Style: October 04, 2017

24 STYLE | report
Kentucky Derby.
rules now requiring them to be a minimum
of two inches in width.
The 2017 Style Stakes saw 1940s and
’50s inspired sartorial choices take out the
top awards – think fitted, tea-length A-line
dresses for the ladies, and linen three-piece
suits with straw trilbies for the gentlemen –
the epitome of restrained elegance. And the
prize for best dressed? In 2016, the male and
female winners were both rewarded with a
Jaguar F-Type Coupe to use for six months
– not bad for a day at the races.
ROYAL ASCOT
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the sport of horseracing
as we know it today found its origins
in medieval England, when knights returning
from the Crusades would challenge the
prowess and endurance of their steeds. The
spectacle quickly began to draw crowds,
and soon transitioned into a more formally
arranged event for the entertainment of
local gentry. Before long, a betting element
emerged, allowing money to change hands
between observers and participants.
Horse-racing has long enjoyed a close
association with British nobility, with Royal
Ascot itself being established by Queen
Anne in 1711. The story goes that when
out riding her horse, Queen Anne herself
happened upon a piece of land she thought
would be “an ideal place for horses to gallop
at full stretch”. She began holding equestrian
events there not long after, which soon
evolved into the official race we’re familiar
with today.
Even today, royal attendance is guaranteed
at Ascot, and seating in the Royal Enclosure,
which was established by King George IV
in 1822, is restricted to those with noble
blood. Due to this long-standing royal
connection, and accompanying reputation
for class and elegance, Royal Ascot remains
one of England’s premier events at which
to see and be seen. Every year, the threeday
meet hosts 300,000 guests – who can
expect to pay over $500 for premium-level
entry and access.
The Ascot experience can be enhanced
by attending private drinks in the Furlong
Club, which offers caviar and smoked
salmon, partaking in Pimm’s at the Gazebos,
or travelling to the racecourse by way of
the Ascot Express, a train chartered from
London directly to the grounds.
Dress code regulations are stringent,
particularly for ladies – chief among them
being a ban on strapless, off-the-shoulder
or halter-necked dresses, as well as any
garment exposing the midriff. While trouser
suits are now welcome, the pieces must be
of matching material and colour, and, like
jumpsuits, are required to be of full length,
that is, to the ankle.
While hats are an iconic part of Ascot
attire for both men and women, fascinators
are prohibited, and all headwear must have
a solid base of at least 10cm in diameter.
Within these parameters, however, Ascot
millinery has seen a lot of experimentation
within recent years, with tradition meeting
high-fashion to create some truly avantgarde
and, at times, gravity-defying
designs. While many women still opt for a
conventional hat, unique creations by the
likes of Philip Treacy (who designed Princess
Beatrice’s iconic Royal Wedding headpiece)
are becoming increasingly common sights at
the track.
KENTUCKY DERBY
An American cultural institution since its
establishment in 1875, the traditions and
rules of Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Derby
find their heritage in European races.
The Derby’s founder, Colonel Meriwether
Lewis Clark Jr., had experienced the racing
events of England and France, and, deeply
influenced by them, sought to bring their
sporting sophistication back to his own
shores. While the event, held on the first
weekend of May every year in Louisville,
Kentucky, in the heart of America’s South,
was initially inspired by the culture and
refinement of European aristocracy, it has
also taken on a unique identity, becoming
steeped in Southern traditions of its own.
Hat-wearing is a particularly strong part
of the Kentucky Derby tradition, and is
thought to stem all the way back to the
introduction of the race in the late 1800s.
While English and French women of noble
blood were used to donning their finery for
a day at the races, the notion of dressing up
for a sporting event was foreign to highbred
American women, as was the very
concept of socialising in a setting that hosted
gambling and alcohol. In response, organisers
framed the event as an opportunity
to showcase their fashion credentials,
overcoming guests’ reservations while also
making the Derby synonymous with style
and elegance.
While times and fashions have moved on
considerably since the advent of these horse
races, the custom of hat-wearing and formal
dress in general have remained, as both a
nod to a well-respected tradition and an
Melbourne Cup.
acknowledgement of the timeless elegance
of the style.
The uniquely Southern tradition of
drinking mint juleps at the Derby has been
around since the races’ advent. The cocktail
combines Kentucky bourbon whiskey with
mint to both celebrate the state’s most
iconic liquor, and help combat the oftenoppressive
Southern heat. While they’ve
always been a feature, the story goes they
became a centrepiece after visiting Polish
actress, Helena Modjeska, expressed her
love of them after sampling them at the
track. It’s thought that over 100,000 are
served up every year, so if you’re thinking of
attending the Derby, a mint julep in hand is
a must!