OFF TO THE RACES

There’s a certain anxiety that comes with dressing for a big event. Black tie, cocktail, ambiguous wedding themes … picking an outfit that fits within the confines of the dress code while also being, you know, stylish, can become a laborious and stress-inducing enterprise. But even the most seasoned dresser, one who pulls out a perfectly on-point ensemble for any given occasion with apparent ease, would be overcome with panic ahead of Royal Ascot.

A tradition dating back to the 1700s, the five-day racing affair is the crème de la crème of British social events, attracting the entire royal family, as well as a heavy dose of celebrities and top models. The dress code is among the most rigorous of any event globally, with the style guide clocking in at a cool 36 pages. A taster of the kind of rules to be