Galloping horses, an array of colourful silks, beautiful dresses, dapper suits & plastic pint glasses .It's that time of year again in Galway, it's time for the races.
The seven day racing bonanza at Ballybrit will play host to over 150,000 racing fans this year. This blog is aimed at Ladies' Day and the best way to approach this fabulous day with one thing in mind... to win! The winner of the overall Best Dressed will receive a spectacular prize worth over €10,000, including a shopping spree at Kilkenny, a 5* luxury break with Bluebook Ireland, a new wardrobe courtesy of Aideen Bodkin, stunning Irish jewellery by Maureen Lynch, a bespoke crystal trophy by Waterford Crystal,€1,000 haircare from Peter Mark and a beautiful cosmetics package worth €1,000 from Lancôme. So yes ladies, put some thought into this and it could very well be you!
If you look back on past Ladies’ Day winners, they all share one thing in common – they all look totally at ease in their outfits, aren’t following trends so share a timeless appeal, and are all wearing great hats. Let me just say that you do NOT need to spend a fortune either. Mix new with old, and designer with high street. Be innovative, be fun, but most of all be you and be comfortable.
So here are the points you should consider when planning your outfit for Ladies' Day:
Outfit:
Think outside the box. Immediately we think dress, right? Last year's stunning winner Helen Murphy wore a beautiful long, floral midi skirt with a simple short sleeved blouse. Simple, yet absolutely elegant. Why not push the boundaries a little, even a suit- blazer and pencil skirt combo?!
So if your not opting for a skirt and blouse/jacket combo, a fabulous option is a dress. Choose the right one and it can bring you many years of happinesses and versatility. First thing to think of is what suits YOU and YOUR shape. What suits one is not going to suit the other. We know this ladies, we know our bodies, so stick to what we know looks good! If you don't know what suits you, check out my blog post on 'How To Dress For Your Body Shape'.
Bear in mind the lovely Irish Summer we are having. NOT! So it has been raining most of July and chances are it is still going to be raining when it comes to Race Week in Galway. Keep this in mind when choosing the outfit. If you opt for a long flowing dress, yes that's great but are you going to be comfortable when your dress has soaked up all the puddles? You WILL need some sort of warmth not matter how much prosecco you have, so remember to get a dress that you can wear a flattering blazer/ trench with. One of Irish's women's top qualities is knowing how to look stylish, even in the rain. Could you add a little fur do that dress darling?
There are so many styles out there when it comes to choosing a dress and it really is about individual style!
Figure hugging pencil style
Puffy above the knee
Elegant shift dress
My personal idea for this year, is something vintage inspired. Something a little different and a bit mad.
Accessories
Make or break your outfit with the accessories you wear. For Race Week, it has to be the HAT! Visit my store at mylittlehatstore.com for some fabulous one off pieces! With a headpiece it isn't necessarily the bigger the better, depending on your face shape depends on what you can carry. A simple small headpiece can bring a touch of class, or even a dash of colour.
When it comes to jewellery- don't over do it. A statement necklace can be enough for any outfit. "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory." —Coco Chanel.
So I hope the above tips have helped you when considering an outfit choice for the races! The best tip of all though for Ladies' Day, is to have fun! Enjoy Ladies!
