No fancy dress but always socks – the essential guide to what to wear

Planning a day at the races? Wendy Douglas steers you through the minefield of the Ascot dress code

Apologies, did you say there’s horse racing at Royal Ascot? Don’t be silly. As anyone who’s anyone knows, Royal Ascot is actually all about the clothes.

In fact, it’s a five-day festival of fabulous fashion and preening prowess. The races may be impressive but not nearly as thrilling as the parade of elaborate outfits and extraordinary hats that makes its way around the Royal Enclosure each year.

And it’s not just your sense of style that’s being judged, but whether or not you’ve adhered to the event’s strict dress codes. Woe betide the racegoer who thinks they can slip behind the velvet rope in a cheeky mini-skirt or without some form of headpiece.

“I love the fashion at Ascot,” says Lisa Redman, a bespoke womenswear designer who is creating 12 Ascot-appropriate looks for private clients this summer. “It’s about parading your Sunday best, there should be respect for that tradition.”

Ascot is no place for rulebreakers so make sure you don’t fall foul of the fashion police this year with our guide to getting it right. Firstly, take a close look at the specific dress code for the enclosure, and stick to it. Then consider these Dos and Don’ts...