Posted on 06/13/2008 8:29:47 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Women face being turned away from the Royal Enclosure during Royal Ascot if their skirts are too short or if their dresses have straps less than an inch wide.
Visitors who display their midriff or wear off-the-shoulder tops or halter necks will also be ejected on the orders of the Queen's representative, the Duke of Devonshire.
The duke, the chairman of the course, has clarified the strict dress code for next week's event in guidance sent to all 80,000 Royal Enclosure badge holders.
The code dictates that only "formal day dress" is acceptable and that ladies must wear hats or "substantial fascinators" - Ascot's terminology for feathered adornments.
Mini-skirts are considered "unsuitable", midriffs "must be covered" and trouser suits are acceptable but only if they are "full length and of matching material and colour".
In a humorous "A to Z of Do's and Don'ts, women are also advised to keep their underwear under wraps during the five-day meeting starting on Tuesday.
"Knickers," it says. "A definite yes, but not on show please ladies."
The same guide warns that streaky tan lines are "a total fashion faux pas", and that how a hat looks "from the neck up is the most important and can make or break an outfit".
Men are also expected to adhere to the code, which means they must wear either black or grey morning dress, including "a waistcoat, with a top hat, which must be worn at all times in the Royal Enclosure".
The dress code for the Royal Enclosure has been tightened in recent years following complaints that standards are slipping.
The singer Rod Stewart was barred from the Royal Enclosure six years ago because he did not have a pass and was not wearing a top hat.
Charles Barnett, the chief executive of Ascot, said: "Royal Ascot is a place where new fashions are showcased and, therefore, things have to move on. However, the Royal Meeting remains a place for formal daywear.
"Last year we wrote into the conditions that midriffs must be covered in the Royal Enclosure, and in the 1990s we specified that trouser suits were acceptable for ladies, so the amendment to the dress code wording this year is far from without precedent."
He added: "The new wording has been met with pretty much universal support from Royal Enclosure patrons. They and we know how important it is to protect the integrity of the Royal Enclosure dress code and all the traditions that make Royal Ascot unique, going forward."
Nick Smith, an Ascot spokesman, said the strict dress code was greatly appreciated by visitors to the Royal Enclosure.
"People come to dress up and they expect people to do the same," he said. "It's all a question of balance. If someone is judged to be dressed inappropriately they will be politely asked to leave."
Ah, behaving in a civilized manner ... it’s so out of vogue and so telling of where we have descended ...
Did a Muslim get offended?
It’s nice to have some standards. It’s nice when standards are enforced and men and women are dressed as mature adults.
I appreciate proper dress for the occasion but what IS the Royal Ascot and what is the Royal Enclosure? Some sort of cage for royalty?
It’s a series of horse races and yes, the enclosure is a pen for holding the royals and their guests!
Couldn’t believe the headline and had to click on it.
To me Ascot is a dirt track in Gardena, CA.
A good call!
But if she’s not wearing a short skirt then how else can she get her ascot.
Some people’s poorly raised children need to realize the world does not exist as a forum for them to “express themselves.”
Good advice for any formal occasion.
"To me Ascot is a dirt track in Gardena, CA."
Noticed the "bruin" thing, eh?
Ascot was a 1/2 mile dirt track where I grew up on Demolition Derby and Fireball Roberts in the 50s.
Gowns tend to cover up grads pretty well at graduation. It is the commencement speakers who have kept me away from the campus for 39 years.
Now, dressage, there is a royal class act.
yitbos
“Ascot was a 1/2 mile dirt track where I grew up on Demolition Derby and Fireball Roberts in the 50s.”
That’s the one, I ran there in the early 50s with sprint cars.
It was owned by J. C, Agajanian the pig farmer from Newhall.
“ladies must wear hats or “substantial fascinators” - Ascot’s terminology for feathered adornments.”
I’m glad they defined that, otherwise I might have gotten my hopes up...
“Noticed the “bruin” thing, eh?”
Additionally, I must mention that just about every Spring...
there came a day when I mentioned to one of the FEW REAL MALES in
my department...
“Who declared this ‘Show us your breasts!’ day?”.
As there seemed to be a coordinated effort amongst the hard-studying
(and surely erstwhile) females of the campus...
to show us that indeed they were possessed of “ample and aticing breasts”
(Dr. Ruth’s verbiage).
Shame on me for mentioning this nearly-annual observance of UCLA.
(/SARC)
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