Royal Ascot: fascinators will not be allowed in Royal Enclosure this year
PICTURE: Getty ImagesAscot tightens dress code for 2012 royal meeting
THE fascinator, the subject of much, well, fascination among fashion pundits, was the most notable victim following Ascot's decision to tighten up its dress code for the 2012 Royal Enclosure.
However unlike thenew whip rules there remains some discretion at least as far as the ladies are concerned. Dresses must be of "modest length, just above the knee or longer" while the in-vogue fascinator headgear is banned, although ladies are allowed to wear a "headpiece with a base of 10cm or more in diameter".
Miniskirts and bare midrifts remain banned along with any strapless, sheer-strap and halter-neck dresses as Ascot fights back against the less-is-best culture on the back of rising attendances last year.
There are no grey areas for the gentlemen in the royal enclosure in their morning suits except that colour being permitted along with black but now they must wear black shoes and a tie, not the more foppish cravat.
Outside the royal enclosure, racegoers will have to smarten up with ladies now required to wear hats, although fascinators will be allowed in the grandstand enclosure, and men must don suits over their shirt andtie rather than just a jacket.
Even the silver ring dress code has been tightened slightly as last year the only exclusion was bare-chested racegoers. This year replica sports shirts are banned.
Ascot's chief executive Charles Barnett, who has overseen the fleshpot that is ladies Friday at Aintree's Grand National meeting in the past, said: "We have worked extensively with experts in the world of fashion to define better what formal dress means, and assisting everyone in understanding what is expected and, we believe, cherished about the dress code at Royal Ascot."
The fascinator ban is to check the increase in the basic feather
clipped to the hair type and the new minimum headpiece size will still allow plenty of creativity, according to Ascot.
Barnett added: "We get feedback with numerous letters each year after the meeting and our customers as well as our fashion experts are behind the changes.
"Most people want to abide by a clear and concise dress code. It isn't a question of elitism and not being modern in a world where there is less and less requirement to dress smartly - far from it. We want to see modern and stylish dress at Royal Ascot, just within the parameters of formal wear."
Tickets will clearly state the new dress code which is already on
Ascot's website, to help avoid confrontations at the gates during the meeting from June 19-23.
Last year the crowd topped 70,000 on both the Ladies Day Thursday and Saturday, when the crowd was 55 short of 77,000.
Comments