Royal Ascot 2023 style guide looks to recycled and rental outfits

The 2023 style guide embraces sustainable fashion

Ascot has published its latest style guide, encouraging racegoers to "raid grandma's hat boxes" and scour charity shops.

Renamed The Royal Ascot Look Book, the racecourse is embracing sustainable fashion for 2023.

Its fashion edits include pre-loved, rental and vintage outfits.

The guide urges racegoers to "dream up an outfit that is authentic to their personal style and approach to sartorial shopping".

Felicity Barnard, the racecourse's commercial director, said there were very few events that allow people to "embrace dressing for a special occasion on such a global scale".

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She continued: "Each year Royal Ascot becomes the most followed display of sartorial elegance and individual flair - a true celebration of style that is woven into the very fabric of Ascot's DNA.

"This year sees an exciting evolution for what has been known as the Royal Ascot Style Guide for more than a decade.

"For 2023 Ascot is proud to unveil the Royal Ascot Look Book where, for the first time, we look to inspire people through six new fashion edits that draw from current styling trends.

"Responsible style remains a key part of Royal Ascot as we continue to find ways to dress, whether that is renting occasion wear or investing in forever pieces."

Announcing the new fashion direction in a statement, the racecourse said it was inspired by fashion magazine editorials and hoped it would entice racegoers to "get lost in the magical world of occasion wear".

"From retro-inspired vintage looks evocative of the 1970s to exquisite tailoring and avant garde millinery, the Look Book is a fashion feast with inspiration to suit all budgets," it added.

Look Book photographer Damian Foxe said it had been a joy to be part of its evolution as it moves away from a means to communicate the dress code towards becoming a source of fashion inspiration.

"For 2023, we have decided to completely move away from creating a Look Book dictated by enclosure, in favour of one which puts style centre stage," he explained.

"In many ways, I think this reflects what we are seeing as the evolution of style at Royal Ascot and the myriad of looks on show from racegoers."

This year's fashion edits include:

• Luxe edit - showcasing a reimagined approach to designer dressing

• Pre-loved and rental edit - showcasing spectacular second-hand and hireable fashion for the sartorially adventurous

• High street edit - style that transcends "off the peg" suit buying

• Vintage edit - evoking a sleek and surprisingly modern aesthetic for race day styling, inherited from iconic wardrobes of yesteryear

• Tailoring edit - Taking pleats and darts to the next level, immaculate tailoring to make a statement

• Emerging designer edit - celebrating looks from up-and-coming fashion designers

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