Specific Fashion Rules Attendees Have To Follow At Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot, the five-day horse racing festival held each June in the South of England, has been on the racing calendar since 1711. By the mid 1700s, it was the place for Londoners to be, as is still the case hundreds of years later. By the early 1800s, a dress code had been set in place; though it's not exactly the same as it was back then, there are indeed rules regarding what can and can't be worn to the event.

However, the protocol depends on where you're seated: The Royal Enclosure, the Queen Anne Enclosure, the Village Enclosure, or the Windsor Enclosure. The Windsor Enclosure is where you get more budget-friendly tickets in a relaxed setting, and there isn't a dress code for people sitting here. However, "Guests are encouraged to dress in smart daywear," per the Ascot website. The Royal Enclosure is the most distinguished space, and requires that women wear hats or hatinators, a dress, jumpsuit, or skirt that falls just above the knee or longer, a suit where the color and material of the jacket and trousers match, and shoulder straps must be at least one inch wide. There is no length requirement for skirts and dresses in the Queen Anne and Village Enclosures, but there is for jumpsuits (below the knee, no shorty rompers). While some envelope-pushers may think the code is flexible, these are not fashion rules that are made to be broken; rule-breakers are denied entry.

Royal Ascot has provided many women, including members of the royal family, an opportunity to deliver some fashion high notes with their outfits, including two of Kate Middleton's most regal looks of all time and one of Meghan Markle's most iconic Princess Diana-inspired looks. As expected, royals likely wouldn't disregard the Royal Ascot fashion rules, like wearing sneakers. That's right, athletic footwear of any kind is verboten regardless of your designated seating area.

What else is a strict no-no? Guests in the Royal Enclosure are not permitted to wear strapless, halter, spaghetti strap, or one-shoulder necklines. Fascinators, "defined as a small headpiece attached to a comb, hair clip or headband" (per Ascot), are also not permitted for those over the age of 17. Headwear needs to have a base of 4 inches, per the rules. Visible midriffs and sheer fabrics are also on the banned list for the Royal, Queen Anne, and Village Enclosures. Guests in the Queen Anne and Village arenas are not allowed to wear strapless, one-shoulder, or off-the-shoulder necklines. Costumes or branded clothing (think mega logos) are a hard no for any enclosure. Some of these rules may seem strict, but as we can see from perusing pics of what people wear, there are plenty of options for pulling together a stylish, rule-abiding look.