Oops! Did the Ascot Fashion Police have their blinkers on Outlandish outfits spotted at royal course on second day of racing
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UPDATED:
14:59 GMT, 20 June 2012
It is just day two of Royal Ascot and already the race course's much-hyped strict new dress code seems to be collapsing around the ears of the Fashion Police employed to enforce it.
As a steady stream of girls in high hemlines and skimpy dresses poured into the parade ground, it was evident the dress code assistants would need to rally dozens more pashminas to cover up the sea of flesh.
And if the Queen had chanced to glance across the parade ground as she entered in her Royal carriage this afternoon, she would have blanched at the sight of six deeply tanned women posing for photographs wearing skintight Lycra all-in-ones that looked for all the world like futuristic smurf suits.
Elsewhere, hemlines crept inappropriately high, while neckline plunged daringly low.
What happens when the smurfs are your fashion icons: A group of ladies debut their futuristic blue jumpsuits at Ascot – but are those necklines really regulation
Even racegoers get the blues… The girls carefully co-ordinated their matching all-in-ones
The hardworking team enforcing the dress code was an
immaculate team of 60 young women (with a few young men thrown in) in
uniforms of purple linen dresses and jackets from High Street store
Hobbs, along with Ilda Di Vico hats.
The
fashion officers – who preferred to be called ‘dress code assistants’ –
prowled the entrances carrying baskets packed with colourful
fascinators, pashminas and ties. Guests who fell short of the dress code
for the grandstand were given appropriate attire for free.
Meanwhile,
anyone heading for the royal enclosure who had failed to bring a hat
was ushered discreetly to an office in which there was a huge array to
choose from for a 50 deposit. However, as no identification was taken,
one assistant admitted she was ‘not that hopeful’ of getting them all
back.
Despite some
racegoers in rule-breaking attire apparently slipping through the net,
Ascot’s head of communications, Nick Smith, declared himself ‘delighted
with the standard of dress’.
He
added: ‘We always said that we would adopt the new rules sensitively,
using common sense and discretion, especially in the first year, and
that is what we are doing.
‘The most important thing is that people have an enjoyable time.’
Too short, girls! High hemlines are banned in the Grandstand and Royal enclosure
AND THE ONES THAT GOT IT RIGHT
Prince Harry's erstwhile paramour Florence Brudenell Bruce looked chic at Ascot today, while RIGHT, Viscountess Serena Linley was neat in white wool skirt suit
Fine plumes: Lingerie model Florence Bruce turned heads with a striking feather headpiece
Bold display: Many racegoers dressed to impress, choosing colourful ensembles that brightened up proceedings
The Ascot factor: Simon Cowell's ex-girlfriend Jackie St Clair wowed in a giant purple floral hat
Anna Newlands from Camberley poses for photographers to showcase her bright scarlet headpiece
Under the new guidelines strapless, off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch (2.5cm) are not permitted to Royal Ascot
A spectator's face is hidden from the camera by her wide-brimmed hat (left) while Belinda Strudwick peers out under her peacock feather creation (right)