You're not coming in dressed like THAT (but the Queen shows them how it's done) Royal Ascot fashion police enforce new strict dress code as course opens for first day of racing
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As thousands of racegoers prepare their finery to pay their pilgrimage to the Berkshire race course this week, they will no doubt be keeping in mind the new stricter dress code that has been issued ahead of this year's meet.
Much has been made of the new edict, issued to all ticket holders, outlining just what is and what is most certainly not appropriate attire for the five day race meet.
Most stringent of all are the rules for the Royal Enclosure, where racegoers will rub shoulders with the Queen. There, the erstwhile rule stating that miniskirts should not be worn has been refined to state that skirts should be 'modest', and should end no more than one inch above the knee.
Strapless dresses are banned, as are dresses or tops with shoulder straps less than one inch wide. Hats must be worn in the Royal Enclosure, and newly, the Grandstand (previously for this area hats were suggested), and these must have a base more than four inches in diameter - no fascinators.
Fashion police will be on patrol armed with pashminas and headgear for female guests who have 'forgotten' the rules; waistcoats and ties for the men (cravats are a no-no).
So as the first day of racing kicks off, how did the fillies at today's meet get on?
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Hope she wasn't planning on going into the Royal Enclosure! The high hemline on these shorts would not be considered appropriate attire... but RIGHT, Anneka Tanaka's flamboyant birdcage dress was deemed to pass the stringent dress code
Best dressed: The Queen looked splendid in a powder blue coat and dress as she arrived by carriage with Prince Philip for the opening day
Beware the Fashion Police! Two so-called dress code assistants inspect a racegoer's outfit as she enters the Grandstand at Ascot today
Getting the once over: A dress code assistant glances over a racegoer's outfit at the main entrance - and she gets the green light, while right, dress code assistants are also on hand to give ties and waistcoats to improperly dressed male guests
The first-day fillies at Ascot - so far - have mostly passed with flying colours. Skirts were regulation length, and there was hardly a badly tanned bare leg in sight (though this could have more to do with the unpredictability of British weather than the dress code).
The dress code assistants were left with baskets full of standard issue pashminas and ties in every colour imaginable.
But as with all race meets (see Aintree and Epsom for the finest examples of race day fashion), Ladies Day, held this Thursday, will be the true test of fillies fashion.
Visit the Femail homepage on Thursday for the best of Ascot's Ladies Day style.
THE NEW ASCOT DRESS CODES
ROYAL ENCLOSURE DRESS CODE
- Dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer
- Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater
- Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Royal Enclosure dress code
- Trouser suits are welcome. They should be of full length and of matching material and colour
- Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat
- Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch (2.5cm) are not permitted
- Midriffs must be covered
- Fascinators are no longer permitted in the Royal Enclosure; neither are headpieces which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches / 10cm)
GRANDSTAND DRESS CODE
- A hat, headpiece or fascinator should be worn at all times
- Strapless or sheer strap dresses and tops are not permitted
- Trousers must be full length and worn with a top that adheres to the guidelines above (i.e. strapless or sheer strap tops are not permitted)
- Jackets and pashminas may be worn but dresses and tops underneath should still comply with the Grandstand Admission dress code
- Midriffs must be covered
- Shorts are not permitted
'They're not the best quality, but they will do the trick': How one dress code assistant described the pashminas on offer to the scantily clad
Passing with flying colours! Ladies on Ascot's first day make sure to adhere to the new dress codes saying skirts should be modest length and straps no less than an inch wide
Best of British: Red white and blue was a popular colour theme at this year's Ascot
Birds of a feather: Perfect hats girls, but isn't that skirt a bit short?
Patriotic headgear was the order of the day at Ascot as Brits rediscovered their national pride; RIGHT, Jackie St.Clair's bow hat, by Siggy Harrods, made a statement
Standing out: Ascot is as much about the fashion parade as it is the racing
Grey days: A symphony of dove, slate and charcoal for this racegoer; RIGHT, Jackie St.Claire in a red white and blue ensemble with hat by Siggy Harrods
Now that's what you call fruity! A cherry hat tops this lady's colourful look
A beautiful broad-brimmed hat trimmed with flowers for this pretty in pink guest
Record breaker! A 7-inch trimmed with feathers becomes a hat for this flamboyant visitor
Rule breakers! In their mini skirts and strapless dresses, these girls would not be permitted into the Royal Enclosure or Grandstand, but are perfectly able to enjoy the rest of the Ascot racecourse
How low can you go? A daring neckline for this blonde guest... while this lady, RIGHT, dares to bare with an ultra-low backed red dress
Hemlines were often higher than guidelines should allow - but stewards were turning a blind eye. 'It's not gentlemanly to point it out,' they said
Hats off! Wide-brimmed headpieces were trimmed with feathers
Off to place a bet: Thousands of racegoers are expected to flood through the gates of the Berkshire course today
Grand day out: The men take don top hats as they attend the opening day of Royal Ascot while RIGHT, A handsome racegoer and his perfectly turned-out wife enjoy the sunshine at Berkshire course
Like the Jubilee all over again! Union flag bunting is strung across the course ahead of the Queen's arrival today
Little Bridge ridden by Zac Purton wins the Kings Stand Stakes during day one of the 2012 Royal Ascot meeting
VIDEO: Eccentric hats and some jolly singing at Royal Ascot...
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