Whatever you do, do not call it ‘Ladies Day’
Smart and awash with latest fashions perhaps, but they insist the Gold Cup is what it is all about
Much imitated, never bettered: there are many Ladies’ Days in racing, but the original and best is at Royal Ascot.
The term was coined by a poet in 1823, who wrote of the Royal Meeting’s Thursday, that this “was Ladies’ Day, when the women, like angels, look sweetly divine.”
History does not provide us with the name of this sensitive soul, who one imagines hiding behind a Berkshire tree making the googly eyes at some Regency stunner. His phrase, however, has certainly endured, and it has inspired countless imitators. But no man is a prophet in his own land: the phrase Ladies’ Day is in near universal usage, except at Ascot.
“We haven’t referred to Ladies’ Day for as long as I remember,” said director of racing Nick Smith.
“We are comfortable with the public calling it that but to market it as such would cause confusion as ladies’ days away from Ascot are completely different.
“At Royal Ascot, on all five days, the fashion element is a relaxed, natural, organic, tradition that is steeped in history.”
Yesterday, the authorities state politely but firmly, was Gold Cup Day. However, for a great many of the 68,320 in attendance, it was absolutely about fashion and fun.
Couturier Suzannah, who operates under one name like Madonna, Boris, or Frankel, is at the head of the Royal Ascot fashion field. She explained that she makes “special event dresses with a modern twist” for “well-heeled” customers.
Two of those were Zara Tindall and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, both of whom were in Suzannah dresses: the Countess in what the designer classified as “a cream 1950s silhouette, very demure, with a metallic silver stripe through the weave,” which was exactly what the racing team were going to say, obviously. The younger Royal, meanwhile, was in a “soft blush peach shirt dress that complemented her figure and her skin tone.”
ITV fashion experts Mark Heyes and Charlotte Hawkins agreed that this famous Thursday resonates beyond the course. “Along with the Met Gala and the Oscars, this is one of the biggest fashion events,” said Heyes. “There is a definite difference to Royal Ascot, an extra elegance. The Royal Enclosure is on a different level to any other sporting event: this is a catwalk. You are seeing dresses that have not even come out in the shops yet because someone has contacts.” Hawkins agreed. “This is a Great British event. People are inspired by it for their style choices. The mixture of the tradition and the ceremony, with the Royal Procession setting the tone, creates something unique. Her Majesty never puts a foot wrong, always in her bright colours. She knows that everybody is craning to get a glimpse of her, and she is guaranteeing that you can say ‘I saw The Queen’ even if you are at the back of the grandstand.” Certainly, Royal Ascot was looking its very best for Her Majesty. As Rachel Trevor-morgan, who is milliner to the Queen, said: “In this era of dressing down, it’s an excuse to to dress up. With Her Majesty The Queen present, everyone wants to look smart.”
Smart indeed, was Ladies’ Day. Just don’t call it that around here.