Get set . .GO . . .Ascot Ladies Day . . .

So that time of year again is fast approaching . . yep you've guessed it Royal Ascot. For those of you who aren't familiar with what Royal Ascot is, quite simply it's a 5 day horse racing event, held at the prestigious Ascot racecourse in Berkshire, UK. What makes it that more special is the 5 day event is attended everyday by the Royal family. This event is well attended each year with many travelling from across the globe to attend Ascot (I won't even try to guess how many people as I simply do not know). Of course, with attending such an event with the Royal family on the premises there is a stringent dress code that must be adhered to otherwise no entry! Therefore it is a must to ensure your outfit is suitable and appropriate for the day. The Gents attire is pretty simple to piece together; smart suit and they're sorted. However for us ladies, it can often become a chore/stress finding the right outfit. I thought I'd do a blog post on outfits/ideas for Ascot, as sometimes it can often leave many of us struggling for ideas as to what to wear.

 
1. Comptoir Des Contonniers Leather Clutch £125.00

With the selected dress, I specifically chose a clutch handbag to match. I thought choosing this type of handbag makes a statement with the outfit. It is big enough to fit the 'woman' everyday essentials, yet still remains classy and not too over the top. The silver trim on the outer part of the handbag gives the handbag a bit of detailing without being too much. And the loop allows you to carry it on your wrist should you become fed up of it being under your hand/in your hand(s).

2. Christian Louboutin Filo Patent Leather £510

To match the selected handbag I chose a pair of nude patent courts, and of course every girls dream Christian Louboutin. I was unsure whether or not peep toe shoes would be suitable (which I suppose you could wear with this outfit if you wanted to), but I felt the courts were more suited to the dress. I felt this style of shoe would elongate the leg, and hide your toes if you hate your own feet.

3. Amy Childs 'Millie' Dress £65.00

I love bright, statement colours. Ascot is in the summer time where many tend to embrace the bright vibrant colours in their outfits. I chose the 'Millie' dress from Amy Childs collection as I felt this just oozed summer. To some this may be a little too bright and perhaps not suitable but I just think it's a gorgeous statement colour that is bound to catch the attention of many.

4. Crislu Pearl Nouveau Short Drop Earrings £48.00

Of course a lady can't go without a fab pair of earrings. I think I have some sort of obsession with pearls as I just find them so classic and classy. Depending on what your outfit is 9 times outta 10, they will go with just about anything. The pair selected here caught my attention purely because of the pearls but also the little diamantes which just finish the earrings off beautifully.

5. Fascinator £5.99
The fascinator accessory isn't for everyone, but I feel having one with this outfit just finishes it off beautifully. Putting the hair up into a low bun, placing it on the side of your head, with this fascinator put in simply finishes off the look.

One thing I forgot to add to this collage was either a nude pashmina/jacket. The racecourse at times can get quite 'nippy' so it's definitely a good idea to take something to cover your arms/shoulders.

Below are a few more dresses I came across whilst having a browse online.

 Next
Lipsy
ASOS
Chi Chi Clothing
Missguided
AX Paris

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As of last year Ascot have now become very strict on dress code. It was felt that the standards were slipping and it no longer reflected how Ascot use to be many moons ago. Those who attend and are based primarily in the Royal Enclosure will find that they are not permitted to wear the following anymore:

• Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck and spaghetti straps are not permitted.
• Midriffs must be covered.
• Fascinators are no longer permitted; neither are headpieces which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches / 10cm).

Those who attend and are primarily based in the Grandstand are not permitted to wear the following:

• A hat, headpiece or fascinator should be worn at all times.
• Strapless or sheer strap dresses and tops are not permitted.
• Trousers must be full length and worn with a top that adheres to the guidelines above (i.e. strapless or sheer strap tops are not permitted).
  
• Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Grandstand Admission dress code.
• Midriffs must be covered.
• Shorts are not permitted.

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 I attended Ascot a few years ago with my family and close family friends, and we had an amazing day. We went on Ladies Day, and as you can imagine the place was heaving with cackling ladies lol We were very lucky in that we had a glorious hot sunny day, which made such a difference to the whole day. We had no winners on the horses (boo) but it was still a lovely day. I will say this now though - it's not cheap (drinks/food/tickets/car park) but it's definitely a great day out :).

Hope you've enjoyed this blog post.

www.ascot.co.uk

PS: This is not a sponsored post, just getting into the Ascot mood (even if I am not going, and working allday next week instead - boo lol)