So another Royal Ascot comes to an end, and not just any Royal Ascot, but one held in the Diamond Jubilee year of Her Majesty The Queen.
In many ways, it was arguably the best Royal Ascot ever - not just because of the above, but with the performances of Frankel and Black Caviar, Frankie winning the Gold Cup, and a Royal winner to boot (all of which I am sure you have already witnessed or read about), the racing managed to overshadow the fashion. And it is the latter that I would like to briefly touch upon...
From our vantage point in our facilities on the top floor of the Bessborough, as we gazed over the course past the Royal Enclosure, there was a nagging suspicion that someone, somewhere down by the Grandstand, was holding a convention for an extraordinarily large number of accountants. For beyond the colour of the morning suits and hats of those next to us, was an ocean of grey, gently heaving this way and that like the North Sea off Great Yarmouth on one of those unfortunate summer holidays that one's father insisted upon years ago.
This was the result of Ascot's new shiny Dress Code (and believe me, some of them were both of these....).
Much has been made of the new regulations for female guests in the Royal Enclosure, but these were in fact minor changes, and if you insist on going into the Royal Enclosure you should expect these things. What had a far greater impact were the changes made to the code for Grandstand admission holders, who make up the majority of the crowd.
Ladies were now obliged to wear something on their head, either a hat or a fascinator (although the measurements, unlike for the Royal Enclosure, were not defined). Now many ladies of our acquaintance, especially those with beautiful hair, are quite stunning with no headgear, and a little less so with it. It mattered not to our clients and their guests, as once inside our facilities they could do with them what they wished, but it must have rankled a bit with the majority, especially as some ladies with the appropriate headgear had fallen victim to the cult of the tattoo, and resembled groups of Pictish warriors (and occasionally behaved like them too).
But the main victims were the gentlemen. The new rules outlawed jacket and tie, and insisted upon suits. I am willing to concede that some men may buy suits for smart casual wear, but I am convinced that they are a minority. Most men own suits for weddings and/or funerals, and some have them for work. Elegant jacket and trouser combinations, set off by a quality shirt and sometimes a fashionable tie, are very much the smart casual option for many men, and afford the opportunity for variety and colour - these the Ascot authorities banned, and forced the gentlemen back into their business or wedding/funeral suits. The result was - how can I put this - rather drab. Dark grey predominated, although I made the effort and came as Our Man in Havana, and consequently looked rather odd - but it was a suit.....perhaps I'll get some tattoos for next year as well.
Royal Ascot is still an internationally renowned sporting, social and fashion occasion; it would just be nice if the Ascot authorities gave back to people a little more freedom to put on a show.
