What should I wear on my head to Royal Ascot?
If you’re attending Royal Ascot and want to look “Ascot” in the best possible way, I will design and make a bespoke hat or compliant headpiece that suits your enclosure, outfit colours, and confidence level. I create everything from delightfully extravagant statement pieces to sleek, classic hats with timeless polish, all made in my Winchester studio with comfort and a secure fit in mind.
Important ordering note for Ladies Day
My spring/summer lead time is 10 weeks. As a result, I ask that all bespoke orders for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot be placed with me by the end of March, please.
Royal Ascot style has two Millinery Moods, and I love them both!
Royal Ascot is one of the rare occasions where you can lean into millinery with proper joy. Some of my clients want an unapologetic celebration of colour, texture and movement. Others want a quietly confident, beautifully tailored look that feels classical and correct. I design for both, and I’ll help you choose which direction feels right the moment you put it on. I offer a wide range of exciting bespoke hat options that are available to order in hundreds of different colour combinations.
The fun, frivolous, “let’s make an entrance” side of Ascot
This is where millinery becomes pure theatre, most elegantly. If you want a hat that makes people smile (and earns you a few compliments on the lawn), I can take you in a bolder, more playful direction while keeping the finishing refined.
Ideas I often explore for this look include:
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A harlequin flutter of colourful silk butterflies, dancing across the crown and brim
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An exaggerated oversized bow, sculpted so it looks dramatic but still beautifully balanced in photographs
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An abundance of hand-set crystals that catch the light as you move
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Exciting, jazzy colour combinations that pick up your shoes, bag, lipstick, or even a patterned dress
For many ladies, this is the day to really go for it - Royal Ascot gives you the perfect excuse!
The sleek, elegant, classically dressed side of Ascot
If you prefer a more traditional look, I will keep the silhouette clean and the styling considered. Think confident lines, impeccable proportion, and colour-matching that looks intentional rather than “nearly right”.
This approach often suits:
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A large statement brim in a refined colour story
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A smooth, elegant finish with a single beautiful focal trim
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A timeless shape that looks graceful from every angle, especially in photographs
It still feels special. It just whispers rather than shouts.
Perching button bases and pillbox styles, small in scale and big in impact
I sell a great many perching button bases and pillbox-inspired styles for Royal Ascot, and they are far more versatile than people expect. They make a perfect springboard for drama because they sit neatly and comfortably, while allowing the trims to do the talking!
In the Royal Enclosure, Ascot’s own guidance allows a headpiece or hatinator as long as it has a solid base of at least 4 inches (10 cm). All of my perching button bases for Ascot meet that minimum, so they can work beautifully even for very traditional clients who still want a compliant headpiece rather than a wide brim.
Here’s why they work so well:
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Comfort: they feel light to wear and easy for a long day
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Practicality: they suit hosting or attending a private box, where space and movement can be limited
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Versatility: they can look sleek and minimal, or they can become the foundation for a showpiece
And creatively, they are a joy. I can build them up with:
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Twisting trimmed feathers spiralling upwards for height and movement
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Festooned bows for impact without the bulk of a huge brim
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Crystals and sparkle to catch the eye with every turn of the head
They are fun, practical, and surprisingly flattering.
Dress code and enclosure guidance, without the stress
Dress codes vary across the enclosures, so I always recommend checking the official guidance for your specific ticket before you finalise your outfit.
If you tell me which enclosure you’re attending, I will design within the guidelines and steer you towards something that feels appropriate, comfortable, and unmistakably you.
When should I order my Royal Ascot hat?
As Royal Ascot is traditionally held in June each year, the best time to begin is early. It gives you far more choice and keeps the overall experience much more enjoyable.
A sensible approach:
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January to February: get in touch and book a consultation in Winchester if you’d like one
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By 31 March: confirm your Ladies Day bespoke order (my firm cut-off)
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April onwards: I will complete your hat with enough time for calm final checks and collection
If you’ve left it late, I can still help
If you are inside my bespoke lead time during the spring and summer rush, I may not be able to take on a made-to-order Ascot commission. In that case, my ready-to-wear collection can be a lovely solution, subject to availability.
A brief history of the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot
The origins of the Royal Enclosure can be traced back to 1807 when an area was reserved exclusively for family, guests and the Household of King George III to view the first running of the Gold Cup. The Royal Enclosure as we know it today was established in the mid-nineteenth century when the Emperor of Russia, Nicholas I, visited Ascot for the first time as a guest of Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. The concern raised from an impromptu descent into the Winners’ Enclosure by the Emperor, the King of Saxony and Prince Albert to examine the winner of the Queen’s Vase, prompted authorities to enclose the area in front of the Royal Stand in 1845. Excluding the Royal Stand, this area immediately became the most exclusive part of the racecourse.
This excerpt reproduced here by kind permission of ascot.com
Royal Ascot is one of my absolute favourite events to design for. It has that wonderful mix of tradition, glamour and pure summer fun, and it gives me permission to be a little more daring with scale, colour and sparkle. I genuinely love the planning stage with my treasured customers, chatting through their plans, outfits and all those finishing touches that make their whole look feel “just right”.
If you’d like to create something special for Ascot, I would be delighted to help you enjoy the build-up and arrive feeling beautifully dressed for the occasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the latest I can order a bespoke hat for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot?
My spring/summer lead time is 10 weeks, so please confirm your bespoke order with me by 31 March for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. If you contact me after that date, I may still be able to help, but it will depend on my studio schedule and the complexity of the design.
Can I wear a perching button base or pillbox style to the Royal Enclosure?
Yes. A perching button base or a pillbox-inspired style can work beautifully for the Royal Enclosure, provided it meets the dress code requirement of a solid base of at least 4 inches (10 cm). All of my Ascot-ready perching bases meet the minimum size, and I will always guide you so your final choice feels both correct and stylish.
What is the most comfortable style to wear all day at Royal Ascot?
Many ladies find a perching button base or pillbox style the most comfortable option, especially if they are hosting or attending a private box where space and movement can feel limited. These styles feel light to wear, sit securely, and still allow for dramatic trims such as feather spirals, sculpted bows and crystal details.
Do you make dramatic “fun” Royal Ascot hats as well as classic ones?
Yes. Royal Ascot is one of the few occasions where you can lean into millinery with real joy and exuberance! I make everything from sleek, elegant statement hats in refined colourways to playful designs featuring oversized bows, a flutter of colourful silk butterflies, hand-set crystals, veiling, and sculptural featherwork. I’ll help you choose a look that feels perfect for you, just with a little more pizzazz!
Can you colour-match my hat to my dress, shoes and bag?
Yes. Precise colour-matching is one of the most important parts of what I do. If you can bring your outfit to my Winchester studio, or share clear photographs (or post swatches), I will build a colour story that looks intentional and beautifully coordinated, both in real life and in photographs.
I have my Ascot tickets but not my outfit yet. Should I wait?
Yes, please wait until you have your dress, and ideally your shoes as well. I can only colour-match and choose the right scale once I can see the actual outfit you've decided on, so you'll avoid any guesswork and end up with a beautifully coordinated Ascot look.
Do you have ready-to-wear hats for Royal Ascot if I’ve left it late?
Yes, absolutely. I keep a small selection of unique ready-to-wear hats and perching styles available online, but availability changes quickly in spring and summer because I make only one of each. If you are short on time, it’s worth browsing my ready-to-wear collection in my Online Shop, and if you wish, contacting me for guidance on the most suitable option for your enclosure and outfit.
Please browse the full gallery of bespoke samples currently in my studio.
You may wish to choose a design as it is, and I will make it up for you in all the colours of your outfit.
Or if you prefer, I can also combine your favourite elements of the different designs together to create a one-off piece - just for you.