Royal Ascot dress help needed

[HarryPottersScar]

I have been invited to Royal Ascot and have never gone before. I have got a couple of dresses in mind but am not sure if they would be smart enough or not (I will be in the Royal Enclosure bit). These two are contenders:

https://www.whistles.com/product/194246.html

https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/organza-occasion-dress-green-tambourine/sty-d0948-grn?cat=C1_S2_G4

Would they be OK? If not please can anyone suggest something else. I do want to look a bit cool and edgy and I don't think either of these are but was hoping to manage that with the right hat, shoes etc.

FFI: aged 50, 5'3", size 12, I suit colours with warm undertones (Dark Autumn colouring) but these two aren't really Autumn colours but I do love green and orange. Big patterns, big frills or big puffy sleeves don't suit me. My style is quite gamine, I think.

I like both of those but they’re going to need some good dressing up to be Ascot appropriate. My feeling is that the green would be easier to achieve that with and could look fabulous

They are both very nice.

I've never been to Ascot but from what I know about the royals' attendances, they seem to hit the mark when worn with a good hat and matching shoes and bag. I think the green one looks more expensive.

Please don't get a black hat - so many women do, and it kills the outfit, IMHO. Pop along to your local hat hire place and get something special that goes, like one of this franchise:

www.getaheadhats.co.uk

I prefer the green one TBH. I was thinking of styling it with orange accessories but I'm worried I might look a bit like a box of tic tacs. I know a fuschia pink would work well but it is a colour that just looks rubbish on me.

I like this hat but would have it all orange. I might find it hard to find shoes that match though.

Also, would it benefit from a belt?

I'd always go green and gold, unless you're very, very pale, and then would say yes, orange or turquoise type blues.

I have been to Royal Ascot (Royal Enclosure) a few times, although not for some years.

The 'style' you see in the papers & on TV is the better end of stylish, many women wear fairly simple stuff. Think posh country wedding. And English weather ... might be wet & cold.

Both those dresses you've linked to are lovely, very suitable, and could be styled up with a great hat and accessories. The risk with the Boden dress is that you will see other women wearing the same dress, I guarantee!

For true Ascot style you probably want a matching or coordinating coat - which you may not wear at all, depending on the weather... And my advice is always go for comfy shoes over stylish.

The hat is fabulous .

I'm not sure you can get into the Royal Enclosure without being a member. You cannot just be invited without going through the application process. So if you haven't, you are probably in a box.
I am a Royal Enclosure member and go every year. So do check what the invite is and whether you will be pretending to be someone else!

Some of the most chic outfits are all one colour. The green dress is way better as a result. Don't go for an orange hat or you will look like the Irish flag! Try and get one the same colour or toning. Don't try too hard. Or get a headpiece (the crown can be small) on a headband and make sure the green is copied in the headpiece. Hostie Hats is a good place to start. Don't wear massive my high heels. Wear something lower and comfortable.

Not bright pink either. Just keep
It toned in. Much smarter.

And don't wear something like this! Unless you are a comedian.

I’ve also been to the Royal Enclosure many times and both your dresses would be fine. I’m not sure it’s really the place to be cool/edgy though?
More info here re. strap width and hat diameters 👀
https://www.ascot.com/what-to-wear/royal-ascot/royal-enclosure

I'm not a fan of those puffed sleeves but if you love them, go for it.

We went to ascot in the royal enclosure - either of those dresses would be fine and are very nice! We followed the dress rules to the letter but saw many that didn't but I would always go with the rules! Hope you have a wonderful time - we certainly did!

I like the hat so much I think you should get the Whistles dress just to go with it.

But the hat as it is, not all orange.

@HarryPottersScar please check the rules on hats.

My friend went a few years ago and what she wore was deemed as a fascinator and she had to hire one for the day at the event

The "crown" of a hat has to be 3 ins. A fascinator is not a hat. Plus the RE has the rules. Not sure op is actually in there. You can have a hat on a headband which is what many do.

I have been going to RE for decades and I don't see many who break rules, especially as the rules are pretty relaxed for women. The biggest fashion crime is men with felt top hats that fall down over their ears. Pretty dreadful look. The women make an effort though. So where DH is getting his morning suit from and his hat matters!

Just not dressy enough IMO they are nice but not for this occasion

They are both perfectly fine and pretty.

They are both fine. I've been going for years.

My biggest tip, comfortable shoes. The amount of women I see hobbling around or carrying their shoes...

No idea about ascot but I love that green dress!

They are dressy enough, especially the green one. It won't crease. It's easy to wear. If OP is dining there, no coat needed unless it's raining. Women wearing evening dresses look silly and it's a day event where smart day clothes are required. So dressy sparkly clothes or evening wear isn't.

Take a bag that can contain fold up flat shoes if you need them to walk back to the car. Few in the RE carry shoes until they are on their way back to the car parks. But some are usually staggering for other reasons.

There's this green hat which is the same but can go with the green dress. Although I feel it might be a bit too green, but entire outfits in one colour was recommended up thread. Maybe a gold hat and accessories as @ncforuchelp suggested instead? Argh! The stress of it all. 😅 Maybe someone on here can recommend a better hat.

@TizerorFizz yes definitely the RE - have had to get membership. The hat is RE compliant. DH is hiring his gear from some place in Chelsea, he's far more into his clothes than I am and is taking the whole thing very seriously. 😂

Have you thought of hiring a hat?
https://thehatclub.co.uk/about/

I love your green dress - and do like the 'hat' (especially in green) but note it is actually being called a fascinator... and at RA a fascinator is not a hat.

In that place and on that day, your head would be considered undressed! 😮