Over the last century a day at the races has provided ladies with the chance to put on their most stylish dresses and combine it with accessories such as elegant hats and fascinators to help ensure they stand out from the crowd. While trends and fashions may change over the years, a lot of the old traditions have remained the same, this is especially true at some of the most famous race meetings such as Royal Ascot. In fact when talking about fashion at the races Ladies day at Royal Ascot is the meeting that always comes to mind with news outlets often covering it to get a peek at the latest fashions.
However, nowadays ladies race day dresses has become a fixture at many race meetings throughout the country such as Grand National Week at Aintree where women are given the opportunity to take centre stage. In this blog post we are going to look at the origin of these traditions and why dressing to impress has become such an integral part of a day at the races.
The Original Catwalk
In the days before fashion shows one of the best places to give other members of the public a chance to see your latest outfit was at a race meeting. Fashion designers and ladies alike used the tracks as ‘catwalk-avant-la-lettre’, according to the European Fashion Heritage Association journal.
With couturiers sending ladies adorned in their latest creations to race meetings they were seen as a place where society women could not only put on their best dresses but also get an insight into the latest fashions and trends. This is borne out by the fact that in 1922 the Times reported that Ascot Races was undoubtedly “ the best place in England to see beautiful women wearing beautiful clothes”. Because race meetings like Ascot and the grand national are considered prestigious events and have a link to the royal family, wearing your best clothes was a way of showing respect and an integral part of any visit.
The Important Role Played by Ascot
While horse races first took place at Ascot in 1711 it wasn’t until nearly 100 years later in 1807 that a dress code was implemented. The person responsible for this was a close friend of the future king George IV who made the decision that men must wear black coats, white cravats and pantaloons.
However, this dress code was limited to men and women were given a greater freedom of choice until some time later when Queen Victoria after wearing a porter bonnet( this was a headpiece that keeps the face shielded from observers) made hats de rigeur when attending Ascot. The influence the royal family had on Ascot was highlighted by the fact that when they were in mourning for King Edward VI all guests at the meeting dressed in black.
For anyone in the know the rules around dress codes at Ascot have been clear for many years it wasn’t until 2012 that the event organisers provided racegoers with a formal style guide. This stated that hemlines for women must rest just above the knee or lower and any straps on tops and dresses must have a minimum width of one inch. Anyone hoping the rules may be loosened over time will be disappointed as in 2018 off the shoulder necklines were banned. With its longevity and royal associations, Ascot sets racing fashion standards, and its influence rubs off on the rest of the racing world.
Racing Fashion through the Ages
Even though the rules around racecourse fashion can sometimes be quite stringent, it has always kept up with current trends and is often at the cutting edge of fashion. Rupert Wesson, the academy director at British etiquette experts Debrett’s, explained to CNN that events like Ascot have progressively adjusted their dress codes over time to align with shifts in society and fashion. However, he emphasised that these changes have been thoughtfully made to preserve the event’s sense of occasion, noting, “There is still an expectation to dress up!”.
By introducing trouser suits and jumpsuits women’s fashion has kept up with modern trends and styles. It was during the 1970’s that Ascot first formally allowed trouser suits into the Royal enclosure at Ascot and it was nearly 40 years later in 2017 that jumpsuits followed suit. The way fashion continues to evolve and how it is interpreted by racegoers means that there needs to be a flexibility in racing dress codes or they are in danger of being considered outdated.
A History of Hats at The Races
When the 20th century started hats were considered to be essential for anyone dressing formally, but this changed in the latter part of the century. However, the tradition of wearing hats has continued when it comes to the races, and in fact at some meetings they are mandatory which is the case in the Royal enclosure at Ascot.
Since Queen Victoria donned her porter bonnet years ago, race day hats have grown increasingly elaborate and extravagant, drawing nearly as much attention as the actual horse racing. In the early part of the 20th century horse racing was considered to be a sport for people with money and influence and wearing large expensive hats allowed them to show off their wealth and fashion sense.
Even though horse racing as a sport is no longer limited to the elite it still gives people the opportunity to wear all kinds of hats and fascinators something they don’t often get the chance to do. This is why dressing up at the races is a tradition that is certainly worth persevering with.
If you are planning a day at the races why not take a look at our wide range of dresses for the races. At British retro we have an extensive selection of vintage dresses and accessories that will help ensure that you look your absolute best for that trip to the races.