Royal Ascot Handbook 2026

Royal Ascot Handbook 2026

THE ART OF DRESSING WELL

Dear Racegoers,

WELCOME TO THE VERY FIRST ROYAL ASCOT HANDBOOK, THE ART OF DRESSING WELL

Entering my third year as Royal Ascot Creative Director, I thought a lot about what this role means and what it requires of me. What I landed on was simple; to help racegoers feel their absolute best-self when they step through the gates at Ascot this June. And thus, the Handbook was born.

The following pages are filled with ideas, tips, outfits and inspiration to prepare you for your Royal Ascot 2026 experience, your guide to dressing well for the British summer season.

Who better to showcase this year’s top fashions than the incomparable ERIN O’CONNOR

A fun fact I discovered whilst shooting with Erin was that she was the first living person – other than a royal – to be featured on a British stamp when she modelled the hats of four British milliners for a set of Royal Mail stamps in 2001. So, it was only fitting that we got Erin back into some spectacular millinery, 25 years on, to inspire your own headwear this summer in our THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX editorial.

One thing that has always struck me when attending Royal Ascot is the breadth of colours on show, this not only applies to attendees but starts on the racecourse itself. Our first chapter encourages you to SHOW US YOUR SILKS with looks inspired by the bold colour combinations and patterns of jockey silks from all over the world.

On the subject of colour, we introduce ROYAL ASCOT’S COLOUR OF THE YEAR for the first time before rounding off this year’s handbook with some good old-fashioned story telling. Our final chapter is dedicated to the much-loved rituals and traditions of our racegoers, with whimsical storybook illustrations to encourage you to TELL US YOUR STORY with your fashion choices this June.

As always, I can’t wait to see all of the outfits on show (and the racing, of course!) at Royal Ascot, and I hope this Handbook will give you all the inspiration you need to FIND THE ASCOT YOU.

See you in June!

DANIEL FLETCHER

Show Us Your Silks

JOCKEY SILKS – BUT MAKE IT FASHION

From the racecourse to the runway, the following outfits are inspired by the famous silks worn by jockeys at Ascot. Think bold colours, stripes, spots and clashing hues to base your Royal Ascot outfit on. Whilst jockey silks allow race commentators and spectators to easily differentiate between runners and riders, do the same with your look and stop yourself getting lost in the crowd.

Top to Bottom

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Dress: EDELINE LEE

Shoes: GINA

Ring: BUCHERER

Hat: Custom LISA TAN MILLINERY

7

Queen Anne Enclosure

Village Enclosure

Windsor Enclosure

Full Look: MITHRIDATE Watch: LONGINES

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Dress: GALVAN LONDON

Hat: RACHEL TREVOR-MORGAN

MILLINERY

Shoes: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

9

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Hat: NICOLA DE SELINCOURT

Dress: Custom SUZANNAH LONDON

Jewellery: BUCHERER

Shoes: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Sunglasses: BOTTEGA VENETA

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Top Hat: LOCK & CO. HATTERS

Morning Suit, Shirt and Tie: HUNTSMAN SAVILE ROW

Waistcoat: EDWARD SEXTON

Brooch: VINTAGE

Shoes: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

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6

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Dress: WHISTLES

Shoes: ZARA

Earrings: M&S

Hat: CAROL KENNELLY MILLINERY

Bag: TYLER ELLIS

Windsor Enclosure

Trousers: MOSS

Shoes: CROCKETT & JONES

Shirt: HACKETT LONDON

Jumper: MITHRIDATE Watch: LONGINES

2

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Top Hat: LOCK & CO. HATTERS

Shoes: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Full Look: EDWARD SEXTON

8

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Hat: VIVIEN SHERIFF

Dress: SUZANNAH LONDON

Shoes: GINA

Watch: LONGINES

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Hat: SAHAR MILLINERY

Dress: REBECCA VALLANCE

Shoes: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Watch: LONGINES

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Dress: ZIMMERMANN

Hat: VICTORIA GRANT MILLINERY

Shoes: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

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Suit: FAVOURBROOK ROYAL ASCOT COLLECTION

Top Hat: LOCK & CO. HATTERS

Waistcoat, Shirt, & Tie: MITHRIDATE

Watch: LONGINES

Shoes: CROCKETT & JONES

Bright Tomato

ROYAL ASCOT COLOUR OF THE YEAR

Bright Tomato is the kind of colour that doesn’t just join the party at Royal Ascot – it leads it. Bold, sunlit, and impossible to ignore, this vibrant red-orange hue captures the energy of summer while standing out beautifully against the emerald lawns and crisp tailoring. We’re calling it, the Royal Ascot Colour of the Year is Bright Tomato.

Think Outside The Box

Royal Ascot is not a time to play it safe when it comes to dressing up, and who better to show us how to think outside the box when it comes to raceday dressing than ERIN O’CONNOR ? Whilst we may not all look quite as elegant hanging out in a giant wooden box trackside as Ms. O’Connor does, we can certainly take some style cues from the iconic British supermodel.

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Dress: Custom CLAIRE MISCHEVANI

Shoes: CASADEI

Hat: CAROL KENNELLY MILLINERY

Ring: BUCHERER

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More is More

ERIN O’CONNOR ON COLOUR, CRAFT AND THE ENDURING MAGIC OF ROYAL ASCOT

There are few voices in fashion as quietly authoritative – or as refreshingly candid – as Erin’s. With a career spanning more than three decades, she speaks about style not as something fleeting or trend-driven, but as an extension of self. Clothes, she says, are “the essence of your personality,” and with experience comes clarity: knowing what works, what doesn’t, and when to be bold. “Having lived longer,” she reflects, “be bold. For me, clothing is the essence of your personality – just live it”.

That philosophy runs through everything she says about Royal Ascot, an event she sees as one of the last true celebrations of occasion dressing. In a fashion landscape increasingly dominated by minimalism and everyday luxury, Ascot offers something rare: permission. Permission to dress up, to take up space, to indulge in beauty and craftsmanship. It is, she suggests, “one of the very few events we have left culturally where we can really go for it and get dressed up to the nines.”

It’s also a deeply expressive moment. Choosing what to wear to Royal Ascot, Erin muses, is “almost like a personality test”. From colour to silhouette, structure to movement, it’s about deciding “how you want to waft around – and why not?” The joy lies in that freedom of interpretation, a theme that feels especially resonant as Royal Ascot introduces its 2026 Colour of the Year: Bright Tomato.

The choice feels entirely in character. Erin speaks about colour with conviction, admitting that if forced to choose between monochrome and colour for the rest of her life, it would be “colour every time. Massive. Full-on impact.” Her own favourite? Red – specifically a tomato-red that feels at once majestic and rebellious. It’s a shade she returns to instinctively, often guided by lipstick and mood, one that “has something very regal about the vibe, but it’s also quite punk”. In her words, it carries “the spirit of all things British”.

That duality – tradition and rebellion – is what Erin believes keeps Royal Ascot so enduringly relevant. The event, she says, “takes you back to a bygone era”, rooted firmly in the best of British tradition. Yet it is continually renewed by younger generations who want to experience it for themselves, bringing fresh

energy and new interpretations. Fashion, after all, “is always evolving”, and when that evolution meets heritage, something electric happens. “Between the tradition of British fashion and the youth of people coming in today,” she observes, “you get that rebellion too – which I think is so important.”

Accessories, particularly hats, sit at the heart of that conversation. For Erin, millinery has always been more than adornment; it’s punctuation. Hats are “the exclamation mark of any great outfit”, she says, giving presence, posture and intention. Wearing one changes how you move, how you carry yourself – “you feel present, you’ve arrived.” It’s why so many of her career highlights involve headwear, from haute couture runways to the surreal experience of seeing herself immortalised on a Royal Mail stamp – one of her most iconic shoots that she did where she collaborated with friend and photographer Nick Knight. Even now, she admits she wishes she wore hats more in everyday life, not just for work. Occasions like Royal Ascot make that possible, offering moments that feel increasingly rare and, therefore, all the more special.

When it comes to styling Bright Tomato for the Royal Meeting, Erin’s instinct is unapologetic. “To make maximum statement,” she says, it would be red “from head to toe”. A whimsical, feathery hat; a voluminous, structured dress; and the shoes? “Who’s looking at the shoe? It’s all about the hat.” It’s a reminder that confidence often comes from commitment – from fully inhabiting a look rather than hedging your bets.

Ultimately, Royal Ascot represents something deeper than fashion alone. It’s a space where grandeur is not only accepted but encouraged, where being dressed up is never out of place. Erin sees it as “an opportunity to really show off – and why not?” In a world where dressing has become increasingly pared back, Ascot invites the opposite: to embrace drama, elegance and joy. To shine.

Ask her to distil the experience into just three sentiments, and she doesn’t hesitate. Royal Ascot, for Erin, is “adrenaline-fuelled, joyful, and very elegant.” Few descriptions feel more fitting.

“

For me, clothing is the essence of your personality – just live it”

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Standing Tall

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR TOPPER THERE ARE A FEW RULES TO REMEMBER

Positioning: Always wear your top hat straight, parallel to the floor, not tilted to the side or pushed back on the head. Fit: It should fit snugly on the forehead and sit squarely, about an inch above your ears is perfect. And finally, handling: When taking the hat off, hold it by the brim to prevent damage to the delicate silk or felt material and if removing it, always place it brim down.

The Art of Dressing Well

INSIDE ROYAL ASCOT’S 2026 FASHION VISION WITH CREATIVE DIRECTOR

DANIEL FLETCHER

For 2026, Ascot reimagines the familiar rhythms of its fashion storytelling, reframing the annual Royal Ascot Lookbook as something more purposeful, more empowering – and far more creative. Rather than prescribing a single way to dress, the campaign is conceived as a guide: a handbook for modern racegoers navigating occasionwear with confidence and individuality.

The ambition, creative director Daniel Fletcher explains, was simple: “For 2026 I wanted to shake up the way we approach the ‘Lookbook’ and make it more of a Handbook to guide racegoers on the many different ways you can approach dressing for Royal Ascot and make the best use of your creativity to sit within the renowned dress codes.” Inspiration came not from the catwalk alone, but from the racecourse itself – from its colour, energy and pageantry. “One way I did this was taking inspiration from Ascot itself,” Fletcher notes, pointing specifically to “the bright colours and bold patterns of jockey silks set against the vibrant Berkshire scenery of the Ascot estate” as a starting point.

That sense of vibrancy runs through the entire campaign, culminating in the debut of Royal Ascot’s first official Colour of the Year: Bright Tomato. A shade chosen not for trend alone, but for emotion. “What I love about a tomato is that it comes in many different shades, much like racegoers’ looks for Royal Ascot. That bright orangey-red of a ripe tomato creates an instant feeling of summer joy.” It’s a colour that feels inseparable from the Royal Ascot experience itself –“hues of red bring a sense of pageantry which is such a central part of the Royal Ascot, from the uniforms of

the military bands to the varied shades found in the carriages and drivers of the Royal Procession itself”, he adds, making it “the perfect choice for our first ever Royal Ascot Colour of the Year.”

Looking across the wider summer season, colour continues to play a defining role. Royal Ascot has long been a bellwether for occasionwear trends, and each year one colour or trend inevitably rises above the rest. “Every year at Royal Ascot there is always one trend that stands out as a big hit,” the creative reflects, citing polka dots, butter yellow and periwinkle blue as recent examples. For 2026, the forecast is clear: “I think we will see a lot of bright tomato shades, but I also think lavender could be up there too.” Both hues made a strong showing on the Spring/Summer 2026 runways, and, as Fletcher notes, “whether you are shopping designer, pre-loved or on the high street the trends tend to reflect across the spectrum of summer style.”

Accessories, as ever, remain the quiet power players of occasionwear styling. A headpiece, a shoe, a single detail can transform an entire look – especially in the context of Royal Ascot, where accessories are not just encouraged but celebrated. “Millinery, headpieces and accessories are the perfect way to update something you already have in your wardrobe to look totally different or to lift a simple block colour dress or suit,” Fletcher explains. The key lies in thoughtful balance: “if you are going for a bold print on your dress, maybe consider a solid colour for your hat and vice versa,” while an oversized feather headpiece can be unexpectedly modern when paired with “a chic white trouser suit.”

Relish the opportunity that Royal Ascot allows to get dressed up and express your creativity.”

When it comes to personal style, the campaign resists easy binaries. Timeless elegance and statement dressing are not opposing forces here, but complementary ones. “I think there is room for both,” Fletcher says. In menswear, that balance often begins with precision. “For a men’s morning suit, it is all about the fit,” he explains, from sleeve length to trouser break, keeping the foundation classic before elevating it with detail. A shoe with “a chunkier sole and a strong toe shape, or the addition of a brooch, tie pin or pocket square” becomes a subtle but impactful expression of personality.

And that, ultimately, is at the heart of the Royal Ascot Handbook 2026: understanding the art of dressing well and empowerment through possibility. Whilst an integral part of the Royal Meeting, Royal Ascot’s dress code is not presented as a constraint, but as a creative framework. “There are so many possibilities of making your outfit look fresh and elevated whilst importantly keeping within the rules,” the creative says, noting that the purpose of the Handbook is to reveal just how much freedom exists within those guidelines. The advice is refreshingly liberating: “The best way is not to get too hung up on it – rather than thinking about what you can’t wear, think about what you can.” Find the pieces you love, lean into the occasion, and, above all, “relish the opportunity that Royal Ascot allows to get dressed up and express your creativity.”

Tell Us Your Story

EVERY OUTFIT AT ROYAL ASCOT TELLS ITS OWN STORY

Inspired by the rituals and revelry of a day at the races, this chapter of the handbook reimagines trackside traditions through a dreamlike lens. From enchanting headpieces to elegantly eccentric ensembles, each look captures the magic of anticipation, celebration, and spectacle – inviting you to dress not just for the occasion, but for the story you want to tell.

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Queen Anne Enclosure

Village Enclosure

Windsor Enclosure

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Top Layer

Second Layer

Bottom Layer

Brand Directory

ALOHAS

ASCOT SHOP

AWON GOLDING

BOTTEGA VENETA

BUCHERER

CAROL KENNELLY

CASADEI

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

CLAIRE MISCHEVANI

CROCKETT & JONES DENTS

EDELINE LEE

EDWARD SEXTON

EMILIA WICKSTEAD

EMILY LONDON

FAVOURBROOK

FILIPA CARDOSO

G.H.BASS

GALVAN LONDON

GANT

GINA HACKETT

HARVY SANTOS

HAWES & CURTIS

HUNTSMAN SAVILE ROW

JANE TAYLOR LONDON

JIMMY CHOO

KATH ERINE ELIZABETH

KENT & CURWEN

LISA TAN MILLINERY

LOCK & CO HATTERS LONGINES

alohas.com shop.ascot.com awongolding.com bottegaveneta.com bucherer.com carolkennellymillinery.com casadei.com christianlouboutin.com clairemischevani.com crockettandjones.com dentsgloves.com edelinelee.com

edwardsexton.co.uk emiliawickstead.com emily-london.com

favourbrook.com

filipacardoso.com ghbass-eu.com galvanlondon.com

gant.co.uk gina.com hackett.com harvysantos.com hawesandcurtis.co.uk huntsmansavilerow.com janetaylorlondon.com jimmychoo.com katherineelizabethhats.com kentandcurwen.com lisatanmillinery.com lockhatters.com longines.com

LURLINE

MANOLO BLAHNIK

MARKS & SPENCER

MITHRIDATE

MOSS

NICOLA DE SELINCOURT

NOEL STEWART

OXFAM

PAUL SMITH

PAULA ROWAN

PIERS ATKINSON

RACHEL TREVOR-MORGAN

REBECCA VALLANCE REFORMATION

ROKSANDA

SAHAR MILLINERY

SELF-PORTRAIT

SORU JEWELLERY

STEPHEN JONES

STEVE MADDEN

SUZANNAH LONDON

TALLER MARMO

THE FOLD

TUSTING

TYLER ELLIS

VERAFIED NEW YORK

VICTORIA CHARLES

VICTORIA GRANT

VIVIEN SHERIFF

WHISTLES

YAN-YAK

ZARA

ZIMMERMANN

lurline.com manoloblahnik.com marksandspencer.com mithridate.com moss.co.uk nicoladeselincourt.com noelstewart.com onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk paulsmith.com paularowan.com piersatkinson.com racheltrevormorgan.com rebeccavallance.com thereformation.com roksanda.com saharmillinery.co.uk self-portrait.com sorujewellery.com stephenjonesmillinery.com stevemadden.co.uk suzannah.com tallermarmo.com thefoldlondon.com tusting.co.uk tylerellis.com verafiedny.com victoriacharlesheadpieces.com victoriagrant.com viviensheriff.com whistles.com yanyak.com zara.com zimmermann.com

Royal Ascot Dress Code

ROYAL ASCOT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH SARTORIAL ELEGANCE.

This is upheld by its dress code, which guests are invited to embrace with their own individual style and thus contribute to an occasion heralded internationally as a major fashion event. Each Royal Ascot enclosure has a different dress code.

Royal Enclosure

LADIES

• A dress or skirt falling just above the knee or longer (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted)

• Shoulder straps that are a minimum width of 1 inch / 2.5cm

• A jacket or pashmina may be worn. Tops and dresses beneath must still comply

• A trouser suit of matching material and colour

• A jumpsuit that falls below the knee and complies with the shoulder strap requirements

• Hats must be worn. However, a headpiece or hatinator with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches / 10cm is acceptable

GENTLEMEN

• Morning dress of black, grey or navy material

• A waistcoat and necktie (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)

• A black or grey top hat (may be removed within a restaurant or Private Box. Top hats may also be removed within an enclosed external seating area, terrace, balcony, or garden)

• Black dress shoes worn with socks covering the ankle

JUNIORS

Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with the above dress codes. However, a headpiece or fascinator may be worn as an alternative to a hat, without any size requirement. Juniors under 17 may wear morning dress as per the above. Alternatively, a dark-coloured lounge suit with a collared shirt and necktie is also permitted.

PLEASE NOTE

The following are not permitted:

• Unless under the age of 17, fascinators (defined as a small headpiece attached to a comb,

• hair clip or headband that does not have a solid base of at least 4 inches / 10cm)

• Dresses and tops that are:

∘ Strapless or one shoulder

∘ Off-the-shoulder or bardot

∘ Halter neck (defined as a garment held up

∘ by a strap around the neck with an open back)

∘ Spaghetti straps

∘ Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is

∘ see-through / entirely transparent)

• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)

• Customised top hats (with, for example; coloured ribbons, feathers or embellishments)

• Cravats, bow ties and neckerchiefs

• Members and their guests must adhere to the guidance outlined on this page, choosing to follow in full a dress code they feel most comfortable with.

Queen Anne Enclosure

LADIES

• A dress or top and skirt, with shoulder or halter neck straps (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted, no minimum length)

• A trouser suit of matching material and colour

• A jumpsuit that falls below the knee and complies with the shoulder strap requirements

• A hat, headpiece or fascinator

GENTLEMEN

• A full-length two or three-piece suit (morning dress is also permitted)

• A collared shirt

• A necktie (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)

• Socks must be worn and should cover the ankle

JUNIORS

Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with either of the above dress codes although hats, headpieces and fascinators are not compulsory. Juniors under the age of nine should be dressed smartly but are not required to wear a jacket or tie with their trousers and shirt.

PLEASE NOTE

The following are not permitted:

• Dresses and tops that are:

∘ Strapless or one shoulder

∘ Off-the-shoulder or bardot

∘ Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is

∘ see-through / entirely transparent)

• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)

• Cravats, bow ties and neckerchiefs

Village Enclosure

LADIES

• A dress or top and skirt, with shoulder or halter neck straps (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted, no minimum length)

• Trouser suits are welcome and should be of matching material and colour

• Jumpsuits should fall below the knee and comply with the above strap requirements

• A hat, headpiece or fascinator

GENTLEMEN

• A suit jacket or blazer (can be of different material to the trousers)

• A full-length trouser or chino

• A collared shirt

• A necktie, bow tie or cravat (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)

• Socks must be worn and should cover the ankle

JUNIORS

Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with either of the above dress codes although hats, headpieces and fascinators are not compulsory.

PLEASE NOTE

The following are not permitted:

• Dresses and tops that are:

∘ Strapless or one shoulder

∘ Off-the-shoulder or bardot

∘ Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is

∘ see-through / entirely transparent)

• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)

Windsor Enclosure

Whilst there is no official dress code for the Windsor Enclosure, guests are encouraged to dress in smart daywear. A hat, headpiece or fascinator is encouraged along with a jacket and collared shirt.

All Enclosures

Visitors are welcome to wear the formal National Dress of their country or Service Dress. If your National Dress does not include a hat or headpiece then you do not need to wear one. Religious headdress is permitted in place of a hat or headpiece. Serving military personnel are welcome to wear Service Dress or equivalent. We appreciate that certain medical conditions may prevent guests from adhering to our dress code. We would like all guests to feel as comfortable as possible during their visit, so please contact our access officer (access.officer@ascot.com) detailing your concerns and we will try to accommodate wherever possible.

PLEASE NOTE

In addition to the specific guidance of the dress code, fancy dress, novelty and branded or promotional clothing is not permitted. We do not allow any items relating to stag and hen parties as this would be considered novelty clothing.

Race DayReady

A day at Royal Ascot is as much about preparation as it is about style, and what you carry in your bag can make all the difference. From beauty touch-ups to practical must-haves, a well-packed bag ensures you are ready for every moment – from the first race to the final toast.

The Finest Things in Life are Never Accidental

A perfectly constructed suit. A home designed to outlast its moment. A tradition carried forward not because it must be, but because it deserves to be. These are not coincidences. They are decisions made with clarity, executed with conviction, and shaped by the understanding that what we create today will define how we are remembered tomorrow.

Ascot has understood this for over 300 years. BEYOND was built on the same belief.

Born in Dubai, a city that does not wait for legacy to arrive, but chooses to build it. BEYOND Developments creates waterfront destinations where architecture, landscape, and lifestyle exist in deliberate harmony. Places that are not simply designed to be lived in, but to be felt. Guided by five defining pillars; exceptional locations, architectural fluidity, people-centric communities, inclusive excellence, and nature as infrastructure, every BEYOND development is envisioned as a living narrative. A home that reflects who you are, inspires who you are becoming, and elevates the way you live every day.

This year, as Royal Ascot raises the style stakes with The Art of Dressing Well, BEYOND recognises something deeply familiar in that ambition. Because dressing well and living well are rooted in the same instinct, the desire to express who you are through every detail you choose. The colour you wear. The home you build. The life you design.

Royal Ascot reflects what legacy becomes over time. BEYOND represents how legacy is deliberately built

Because legacy is not something you step into. It is something you decide to build.

BEYOND. Home of the Bold.

Find The AscotYou

CREATIVE DIRECTION

Daniel Fletcher @danielwfletcher

PHOTOGRAPHY

Oli Kearon @olikearon

MAKEUP

Emilie Louizides @emilielouizides Adam De Cruz @adamdecruz

HAIR

Yumi Nakada-Dingle @yuminakadadingle Bjorn Krischker @bjornkrischker

ILLUSTRATOR

Elsa Gladstone @elsa_works_

CASTING DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Miles @elizabethmilescasting

@ascotracecourse