What To Wear To The Races - Women

Knowing what to wear at the races can be a daunting task at times, and although there is no real dress code set for a day at the races (although it can be wise to check on the racecourse's website to see if there is one beforehand), it is usually a nice time to let off a bit of steam and show off your dress sense. With that being said there can be a little more pressure on the ladies, as they have everything from dresses, shoes, hats and fascinators to choose to make sure they all work together and complement the rest of the outfit.
Flat Racing (Summer Months)
The majority of flat meetings on the grass are during the summer months, so although the weather can be pretty indifferent in England during the summer, it can usually get pretty warm at its peak. The Jockey Club has brought in a “wear what you feel comfortable in” marker to their 15 racecourses, so you don’t have to fully dress up if you aren’t feeling it. However, most do, especially at the bigger, busier meetings that might be scheduled.
Some of the bigger flat meetings of the year are Royal Ascot (In June) or Glorious Goodwood (In August) which is said to be the perfect time to get out the fineries and really go to town with what you can wear. One thing to note with these meetings is to make sure you check out the dress code via the websites, as these bigger meetings can be a little stricter on what you can and cannot wear for the day.
As mentioned, with the flat meetings usually being during the summer months, you want to wear something comfortable that won’t be too hot but still look your best. Many women usually wear a light, flowy dress, or other more comfortable outfits, such as a Jumpsuit. If in doubt about what to wear, just dress up nice in something appropriate for the weather that you feel comfortable wearing. The racecourse dress codes are really not that strict!
Footwear is probably the most important part of the outfit for the ladies, as you need to be clever with what you wear as you’re going to be on your feet for a lot of the day. Heels are an obvious, popular choice, but please bear in mind at some tracks there is grass you might need to walk across, so bear that in mind when finalising your shoe choice. If you prefer a flat shoe, you could consider sandals or loafers, as both still look classy and can complement an outfit nicely.
The final accessory to finish off the outfit could be a nice hat or fascinator, something that can really complement the outfit nicely and is one that could be the final straw to winning any best-dressed competitions the racecourse might do during a meeting (typically a ladies day meeting). These are not mandatory by any means, and depending on what enclosure you are visiting during Royal Ascot week might depend if you have to wear one or not, so it is always worth checking before making the trip there.
Jumps Racing (Winter Months)
Jumps racing or National Hunt racing tends to operate during the winter months (although we do have some summer jumps meetings in the UK; be sure to check out any dress codes if you visit them), so it is very much a case of dressing appropriately for the weather. Knowing England, that means raincoats and umbrellas to keep you warm and dry!
Keeping warm and dry is essential, some if not all the racecourses are very much open to the elements, so there will no doubt be a cold wind which can cause havoc with the rain as well. So a nice warm jacket that can keep you dry is a must, a lot like to dress in tweed jackets, which is a nice look but obviously not essential. As long as you have something that keeps the rain and wind out, that’s perfect. Remember you will be on course for about 3 to 4 hours, and depending on the meeting, there might not be as much space under shelter or indoors, so dress appropriately. The weather forecast a day or two before can be a real friend of yours.
Boots are probably the most popular footwear, as they are comfortable and keep your toes protected, unlike heels. Again, this is necessary, as there is nothing worse than cold feet when at the races. Boots also add to the tweed country look, which, as mentioned previously, is a real trend when going to these winter jumps meetings.
Overall, just prepare your outfits to keep you warm and dry during the day. If you have a slightly busier meeting, an umbrella might not be ideal. Therefore, make sure you have a jacket with a hood, which could become your best friend if it rains.
There is no real dress code for the Jumps meetings, even at a meeting like the Cheltenham Festival, which is the premium Jumps meeting of the year. All they state is that you dress comfortably and suitably for the weather. Adhering to the rules will make your day a whole lot nicer.
Summary
The key piece of advice we can give you is to double-check the dress code for the racecourse you are set to visit. Although most are run by the Jockey Club, some might have slightly different rules on what to wear. But ultimately, wear something you feel comfortable in, as a day at the races can sometimes be a full day out with that outfit on.

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