Dressing to impress at the races

Race days. They’re among the most anticipated summertime formal occasions; a chance to people-spot, spend big at the bar and mingle with celebs - but boy do they take some prepping! With prizes up for best-dressed, and women going all-out to impress, you’re under pressure to make a gargantuan effort. So much so, you spend weeks searching out a show-stopping outfit in the off chance you’re papped for the national press, then even longer finding hats and shoes that won’t blister, scratch or irritate you as the day’s excesses play out. Factor in fake tans and manicures and it’s like wedding day mark II.

Sounds obvious, but if you can get ahead with planning your outfit, you can shave off much of your prep time. A good place to start is looking at the key trends from the year before, and sussing out which outfits made the grade and why. Newspapers can’t seem to get enough of Ascot’s Ladies Day so will dissect the event in pictures after the event - just ensure you’re not styling yourself on the girls pictured laying spreadeagled on asphalt surrounded by broken WKD bottles.

The Daily Mail also recently published a style guide for dressing to impress at the races and how to style flattering hats, patterned dresses and chic suits for summer formal events. I’m pleased to see Coast get a few mentions as this is where I’m planning on buying my own outfit from for Ascot in a few weeks time.

I’ve definitely learnt my lessons from years past and will be swapping stilettos for wedges from now on. I’m also channeling a more classical style this season and ditching prints in favour of cool pastels. I am however torn between a structured look, and something more romantic. I love the drama of sharp tailoring but seriously doubt my ability to suck in my gut for the entire day!

ROMANTIC

DRESSES - MADDIE FRINGE TRIM DRESS (yellow) £115 / SADIE SHORT DRESS (blue) £129 / LAUREN BOW DRESS (pink) £129 / TOOLA DRESS (natural) £129 ACCESSORIES - SUMMER BELLE CLUTCH (blue) £45 / LEXI HATINATOR £80 / SUNNITTA COVER UP £89 / WHITE TEXTURE ROSEY CLUTCH £50

Why do I like it? It’s stupidly easy to wear, incredibly forgiving and seriously flirty. You get all the drama you need from the hemline or bust without showing off any skin. It’s all about texturing, draping and lightly skimming the body - meaning you can relax as the night wears on rather than sob when you catch a glimpse of what too many Pimms have done to your tummy in the toilet mirror.

If you have a bigger frame, don’t be scared to go with a shorter length jacket to accentuate shapely hips and give you a more hour glass silhouette. Sometimes we can rock the romantic look better than those with less on the bone.

STRUCTURED

DRESSES - SUFIA DRESS (beige) was £139 now £89 / JAKKI DUCHESS SATIN DRESS (blue) £185 / SHELLY TIPPED DRESS (monochrome) £115 ACCESSORIES MARLA BASKET WEAVE FASCINATOR £35 / TAREN BRACELET £20 / LACE MAB COVER UP (black) £49 / CERIN FEATHER JACKET (white) £195

I did warn you I was torn! I think the problem is that I imagine myself (a size 16) to be too curvy for structured-style dresses, when in fact I look great in them. Providing the structure is predominantly under the bust, and they’re generous proportioned around the hips, they fall nicely and give me some much needed shape.

I love the length of the dresses above and a sharp pair of “sensible” heels will elongate my dumpy legs. Furthermore high necklines will make my body appear longer and therefore taller (At 5ft 5, I’m no Cara Delevingne), whilst slightly longer jackets will disguise any resulting lumps and bumps. Finally, small belts or ruching will nip me in at the waist so I’m not relying solely on my holding my breath for a bit of shape!

I think I’m going to have to tweet Gok Wan on this one as I have no idea what the usual rules are on this sort of thing - but if I can find a dress that’ll flatter me all day, even when I’ve kicked off my wedges, lost my cover-up on the bleachers and am too drunk to keep on hoisting it down at the knees - I figure I’m good to go!