How to Dress for the Races: A Style Guide for Every Woman

We all love going to the races — it’s the perfect occasion to get dressed up. But what happens when you have no idea what to wear? Wheth...

We all love going to the races — it’s the perfect occasion to get dressed up. But what happens when you have no idea what to wear? Whether you’re excited for getting glammed up for the event but want to make your outfit really stand out, or you’re unsure about how you’re going to dress for an outdoor occasion that has a very special dress code, this guide is for you.

Regardless of your personal style, our guide — put together by leading bags and purses retailer, River Island — will help you dress in style and confidence this races season.

Look glamorous

What better opportunity is there to look glam? If you want to channel a knock-out style that oozes female glamour, consider every aspect of your outfit and make sure they all works towards the same goal.

Forget ‘standard style’; everything you wear must embody a touch of glitziness. Go for one-shoulder styles, ruche embellishments, figure-hugging fabrics, and asymmetric hemlines — these are all popular dress designs worn by stars on the red carpet. Bright and bold block colours are on-trend for SS18 so bear this in mind when opting for a dress shade — scarlets, violets, fuchsias, and tangerines are good calls.

Bardot and bodycon dresses make excellent glamour-focused options, as they deliver elegantly bare shoulders and stunningly feminine silhouettes. For more glam-focused choices, go for bodices with lace or diamante embellishments create an aura of luxury. Finalise your look with a gorgeous fascinator, clutch bag and stiletto heels with a pointed toe to elongate your legs.

Look classic

Women have been attending the races for decades, and many still adore dressing in classic races-appropriate outfits.

Firstly, wear clothes featuring traditional, feminine prints — floral, chintz and polka dots are perfect. Then, look for these patterns on elegant dress styles with modest hems and necklines. Midi, empire and sun dresses are particularly well-suited to this type of event and will allow you to exude elegance while feeling all-day comfort.

Sweetheart necklines are inherently sophisticated, while capped-sleeve shoulders, and even long-sleeves, allow you to keep your shoulders elegantly covered — a dress code requirement at some races. Polish your look by adding simple jewellery pieces and neutral-shade heels for a beautiful outfit, then finish the ensemble with a flower-trim hat to clinch a classic look fit for the UK’s finest racing events.

Look alternative

The races may be traditional, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your style creativity at home. Once, the rules around race-day dress codes were so strict. However, attendees in 2018 have a lot more scope to bring their own style to the day. If you want an alternative but equally on-trend look for this year’s race season, try a jumpsuit. Go for a bold, block colour and make sure to accessorise it with statement jewellery, platform heels and extravagant headwear to make sure it fits in with the races crowd.

If jumpsuits aren’t your thing, go for something else. Remember; peplum designs, jacquard fabrics and asymmetric necks help to elevate the mainstream-fashion jumpsuit into races-ready ranks. Finish off with a flamboyant feather-bow hat!

And what’s wrong with a gorgeous skirt and top outfit? High-waisted pencil skirts offer an enviable outline and formal appeal that blends beautifully with the tone of the racing season. Go for white or black and pair it with a ruche-sleeve fitted blouse in magenta or wrap-around top with frill embellishments in cobalt to get on board with the colour-blocking trend for a flawless races-ready palette.

Look stylishly comfy

The races are often all-day events — who wants to be uncomfortable for hours on end? Don’t worry, there’s a way to dress that embodies style and comfort.

To start, consider your outfit in a layer format. This way, you can put on and remove as they day warms and cools. Wear a sleeveless swing dress — a famously comfortable fit — and throw over a three-quarter sleeve cropped jacket in a complementary shade. If the day calls for it, you can add a formal, tailored tweed coat with faux-fur detailing for extra warmth without looking and feeling dressed-down.

Want to ditch the tight-fitting fascinator? Do it. Either go hatless — many women do now — or opt for a looser beret or fedora, instead. It’s also common to wear boots, too, which is excellent news if you fear foot pain from wearing heels or platform wedges all day. Make sure yours are smart and chic — tan and black or ideal colours, while suede is synonymous with luxe-fashion.

One of the many options you have are denim skirts, which are often worn in the form of jeans or jean shorts. One use for denim that you may not have considered is as a dress. In reality, denim skirts are often worn Stars & Hollywood actresses. They are versatile garments you can wear almost anywhere, and they come in more styles than you can imagine. For example, you can get a shirt-dress that simply looks like an over-sized denim shirt that flares at the bottom. You can also buy denim dresses in other styles, such as dresses that resemble overalls at the top or dresses that tie in the front like robes. A simple denim dress is easy to dress up or down based on the accessories you choose.

Look royal

Lace, full skirts and below-the-knee designs are key to emulating a royal look at the races. Look for high-neck, long-sleeve designs in beautiful pastel shades, and make sure the hemline falls on your knee or below. Subtle and intricate floral embellishments are also popular choices to capture the royal look, while tulle skirts and modest headwear that matches your dress perfectly are essential to harnessing the style. A chemise dress with a simple short jacket also works wonderfully, as does a plain A-line skirt with a three-quarter sleeve blouse.

What about accessories? Think small heels and bags. Court shoes in suede and a petite, shoulder bag will add to the elegant vibe, while an oversized bow hat or a floral organza headband will perfectly conclude your royal races outfit.

Head to the races in style and confidence with these top style tips from River Island.

Sources: 
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/wear-cheltenham-festival/
https://www.standard.co.uk/fashion/news/cheltenham-races-ascot-races-what-to-wear-to-the-races-2018-holly-willoughby-kendall-jenner-kate-a3787326.html
https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/3537058/chester-ladies-day-racegoers-fashion/