The Races: What to Wear to Ascot

Ah Ascot – there is nothing more British. A place to be seen and bask in the sunshine all the while drinking Pimm’s and betting on your favourite horse to win. And we all know that plenty of care goes into choosing the perfect outfit for Ascot from hat to shoes. So what do you wear to the races? I’ve chosen the perfect three looks that are easy to wear to Ascot, all the while looking very lady-like and glamorous. It’s important to able to answer the question, ‘Where did you get your dress from?’ with confidence. After all, Ascot only comes once a year and with it the chance to dress in your very best finery. So what to wear to Ascot…

So the question is how do you stand out of the crowd with your outfit at Ascot? Well it’s all about a twist on the ordinary. And seeing as Ascot is so very British it makes perfect sense to wear a British designer – Alice Temperley to be exact. I’m in love with this Somerset by Alice Temperley jumpsuit (exclusive to John Lewis) which is a show-stopping blue colour that is perfect for a special event. I like that it’s not your typical dress although it’s long and flowing enough to be very dressy. 

So much thought has gone into the floral lace detailing and the piece is really well-made – the quality is superb. And it’s not only for the races which I like – you could also wear this dress for wedding season and for special occasions. It’s ultra-feminine with the ruffled detailing and it doesn’t feel too tight so you can still breathe (meaning more room for more Pimm’s and canapes). 

This is a chic spin on your everyday dress for the races with a colour that would flatter every skin tone. And the great thing about it as that because this jumpsuit is such a standout piece, you just need to pair it with a strappy pair of shoes and a clutch or bag (I’ve paired mine with my Aspinal of London Mini Trunk Clutch in Smooth Ivory & Zebra – currently on sale at 50% off!) and you are good to go! 

For shoes I found the perfect pair from New Look who have amazing summer shoes this year. These Black Satin Bow Side Heeled Sandals are comfortable and also add to the feminine feeling of this look. 

For jewellery I’ve also kept it simple with a Pandora pendant and my beautiful new Tissot PR 100 Powermatic watch.

For my next outfit for Ascot I’ve gone for the traditional little black dress – something you just cannot go wrong with. This one is from the Star by Julian Macdonald collection from Debenhams. I love it when designers create collections with high street retailers and department stores so that we can afford to own a piece from that designer that we might not be able to otherwise afford. So again, another British designer features in this look. I love this little black mesh pencil dress – it reminds me a lot of Self Portrait which is another brand I absolutely love. 

Let me first also start by saying this dress is super flattering. It nips in the waist just enough to make it appear tiny but without restricting air flow! I absolutely adore the mesh detailing on the bottom and top of the dress. This is a pencil dress so is very slimming and the midi length also keeps this a very classy and elegant look for the races or for wedding season. 

I’ve paired this little black dress with a pair of Black Tapestry Embroidered Cross Strap Heels from New Look – again who have an amazing shoe collection for the summer. You can be a bit more daring with the shoes with this dress as it’s all black so an embroidered heel or a heel with a pop of colour will really stand out. 

And for race season you must have a show-stopper hat! The perfect hat for Ascot has got to be again from a British designer – in this case Julien Macdonald again. His Star collection for Debenhams has FABULOUS hats for wedding season and the races season. And I think that with this little black dress you can be quite daring with your fascinator as well. I love this one – it’s big and bold and definitely an attention-getter! I love the little red feathers that pop out of the top of this hat which add another dimension to it. Simply faaahbulous dahhhling. 

And for those looking for a princess dress then I’ve got one for you princesses too! This fabulous Francis dress from Chi Chi London (who also have gorgeous event and occasion wear) is the perfect doll-like dress for racing season or wedding season. This dress made me feel like a princess too with it’s layers of tulle – perfect for dancing or swirling around (isn’t that what princesses do?). 

The dress is a cream colour so very classic with gorgeous gold embroidered detailing. The bodice fits quite nicely and then flares out with a mesh underskirt. I got lots of looks in this dress – it’s a fabulous occasion wear piece and as this dress does all the talking you can pair it with a some strappy heels and a nice clutch and you are ready to go. Keep the jewellery simple on this one since it is such a show-stopping piece in itself. For all the girls out there who love a fairytale – this dress is truly dreamy. 

I hope you have enjoyed my Ascot lookbook and suggestions on what to wear for Ascot and/or wedding season occasion wear! Let me know what your favourite look is and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @beautyrocksblog for all my latest posts!   

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