The British “social season” – using the phrase in the sense – is well and truly in full swing. And while we’ve already had Royal Ascot, Wimbledon and Glyndebourne, there are still a handful of quintessentially English summer occasions to get dressed up for. Next up is Glorious Goodwood – also known as the Qatar Goodwood Festival – .
And while Ascot is known for its stringent dress codes, Goodwood is altogether more relaxed, with varying degrees of formality required depending on which enclosure you are in. The most formal, and the only one with a dress code , is the Richmond Enclosure, in which men are required to wear jackets and ties. .
“The look at Goodwood lends itself to the setting and the ethos of the estate and the Duke and Duchess,” agrees stylist Sarah Byrne, who is attending for the 10th time this year. “It’s more laid back and under the radar compared to Ascot. Sartorially it’s a bit more pared back.
It’s much smaller than some of the other race courses. It’s effortless and elegant rather than ostentatious or overly styled.” For women, it’s all about an English garden party look, whether that’s a floral tea dress or a chic jumpsuit (why not try this season’s modern rose print, for example, or a cape dress à la Margot Robbie at Wimbledon, for something a little edgier).
“I love halter necks and one shoulder as well as bustier styles for Goodwood, which of course are not permitted for Ascot Royal enclosure,” shares Byrne, wh.
