Pretty Big Butterflies

In the U.K., sports enthusiasts are gearing up for spring horse racing, and for fashionistas, there’s no more exciting time on the sports calendar. This may sound strange to those unfamiliar with horse racing spectacles, but this is one sport with very close ties to fashion. For decades, men and women alike have dressed to impress while attending these events. A number of them even have designated “Ladies Days,” during which female spectators are invited to show off their best looks.

If this sounds like fun to you, or you have interest in attending some of the races this spring throughout the U.K., here’s a quick look at some of the Dos and Don’ts of race day fashion!

Do:

Choose an oversized hat. There’s no need to point to a specific race or occasion for which you’ll need an oversized hat, because these have become standard at most marquee races. The hat is viewed as the most important piece of any race day outfit, and many of them demand quite a bit of attention! While the U.K.’s biggest races all invite this trend enthusiastically, the U.S. Kentucky Derby may provide the best examples. But basically, a race day hat should be oversized and intricately designed, often with its own accessory piece.

Don’t:

Assume warm weather. Part of the popular image of racegoing ladies tends to be of loose, light sundresses, and that’s great when the occasion is appropriate. But for some UK races like the Cheltenham Festival and even the Grand National, it can be a little bit colder. In fact, preparations for the Cheltenham Festival are well underway! This is evident on Betfair, a sports analysis and betting site that’s posting previews and early outlooks here. And it’s all in anticipation of an event that’s set to take place in two months’ time, in early March when, incidentally, the temperature can still be below 10 degrees Celsius! Needless to say, a sundress just won’t do in weather like that.

Do:

Dress in layers. Naturally, this tip walks hand-in-hand with the idea of not expecting warm weather, but it’s still worth emphasizing that layers are the way to go for a horse racing event. These can be long days, and between the races when you’re enjoying a meal, drink, or otherwise, you may be inside and out. For that reason, it’s always convenient to have a coat, jacket, or even scarf handy for flexibility. Fur Hat World even made note of fur collars and hats as suitable cold weather gear for races back in 2013, specifically highlighting Pippa Middleton at the Cheltenham Festival.

Don’t:

Focus solely on colour. It’s true that horse racing fashion tends to be fairly bright and vibrant, but there’s also a place for attire that matches the country atmosphere of stable culture. This can mean suits and/or jackets in varying shades of brown, green, and black, particularly at the aforementioned cooler-weather events. Even with darker tones in your main outfit, there are plenty of ways to show festive displays of colour through your various accessories. Speaking of which….

Do:

Accessorise heavily! If there’s ever an occasion at which it’s fine to be somewhat gaudy with your appearance, it’s at a major horse race. Look through Mirror’s images from the 2014 Royal Ascot—one of the most prestigious events, from a fashion perspective, on the UK calendar—and you’ll see it’s the accessories that bring the outfits together. Sunglasses, jewellery, handbags, etc. are all prevalent, and heavy accessorising helps some of the ladies stand out in a rather impressive way.

That should be a good start! Take these tips into account, experiment a bit, and be yourself, and you’ll be in for a great race day look this spring.