Don’t lose your hat at Royal Ascot

Whether you’re a seasoned Royal Ascot pro, or its your first time gracing the hallowed turf, you’ll know that finding the right hat is key. The hat is so central to the fashion element of Ascot that you can make it the statement piece of your outfit. Ascot has very specific (some might say excessive) rules on dress: no spaghetti straps, no halternecks, hemlines to fall just above the knee at the shortest, so the watchword when planning your Ascot outfit is elegance.

This is one of the most elegantly glamorous events in the sporting calendar and a wonderful excuse to indulge your inner Grace Kelly. A simple, chic black, white or solid colour dress can be brought to life with the right hat.

Philip Treacy is the undisputed king of the milliners. Try this one (left) from the SS15 collection for vertical flowing drama or this one (right) for a touch of sixties chic

If you’re looking for something more fashion forward, Laura Kinsella is an up and coming young milliner who is quickly establishing an international reputation. Theta (left) has an angelic, ingénue feeling to it while Locus  (right) acts as a discreet shield from all those paparazzi. Be careful with headpieces such as these though, as they may not conform to Ascot’s 4″ minimum base requirements, so check it out with the milliner before buying.

If you’re not the kind of person who is likely to wear such a great again, The Hat Club have cleverly set up a hat rental service with hats from many leading milliners, including Philip Treacy.

This is a super-chic piece with a 1950s feeling to it from Laura Cathcart (left)

and this teardrop shape by Jane Ann Design (right) will add effortless elegance to an all black or monochrome ensemble.

Now all you’ve got to do is back some winners.

Find out more about the Royal Ascot Dress Code 2015 here