlemen are kindly reminded that it is a requirement to wear black or grey morning dress, which must include)
A waistcoat and tie (no cravats)
A black or grey top hat
A gentleman may remove his hat within a restaurant, a private box, a private club or that facility's terrace, balcony or garden. Hats may also be removed within any enclosed external seating area within the Royal Enclosure Garden. The customisation of top hats (with, for example, coloured ribbons or bands) is not permitted in the Royal Enclosure.
Black shoes
It's on my go-to list of events definitely in the near future, as is the Henley Regatta, a sprinkling of Polo Matches and the Queen Charlotte's Ball, before settling in for a nice cigar in one of the marvelous oak-panelled libraries at White's #idreamedadream #oneday #wishingandhoping