Ladies, take note! Royal Ascot unveils official style guide with a little help from a super stylist (and there's even trouser suit options)

Royal Ascot is one of the most popular events in the sporting and social calendar, with an annual attendance of nearly 300,000 people.

Getting - appropriately - dressed up is part of the experience, at least it was until recent years when standards started to slip and spaghetti straps, mini skirts and - shock horror - fascinators began showing up in the Royal Enclosure.

In a bid to reintroduce style befitting such a prestigious event, which starts on June 16 and runs until the 20th, the bosses at Ascot introduced stricter dress code regulations in 2012 and they're still going strong.

Royal Ascot, one of the most popular events in the sporting and social calendar, has unveiled its annual dress code with the help of expert stylists 

Off the track, the Royal Meeting will as ever draw eyes from the international world of fashion. The hats, shoes and dresses at Royal Ascot are as colourful and creative as the jockeys’ silks.

Ascot Racecourse, together with British retailer Fenwick, hosted a unique fashion show to celebrate the launch of women’s looks featured in this year’s highly anticipated Royal Ascot Style Guide. 

The official Royal Ascot Style Guide 2015 for racegoers

In the Royal Enclosure, ladies' dresses and skirts should be of modest length defined as falling just above the knee or longer, like this example

Trouser suits are welcome in the Royal Enclosure, and they should be of full length and of matching material and colour, say organisers 

Ascot Racecourse, together with British retailer Fenwick, hosted a unique fashion show to celebrate the launch of women's looks including, left, for the Royal Enclosure and, right, for the Grandstand 

The Royal Ascot Style Guide is designed to help race-goers dress appropriately for the highly anticipated iconic British summer-time event. 

Dressing according to the Royal Ascot dress code is an integral part of the event and an important part of the Royal Ascot experience, say event organisers.

Ladies within the main Grandstand Admission area are encouraged to dress in a manner as 'befits a formal occasion' say the organisers 

Fenwick is a destination store for Royal Ascot customers and all of the outfits featured in the show will be available to buy in store. 

First organised in 1711 at the behest of Queen Anne, and attended by British Monarchs ever since, each day of Royal Ascot traditionally begins with the Royal Procession in which The Queen along with her family and guests parade in front of the packed grandstands in their horse-drawn carriages.

The five-day meeting attracts some of the best horses from around the globe and features 18 group races, including eight group ones, with total prize money across five days in excess of £5.3million. 

Gentlemen in the Royal Enclosure, left, are required to wear either black or grey morning dress, while men in the grandstand are required to wear a suit with a shirt and tie, right

THE OFFICIAL ROYAL ASCOT STYLE GUIDE 2015 

ROYAL ENCLOSURE 

LADIES 

Ladies are kindly reminded that formal daywear is a requirement in the Royal Enclosure, defined as follows: 

• 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; however a headpiece which has a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat. Ladies are kindly asked to note the following: 

• Strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck and spaghetti straps are not permitted.

• Midriffs must be covered. 

• Fascinators are not permitted; neither are headpieces which do not have a base covering a sufficient area of the head (4 inches/10cm).  

GENTLEMEN

Gentlemen are kindly reminded that it is a requirement to wear either black or grey morning dress which must include: 

• A waistcoat and tie (no cravats) 

• A black or grey top hat 

• Black shoes A gentleman may remove his top hat within a restaurant, a private box, a private club or that facility’s terrace, balcony or garden. Hats may also be removed within any enclosed external seating area within the Royal Enclosure Garden. The customisation of top hats (with, for example, coloured ribbons or bands) is not permitted in the Royal Enclosure. 

CHILDREN (Admitted on Friday and Saturday only) Girls (aged 10-16) should be dressed for a formal occasion. Smart summer dresses are suggested. Hats, headpieces or a fascinator may be worn but are not compulsory. Boys (aged 10-16) should either dress in accordance with the gentlemen’s dress code; or alternatively may wear a dark-coloured lounge suit with a shirt. 

Overseas Visitors Overseas visitors are welcome to wear the formal National Dress of their country or Service Dress. 

Serving Military Personnel Serving military personnel are welcome to wear Service Dress or equivalent. 

GRANDSTAND 

LADIES 

Ladies within the main Grandstand Admission area are encouraged to dress in a manner as befits a formal occasion and ladies are kindly asked to take note of the following: 

• 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. 

• Midriffs must be covered. 

• Shorts are not permitted.

GENTLEMEN Gentlemen are required to wear a suit with a shirt and tie. 

CHILDREN Girls (aged 10-16) should be dressed for a formal occasion. Smart summer dresses are suggested. Hats, headpieces or a fascinator may be worn but are not compulsory. Boys (aged 13-16) should wear a suit or jacket with a shirt and a tie. Younger boys (aged 12 or under) should be dressed smartly but are not required to wear a jacket or tie. 

GENERAL In addition to the specific guidance in this brochure, please note that fancy dress, novelty and branded / promotional clothing are not allowed on site. Ascot Racecourse recognises that there may be instances where a degree of discretion is required in determining compliance with our dress code within the Grandstand. In such instances, reasonable judgement will be exercised. Guests within Grandstand Admission are welcome to follow the Royal Enclosure dress code available at ascot.co.uk. Whilst we encourage racegoers to wear smart clothes, no formal dress code applies in the Silver Ring except that replica sports shirts are not permitted.