Women's Designer Fashion & Luxury Clothing | ME+EM
Woman sat on a chair wearing a floral dress.
OFF TO THE RACES

What To Wear At Ascot

Words by Isla Philo. Design by Melanie Makariou

It’s almost that time of year again. Royal Ascot. Where avid racegoers and royalty rub well-dressed shoulders, and the rules of the dress code rival the rules of the tracks.

If there’s one thing to know about Royal Ascot, it’s that you have to dress the part. The most prestigious horse racing event of the year has a dress code to match, so to make things easy for you, we’ve curated an edit of looks that comply with the dress code of the various enclosures. That means your only concern is placing bets and enjoying champagne.

Dresses + Jumpsuits:
below the knee + no thin straps

Everyone puts their best foot forward at Ascot, so expect a sea of elegant dresses and, of course, sculpture-worthy hats. Our edit of midi and maxi dresses includes many Ascot-appropriate styles, from bold block colours to soft floral prints.

Left image: woman walking in a floral dress, right image: woman wearing a floral dress and brown blazer.

The dress code states that off-the-shoulder and strapless necklines aren’t permitted, so choosing something with long sleeves like our Fit + Flare Maxi Dress in matte silk crepe or silk-blend twill, or for short sleeves, the neat silhouette of this floral-print, textured cotton midi dress.

Certain sleeveless styles like our Full-Length Dress in Tangerine Orange guipure lace or a fluid Bias Cut Maxi Dress are ideal, since the straps are wider than 1 inch. 

Left image: model walking away holding a bag, right image: model walking in a cream dress.

Despite their wildly on-brand name, jumpsuits have only been allowed at Ascot since 2017. A great alternative to dresses with just as much, if not more, dramatic effect, our edit of raceday-approved styles includes soft colours like Sky Blue or Ganache Brown cheesecloth.

Winning Tailoring:
matching colour + fabric

We’ll never pass up on the opportunity for a great tailoring moment, and the races are the perfect time to make a suiting statement among a sea of dresses. A couple of things to note if you’re thinking of taking the tailored route: jackets + trousers should match in colour and fabric, and under-suit layers must comply with the dress code. 

Model sat on a chair wearing a pink suit, holding a brown hat.
Under Suit Parings:
must be dress code approved

The dress code extends to what’s worn beneath tailoring and jackets, so make sure your under-suit pairings fit the bill by choosing a supersoft silk Draped Top or a voluminous blouse. The same neckline rules apply for tops as they do for dresses: no strapless, one-shoulder, halter necks or off-the-shoulder shapes.

Unsinkable Heels

Aside from being genuinely comfortable, our signature flared block heel shoes have the added benefit of not sinking into the grass. And our take on the sculptural kitten heel also has a wider heel for added stability.

First Place Extras:
the perfect finishing touch

A day in the stands calls for practical yet polished accessories. While we may not be well-versed in hats - we’ll leave that to the expert milliners - we know a thing or two about sun-shielding sunglasses and compactly crafted bags.

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