“Jaguar Style Stakes | 2014 Dubai World C” (CC BY 2.0) by jaguarmena
CAPTION: Hats and the races have always gone well together
In the history of horse racing, hats have always played a part. By tradition, racing is a sport for the wealthy and, traditionally, racegoers would demonstrate their own wealth. This demonstration would be not only through the horses they owned and trained, or came to see race and place bets on, but also the clothing and accessories they wore to the race course.
Today, although the racing world is far more accessible than it used to be and dress codes have generally become much more relaxed, part of the fun of going to the races is still getting dressed up for the event. In a similar way to a wedding or christening, it’s a great excuse to be more dressy than you usually would. So it goes without saying that hats are still very popular on race days.
Not all race courses have relaxed their dress codes. At England’s Royal Ascot, entry to the Royal Enclosure requires that all ladies should wear a hat. Should they choose to wear a headpiece or fascinator instead, it needs to be no less than four inches in diameter.
“Royal Ascot 2015” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by ReflectedSerendipity
CAPTION: Royal Ascot still has strict dress codes
The Kentucky Derby is also another big day for hats in the racing world, with traditional big brim hats being perennially popular. However, since Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie wore extravagant fascinators at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, fascinators have also become hugely popular at The Run for the Roses.
And at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver there’s the Deighton Cup – which has become a highlight in Vancouver’s fashion calendar in the last seven years. At the Deighton Cup – now in its eighth year – the best dressed lady and gent get to take home a trophy and up to $500 in prize money, so it’s well worth putting in some effort into your outfit if you’re going this summer!
Deighton Cup fashion, as written by @RunwaySidewalk. http://t.co/UFXi4mxcps #DeightonCup #LuckyNumber7 pic.twitter.com/bUMJIjDRoi
— Deighton Cup (@deightoncup) August 4, 2015
Of course, beyond a style statement, there are other good reasons for wearing a hat to an outdoor event. For example, you’ll protect your eyes from the glare of the sun, if you choose the right shape. Many racegoers also have a superstition that a hat will bring you luck in any betting that you do on the day. But it might be just as well to check out the Bet365 racing odds on your mobile for race day bets, rather than relying on a hat to bring you luck!
Hints on choosing a hat
- Decide if you’re going to be led by the hat or the dress. Start with one, and then find the other to complement.
- You may love the idea of a wide-brimmed hat for its style, but if you’re not a person who’s at ease in a hat, then a headpiece or fascinator may be the best option. With the huge variety of styles available, you can make just as much of a statement with a headpiece as you can with a hat.
- Rent or buy. Realistically, how much use are you going to get from a hat? If you have a couple of other events lined up this summer, you may want to buy a hat, but there are plenty of rental options available – which gives you the advantage of wearing something different for other occasions.
- Find a hat that suits you. Not all hats suit certain skin tones, head and face shapes. Watch a couple of hat advice videos or make an appointment at a hat store for a consultation.
