Berkshire

Fancy a day at the races? Sunshine (we can hope), fizz, fun and perhaps a little flutter – and occasionally a party in the paddock. It&#8217;s a day out that just keeps on giving. Then comes the thorny issue of what to wear. Sooo many factors to consider – racecourse rules, comfort, hat or no hat, are fascinators still considered fabulous or a fashion fail?
Yep, trotting into the parade ring needs a bit of consideration. In fact, knowing how much we love our fashion, <a href="https://newburyracecourse.co.uk/raceday/al-shaqab-lockinge-day/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Newbury Racecourse</a> is scouting for its Most Stylish Racegoer at every Saturday race throughout 2018. A guy, gal or couple will be chosen on the day for looking hot to trot  – and there are prizes. The winners from each race day are then invited back for the Hennessey Cup in December for a VIP Day when one person will be crowned Most Stylish Racegoer 2018 and win a holiday to Qatar.
I always think that race days can be hard to get right. Particularly if there are no strict guidelines. It&#8217;s fab opportunity to get dressed up and even wear a hat, if you fancy it – it&#8217;s tradition, don&#8217;t fight it. Also remember this is a day event, you&#8217;re not dressing for a night at the Ritzy. My advice keep the fake tan light, the hemlines long and have a bit go fun…
We want Muddy readers to be in the winners&#8217; enclosure, so I rifled through the rails at Camp Hopson in Newbury to bring you a little inspo.
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Take it to the maxi
<div id="attachment_15288" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15288" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15288 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Race-Day-Maxi-Dress-Collage_Fotor.jpg" alt="Breen silk maxi dress tan sandals cream blazer and start boater race day fashion" width="1000" height="749" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Race-Day-Maxi-Dress-Collage_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Race-Day-Maxi-Dress-Collage_Fotor-150x112.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Race-Day-Maxi-Dress-Collage_Fotor-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Race-Day-Maxi-Dress-Collage_Fotor-768x575.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Race-Day-Maxi-Dress-Collage_Fotor-668x500.jpg 668w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Straw boater, £80, Not On The High Street; Hall Huber silk maxi, £149; Wallis cream blazer, £33.60; Dune London tan sandals, £80 – all available at Camp Hopson Newbury and Laurel leaf hair clip, £29, Athropolgie</div>
What&#8217;s not to love about a maxi dress, a less liberal application of fake tan required, multitude of sins hidden and you can wear them with flats. This Hall Huber silk chiffon maxi (£149) will suit pretty much everyone – and the silk fabric is perfect for summer race days. No sweaty pits to worry, simply sling on a slouchy blazer (Wallis, £33.60) , a comfy pair of flats – these are Hermes designer dupes from Dune London, £80 – and you&#8217;re good to go. If you don&#8217;t fancy wearing a hat, statement hair clips look cool. If you&#8217;re all in, a cute straw boater will help you stand out from the crowd.
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Jumpsuit for joy
<div id="attachment_15291" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15291" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15291 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Jumpsuit-Collage_Fotor.jpg" alt="Jumpsuit race day outfit collage " width="1000" height="749" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Jumpsuit-Collage_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Jumpsuit-Collage_Fotor-150x112.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Jumpsuit-Collage_Fotor-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Jumpsuit-Collage_Fotor-768x575.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Jumpsuit-Collage_Fotor-668x500.jpg 668w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Pillbox hat, £159, Hostie Hats; Whistles jumpsuit, £199; Michael Kors watch, £249; Dune London kitten heels, £90; Furla Metropolis mini bag, £235 – available from Camp Hopsons Newbury</div>
Regular Muddy readers will know my love for the jumpsuit. I have a few and they&#8217;re the easiest items of clothing to wear ever – unless you need the loo, and then you practically strip naked to have a wee. Meh! It&#8217;s worth it. This jumpsuit is from Whistles, £199 – they have a great selection and I honestly believe there is a grown up baby grow for all shapes and sizes. Love Valentino? These Dune London blush, studded, kitten heel shoes are a homage to a pair they produced last year, and a fraction of the price at £90. Personally I would opt for a simple, elegant hat and a statement bag. Furla has done some amaaaazing prints on their mini bags this season. They&#8217;re quite pricey at £235 but who can resist a pair of peacocks? Accessorise with a Michael Kors rose gold watch (£249) and you won&#8217;t miss a single race.
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Two&#8217;s company 
<div id="attachment_15290" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15290" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15290 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/HallHuber-Skirt-and-top_Fotor.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="749" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/HallHuber-Skirt-and-top_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/HallHuber-Skirt-and-top_Fotor-150x112.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/HallHuber-Skirt-and-top_Fotor-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/HallHuber-Skirt-and-top_Fotor-768x575.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/HallHuber-Skirt-and-top_Fotor-668x500.jpg 668w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Floral hair band, £30, Not On The High Street. Hall Huber blouse, £69; Silk chiffon midi skirt, £99 and Dune London peep toe shoe, £80, all Camp Hopsons</div>
When it comes to formal events, our first instinct is to wear a dress. Guilty as charged, m&#8217;lud. But a skirt and blouse can be a much more versatile investment. This Hall Huber cotton striped blouse, £69, is soooo flattering and the skirt, £99, is silk chiffon with an elasticated waist. When you&#8217;re wearing something all day comfort is key. Plus you can pack away more than a few glasses of bubbles and burger and no one will notice. If you don&#8217;t love the idea of wearing a hat, why not wear a floral hairband? You may be having an 80s bridesmaid flashback, but trust me, they&#8217;re hot.
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Pants people
<div id="attachment_15292" style="width: 1010px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15292" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15292 size-full" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Hobbs-Trousers-Collage_Fotor.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="562" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Hobbs-Trousers-Collage_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Hobbs-Trousers-Collage_Fotor-150x84.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Hobbs-Trousers-Collage_Fotor-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Hobbs-Trousers-Collage_Fotor-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Hobbs-Trousers-Collage_Fotor-720x405.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Fascinator, £89, Etsy. Hobbs pink suede bag, £99; Hobbs print palazzo pants, £149 and Dune London flats, £99 – all Camp Hopsons Newbury</div>
I&#8217;m quite partial to a pear of palazzo pants. I think it makes me feel like I&#8217;m in my PJs, but they&#8217;re elegant and perfect for race days, weddings and even a night out down your local. They&#8217;re easy to wear (providing they&#8217;re not too long), easy to dress and you&#8217;ll feel cool and comfy all day long. Jeez, I&#8217;m turning into my mother. These Hobbs monochrome geometric print pants, £149, are pretty bold, but wear it with a simple white blouse, black slingback (Dune London £99) and an architectural fascinator. Ditch the black bag, if you&#8217;re going to win Most Stylish Racegoers, you need to catch the judges attention. The brightest bag EVER (Hobbs, £99) should do it.
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Here come the boys…
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15289" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Moss-Bros-Collage_Fotor.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="749" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Moss-Bros-Collage_Fotor.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Moss-Bros-Collage_Fotor-150x112.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Moss-Bros-Collage_Fotor-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Moss-Bros-Collage_Fotor-768x575.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/05/Moss-Bros-Collage_Fotor-668x500.jpg 668w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" />
Got a love a fella who makes an effort. But an upcycled navy, grey or black work suit is not going to cut the mustard. The high street has delivered bright blues, pastels and a lot of check. Guide your man to work it with a bold blazer, waistcoat and bow tie or go crazy and wear a the a dandy three piece. I&#8217;ve not stepped foot in a Moss Bros since I got married *ahem* 13 years ago (I was a child bride), and, boy, has it changed. The Camp Hopson&#8217;s department had skinny fit suits, funky blazers, bold colours – it was not the tailcoat hire shop I remember. I was seriously impressed. My one rule for fellas, you&#8217;ve gotta wear socks. The no sock thing may acceptable in down the pub, but its not happening on my watch on raceday. Check mate!
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<a style="font-style: italic" href="https://newburyracecourse.co.uk/raceday/al-shaqab-lockinge-day/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Al Shaqab Lockinge Day</a>, Newbury Racecourse, Sat May 19: live music, Royal Wedding on the big screen and the four legged rock stars doing their thing. Tickets from £26.

Race day ready

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