Dramatic Hats, Bold Colors and Florals: Stand Out Moments From Royal Ascot 2024
LONDON — Fascinators at the ready, Royal Ascot has commenced.
The racing event that’s attended by the British royal family and racing enthusiasts (or even those who are not) is taking its fashion even more seriously this year.
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In February, WWD reported that British fashion designer Daniel Fletcher had been named the first creative director in the event’s 313-year history. He’s curated the annual look book and Millinery Collective for the 2024 season, two campaigns that promote fashion.
The Royal Ascot races take place at Ascot, a town in Berkshire, England, until Saturday this year and tickets start at 35 British pounds. The event takes place over five days.
This year’s attendees have so far included King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Zara Tindall, Charlotte Hawkins, Theo Walcott, Rosie Tapner and more.
Royal Ascot is also a platform for many British designers and milliners to showcase their designs that they’ve been working on with clients. The popular brands include Jane Taylor London, Beulah, Lulu Guinness, Emmy London and Parkin & Gerrish.
The racing event has a set of rules when it comes to dressing.
The Royal Enclosure requires all women to wear hats and, in most cases, skirts or dresses to the knee, while men must wear top hats and morning suits.
“Although there are longstanding dress codes to follow, there’s a real sense of creativity where people can experiment with styles they may not wear in their day-to-day lives,” said Fletcher, pointing out that the event didn’t allow jumpsuits until 2017 and navy morning suits were only permitted in the Royal Enclosure in 2021.
“The lines are more fluid than ever before and I look forward to bringing a contemporary take to some more traditional styles, as well as celebrating the accessibility of great tailoring for everyone and anyone,” he added.
Queen Anne founded the Royal Ascot races in 1711 and since then they have become a fixture for the British royal family to attend as a unit.
The late monarch Queen Elizabeth II was an avid hippophile, while her daughters-in-law, the late Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson; and Catherine Middleton and Meghan Markle, the wives of Prince William and Prince Harry, respectively, have always captured the attention of the press for what they wear.
Launch Gallery: Royal Ascot 2024 Best Dressed Guests
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