ascot outfit - is this suitable for the royal enclosure?

[carat]

It's the first day and the Queen will be there.

I like this from LK Bennett. It's navy, plain and safe, but at a size 18, colour and a little print would really emphasise my backside size.

What do you think?

Now, you have to wear a hat or large fascinator in the Royal Enclosure, so should I stick to navy or go for something a little brighter? I quite like this light navy combo.

Any thoughts/ ideas?

Dress very elegant. Fascinator not.

Hats are in ATM - get a hat.

Thanks pennies.

Apart from department stores where can I get a hat for around £200?

SHOES??? Navy or Nude?

Do shoes have to match handbags these days?

well I'm not sure where you are but you can hire hats in some places which means you can get a humdinger for a fraction of the price and you don't have to store the thing afterwards! I'd wear nude heels with a navy dress.

I'm never sure on the matching of shoes and handbag. Other fashionistas will be more informed than me on that point!

I would advise trying on hats rather than buying on line as it is very difficult to know what will suit your face. The dress is lovely and elegant. Personally I would team it with a mad handbag just to join in with the fun of Ascot dressing.
We're not doing Ascot this year :(

If you're hourglass maybe a slim nude belt on that dress? Cna't really see what the waist detail is on it but it might add some more interest to the dress and could co-ordinate well with accessories.

Actually, I have size 14 waist with 18 boobs and hips, so a nude belt with nude shoes would look fab! Thank you

Here is the other dress that I was considering, but my arms aren't great and a cropped cardi isn't really smart enough.

Hello. While I think both frocks are tres elegant, I feel they are more for the office and not 'occasion' enough for Ascot. Yes, they can be dressed up very prettily, but I feel you may be doing yourself a disservice by not wearing something you really love.
What were your other options?

mylovelymonster - Very much officewear, I agree.

Had a baby 6 months ago and I'm not my usual size, so I thought these dresses would flatter my hourglass figure without making me lose confidence/ wish I was a 10. Other option would be a wrap dress, but again, office-like.

What colours do you like/feel flatter you?
And which stores/ranges do you usually like?
(Congratulations on your bundle of joy, BTW)

Nude bow belt
Nude boe shoes

Quite like these with the original dress choice. You?

whoops - here are the shoes!

There are a number of 'fitted' shifts around - some with decent Vs, and knee-length (demure for when you bump into her Maj). Lots of pretty jackets around too - I loved the 3/4 length jackets that were in abundance at The Wedding - but most around are shorter - should skim the bottom region and be tailored to flatter your shape. Good to have a layer to remove/add as well as weather/temp can be a bit up&down.........

mylovelymonster - prefer muted shades. I like navy, brown, olive.

I have long dark hair, v much like HRH The Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day. Have brown eyes and medium/ fair skintone. Am also 5'6''.

Love the dress and shoes/bag.

Didn't like the fascinator at all. Sorry.

Do you have a hat that you really like? What style suits you?

sorry - X-posting!

The shoes are adorable. I feel the belt may be overdoing it espesh as different colour to shoe.
Beware of walking on the grass in those beautiful heels. Luckily patent so should be safe!!

A beautiful wrap/pashmina/silk scarf to go with?

Couple of tips, have done the Royal Enclosure a few times:
*hat pins! It's v windy on the course, those in the know also wear hair back neatly, hat welded to head with pins.
*Wear something reasonable warm, even on the warmest days it seems blinking freezing

• stout heels - it is grass afterall, you don't want to spend all day dragging your feet out of the mud. That's if you venture out of the bar!

Oh and please don't wear a fascinator, those in the know (apart from Mrs Wales) think fascinators are a bit naff, hat worn properly much more flattering.

Have a great day!

Mme Lindt - I love hats and I'm lucky I suit everything!

From this website, I like these hats:

H010B
H073 (although a bit large)
H112
H114

and these facinators:

H110
H146

They colour match too.

Have just seen the fascinator - is a bit overpowering.

Last year I wore a fitted shift dress that had a bit of give. I had given birth 4 months previously and wore a corset underneath so I didn't have to worry about jelly belly after a few pints of champers. Must have been okay as Jeff Banks and some American woman he was broadcasting with critiqued mine and my friend's outfits on Ascot TV and we were both given the thumbs up.
Second the advise about the hat pins. We didn't walk on grass apart from when one of the stewards let us sneak into one of the horses entrance's to save us having to walk around to the official entry point.

I like 112, in the right colour

Cannot see 114

I also like 144 and 050

I think for headgear, something compact and elegant with a very pretty flourish would suit the simple elegance of the dress and shoes. Do you have the time in the next couple weeks to get out and try on?