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Ascot: The New Guidelines

Ascot is one of those long standing, extremely English traditions that distinguish us from other british cultures. The formal nature of Ascot displays just how important it is of having our Royals out in public, in action amongst us normal folk . The national news reports of the arrivals by carriage, observations upon who’s wearing what, hats of course, and a general air of sophistication and elegant nature that conceals the real motives, which is having a bet.

The Royal Family add a distinguished edge to the proceeding and are as a whole, involved with all things horsey. At Royal Ascot however, the Royals are more important in that they dictate certain aspects of the day especially when it comes to sense of style. The Royals are not regarded as trend setters within the fashion world but Royal Ascot is their day when it comes to showing the world just what it means to dress and act in a distinguished manner.

Mr James Sherwood, a renowned fashion guru stated about Her Royal Highness The Queen, `In the last 10 years the queen has bloomed and looks both happy and glorious. This is due largely to to her dresser Angela Kelly and younger designers such as Stewart Parvin. As Miuccia Prada recently said, the Queen is modestly the most elegant woman on the planet.`

James comments as part of the BBC team at Royal Ascot and stated `It is the people who try to dress dreadfully to get on the television who I usually have the severest words for.` with such a critical eye, there are many cautions from all fashion guru’s that to choose your clothing for Ascot is all about sticking to those all important rules for the Royal Enclosure.

The rules are a direct result of the anti-‘WAG’ feeling and to continue with the sense of occasion. For women any strapless, halter necked, spaghetti strapped necklines are not welcomed. All stomach area’s must be clothed and trousers must be to the floor and if at all possible part of a ensemble. Skirts or dress length must be no more than two inches above the knee and bare legs are frowned upon. Women must also wear some form of hat or "substantial fascinators." The guideline also warns against streaky tan lines, chewing gum, using mobile phones and remarks that underwear are appropriate but we have no need to see them.

Her Majesty opted for pastels and so did the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Anne, The Countess of Wessex and a few other minor royals. However, much was made of the more youthful female Royals including Zara Phillips who had previously been viewed as a Royal rebel in the past showed herself to be incredibly stylish and elegant in her 50’s inspired outfit. It was Eugenie’s hem line that raised a few eyebrows as it is on the shorter side of knee length and possibly more than two inch above the knee, but the Royal Ascot spokesperson declared to not to have noticed and claimed "As long as it is not a miniskirt and is in keeping with the rest of the outfit then the wearer would be allowed into the Royal Enclosure."

Article Source: http://www.dummiesguideto.com

Chelsea is a part-time writer, writing occassional columns on anythingequine.co.uk, who specialise in a range of horse tacks and chaps.

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