Ahead of the richest horse race in Africa, remember this: A day at the races is not a place for pageant clothes!
Since the beginning of horse-racing time, some 300 years ago, a day at the races has been synonymous with a high society fashion parade.
Milliners, dressmakers and tailors were furiously summonsed to dress the upper classes in their best creations. Kings, queens and sheiks took their outfits very seriously after all horse races may as well have been a place for ‘fashion races’.
Not much has changed over the centuries and the stakes couldn’t be any higher than on the 23rd of January 2015, when Africa’s richest horse race ever hits Cape Town. Horses, taking part at the Investec Day of Dreams where there are three main races on the day, with the last, The CTS Million Dollar Race, holding the one-million US dollar tag. But before you embrace the outrageous fashions commonly seen at horse races, “remember to dress appropriately,” says top designer Malcolm Klûk of KLûK CGDT, who is also the fashion voice for the race day. People dress too formally as if they are attending an evening function or a matric dance. “This is a day function and not a place for pageant clothes,” he adds.
Here are a few more crucial DOs and DON’Ts:
DON’T be over-the-top with beaded, smart dresses. This, according to Klûk, is tired and outdated.
DO go for simple outfits that showcase one part of your body. “DON’T have boobs AND legs.”
The hat is THE most important component of the outfit. Therefore, DO keep the rest of your outfit understated.
Just because you’re allowed to be gregarious with hats, they still DO have to be tasteful. Remember Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games? Her butterfly hat is spectacularly bold, but still within taste limits.
Block heels are a DO, stilettos and wedges are a DON’T. “Remember you’ll be on grass, and so block heels are not only stylish and fashionable, but appropriate for the day”, Klûk says.
DON’T underestimate the temperature! “Remember that it’s going to be hot day. Choose your fabrics appropriately,” advises Klûk.
The theme for the Investec Day of Dreams is black and white. “Much fun can be had with the zebra, the Investec icon,” Klûk says. But remember the golden rule: interesting, but sophisticated”.
In essence, go wild, but keep it classy. See you at the races! For more information, go to www.investecdayofdreams.co.za and keep in the know via the event’s twitter handle #InvestecDayofDreams.
When it comes to race-day etiquette these are the things you need to keep in mind.
