The Ultimate Royal Ascot 2022 Style Guide

The Royal Ascot Style Guide establishes the official Dress Code of the Royal Meeting and is the bellwether and source of inspiration in the world of occasion dressing. This year the Style Guide has been reimagined by acclaimed stylist Rachel Bakewell and visionary fashion photographer Tung Walsh.

The guide has been given a considerable shake-up. A new creative direction, less rules more creativity. No longer constrained by traditional morning coats and top hats, the look has now transformed into more fashion-led, yet still, smart enough to fall under the 'occasion dress' banner. 

For gentlemen, classic tailoring and light summer suits in linen, seersucker, and cotton and punctuated by debonair accents of pattern and texture with ties and pocket squares. Linen and seersucker are welcome introductions to be woven into the guide as the summer. Heavier wearing fabrics so synonymous with event attire can really find you out after a long day in the sun. (Hopefully sun!). The guide encourages prints, pops of colour, and Cuban collar shirts in the Windsor and Village enclosures, giving a more modish and contemporary take on formal dressing. Featured brands include Richard James, Beggars Run, GANT, Favourbrook and Oliver Brown.

For the ladies, a mixture of suiting, dresses and separates for ladies, this year's guide includes ethereal dresses in pastels, floral prints and metallics showcasing a variety of looks to suit all tastes and budgets. Designers such as Simone Rocha, Erdem, Emilia Wickstead and The Vampire's Wife, through to ME+EM, Reiss, LK Bennett and Radley London, showcase vibrant jewelled tones and sleek vampish dresses, highlighting the sense of creativity and fun that can be had when it comes to dressing for the occasion and individual style.

I like the idea that we no longer have to be wedded to the idea of traditional dress. The event is steeped in tradition however and come time I will be honouring that by sourcing a hat from the second eldest shop in the country, Lock & Co.  

Known as much for its eye-catching millinery as well as its world-class horse racing, Royal Ascot's Style Guide features hats and headpieces from the likes of Edwina Ibbotson, Stephen Jones OBE, Justine Bradley-Hill, Juliette Botterill, Emily London and Jane Taylor.

For 2022, the Royal Meeting will celebrate fashion on a truly global scale as the racecourse welcomes back customers from all over the world. Whether you are celebrating the festivities in June at the racecourse, or watching all the action from home, share your outfit and style using #RoyalAscot

Royal Ascot will be held from Tuesday 14th Saturday 18th June 2022.

Here are some personal preferences from the guide that I think will bring some glamour to the event. 

RICHARD JAMES 

A fox brown 2x4 double breasted Richard James suit with Russell & Bromley wing-tipped brogues. This is something of a haymaker, yes I would normally go for the Oliver Spencer Navy single breasted suit worn on the other gentleman. However, I wanted to promote the new wave of formal dressing. The lapels have the 70s Nutter vibe and the fit has that louche 1920s box-drape which will mark you as the feckless bon viveur that no doubt, if you've had a good day, women will swoon over. 

REISS

We all know I was going to pick this one. As a long-life customer of Reiss I would relish the chance to show off this 2x4 double breasted suit in the Windsor Enclosure. The stitched suede moccasins and the printed floral shirt from GANT provide an irrepressible playboy look.

FAVOURBROOK

Lastly, let's not forget where it all started. The morning coat. After all how many times will you get the opportunity to wear one? This is by far the most buttoned-up look of the three and I prefer the look with the stone coloured Edwardian waistcoat with horn buttons. The deep navy and silver circle tie affords a splash of fun to a timeless look. 

IF I HAD TO PICK ONE OUT FOR MY GIRLFRIEND 

Of course, Tuula is not just an empty vessel into which I decant all my fashion dictations. She has a say, well. She points and says 'that one'. But if I were to surprise her with an outfit for Royal Ascot it would be between these three. She would look damsel-esque in that GHOST chiffon dress stood next to me in my REISS suit.

Or exquisite in the LISA THE LABEL dress. Those lace shoulder gathers and bow ties look incredible. 

Lastly, I would love to see her in this navy-silk Erdem dress with vampish leather gloves.