It’s goodbye to the fascinator (we told you so!) as Royal Ascot this week issued a new dress code including hats only, no pashminas, miniskirts or strapless tops! They’re trying to get the races back to high society standards and their new rules say that for the Royal Enclosure,  hats should be larger than 4 inches in diameter, hems to be of a to just above the knee or lower, and men must wear either a black or grey morning suit with a tie and top hat.

In the Grandstand “women must wear a hat, headpiece or fascinator at all times and strapless dresses are not allowed, while men must wear a suit with a shirt and tie”. The dress code differs between Royal Ascot (June 19-23rd 2012). and all other race days and the organisers have asked that you “please ensure you are dressed appropriately for the enclosure and race day you have booked”. Sounds like they’ll be more lenient on other days that aren’t Royal Ascot itself.

We wish them the best of luck with enforcing the new dress code!

So, in celebration of the hat we’re featuring some fab hats from our favourite Irish Milliners –and not a fascinator in sight!

Pictured above left: Martha Lynn Millinery hat

Sold at Project 51 and Havana

Model- 1 Magda Adasiewicz Stylist- Kelly Barnes Make Up- Claire McDonald Hair- Michelle O Halloran

Pictured above right: Fiona Mangan Millinery

Stocked at:  Don’t Call me Dear, Galway, Juniper, Ennis, New to You, Mullingar, www.secretchic.ie (hat rentals) www.thefashionshed.com

Stylist: Mairead Vickers Photographer: Kyle Tunney Hairstylist: Louise Jordan of MoHH in Galway.

Featured in the gallery are Aisling Ahern Millinery, Mark T Burke Millinery and more designs from Fiona Mangan and Martha Lynn.

[View with PicLens]

By Gillian Brett

It is with great honour that we announce the sartorially gifted Roxanne Parker as our first ever guest editor.

With over 10 years experience in the fashion industry, Roxanne is one of Ireland’s most eminent style experts. She has an incredibly artistic vision and the unique ability to build an enchanting narrative around her fashion editorials: “When possible I like to create characters and build a story about who they are, where they live, what they are like and where they hang out. I want my stories to grab the viewer and spark their imagination. I find this approach helps me to imagine original shoot ideas,” Roxanne reveals.

Her style credentials speak for themselves as she lists Prudence, Confetti, Tatler and The Independent as clients, as well as frequently lending her fashion expertise to TV3’s Ireland AM and Xposé and RTE’s The Afternoon Show.

Roxanne was recently crowned ‘Best Stylist’ in the judges award at Ireland’s Most Influential in Fashion Awards and she has just been announced as the new fashion editor of every Irish woman’s style bible, Social & Personal magazine (her first issue hits the stands in June).

We’re delighted Roxanne managed to take time out of her insanely busy schedule to do a little Guest Editor work with us. Read on for all of her stellar selections for the summer season…

Spring/Summer Designer Collection
Roxanne is going all girlie this season by embracing feminine silhouettes and pretty details. This season she is lusting over “Victoria Beckham for sculpted dresses, Prada for stripes and printed skirts and Isabel Marant for easy, breezy, off-duty cutie weekend wear- particularly her sweet baby pink denim short.” 

Highstreet Shop
For her summer garden party ensemble (doesn’t everybody have one?), Roxanne is hitting the highstreet. She plans to tick off the colour blocking trend by teaming bold blazers with bright dresses choosing “Zara for their cheap and chic colour pop blazers and great leather bags and Warehouse for their pure silk summer dresses and sexy studio 54 inspired jumpsuits.”

Sunglasses
We weren’t surprised to learn that our guest ed has an affinity for Prada’s unique new style of sunglasses. Always keen to push the fashion/art boundaries, Prada commissioned three artists to create quirky illustrations for the label’s new limited-edition ‘Minimal Baroque’ sunglasses range. “I love the simple yet glam black over-sized frames with the quirky design detail of the loop at the side,” praised our honorary editor.

Accessory
For a touch of glam in the office, Roxanne adores the Chanel iPad cover. Mixing technology with taste, this luxury accessory is “The chicest way to tote your iPad around town! This quilted baby with iconic inter-locking C’s will ensure you will look the business at all your meetings!” ($1,555, available at Chanel boutiques.)

Jewellery
In terms of summer adornment, she’ll be paying homage to the all-important seventies with Nicole Richie’s haute hippie jewellery line, House of Harlow. “70′s style jewellery is perfect for this summer.

I’ll also be wearing anything turquoise and my bespoke pearl-claw ring by my jewellery designer brother Carl Parker.” Carl’s incredible pieces can be found in the Castlecomber Estate yard in Co. Kilkenny. You can also have a peek at them online before making your visit on www.carlparkerjewels.com .”

Make-up
Roxanne has every woman’s dream scenario: a best friend who happens to be one of the country’s top make-up artists. “I have been lucky enough to be used as a guinea pig for my close friend, make-up artist Ken Boylan’s brand new make-up range, Ken Boylan make-up, so I’ve been using and loving this line for the past few weeks!

There is nothing Ken doesn’t know about make-up and this is really reflected in his carefully chosen collection which will feature limited edition seasonal colours as well as all the basics. My favourites are his delicious rage of coral lipsticks- so pretty and summery.” The range is being launched in September,  check out www.kenboylan.com
 
Skincare Secret

Despite her hectic schedule and long days on shoots, she always manages to look refreshed and well-rested. Her secret to eternal youth: Jan Marini Bioglycolic facewash. “This ‘cosmasutical’ cleanser exfoliates using glycolic acid, derived naturally from sugar cane,  instead of a gritty, abrasive exfoliant leaving my skin plump, clear and youthful- I’ve used it for the past 7 years and SWEAR by it!!”

Dress
Every woman has her all-time favourite dress and for Roxanne it’s an envy-inducing beige Azzedine Alaia fit and flare dress which she bought in Havana Boutique in Donnybrook, Dublin.

“This stunningly cut dress with a flattering flared skirt by the 80′s ‘king of cling’ fits in with this season’s trend for nudes, while it’s classic cut mean it will be a wardrobe favourite forever.” Chic and timeless: perfection.

Jeans
Finding a pair of jeans that flatter your shape can lead to lifelong brand devotion. For our guest ed it’s Topshop’s Moto Leigh ankle grazers which she owns in jet black. “These skin tight, ankle flashers are the perfect way to show off fashions new erogenous zone – the ankles.”

 Shoes
The most important part of any ensemble, shoes can make or break an outfit. Though they are sometimes treated as an after-thought, Roxanne knows the right footwear is fundamental. She wears quirky “Buffalo leopard print cowboy style ankle boots for off-duty weekend wear” and glams it up in lust-worthy “YSL Tribute sandals in tan” for a high-fashion evening look. She also cites “Nando Muzi, available from Cocobelle in Hibernian Way” as her staple shoe for the summer wedding/race season.

Handbag
A woman’s handbag is the most obvious indicator of her true style persona. It turns out the elegant Ms. Parker is a closet rocker. Her favourite bag is “Alexander Wang’s Brenda Zip chain leather bag- I’m a bit of a rock chick at heart and this distressed washed leather bag has a rock sensibility fused with the practicality of being a really wearable cross body bag, perfect for everyday use.”

Perfume
During wintertime, it’s the classic Coco Chanel perfume that captures Roxanne’s nose and heart. She likes to flirt with summer fragrances however and reveals that her “current fragrance crush is Theirry Mulger’s Womanity- it’s really unusual with woody, smoky under-tones that get you noticed for the right reasons.”
 
Hairstyle
This summer, a plumped up, seventies-style, bouffant (as sported by Cheryl Cole, Sarah Jessica Parker and Elle Macpherson) is the trendiest hairstyle. Roxanne doesn’t settle for anything less than “A big bouncy blow-dry with plenty of back-combing.”

Her voluminous do is created by Paul Davey at Davey Davey salon. “Paul knows how to give me ‘monied’ looking hair so I walk out of the salon feeling like a million dollars!!”  Book in for the star treatment with Paul at Davey Davey, 23 Dury Street, D2  – see www.daveydavey.com for opening hours.

See more of Roxanne Parker’s Picks in the gallery below

This event has been rescheduled to Saturday 12th February.

This year’s Hennessy Gold Cup, which will take place in Leopardstown Racecourse on  Saturday 12th February, 2011; will be judged by legendary hat designer, Philip Treacy and renowned model, Jasmine Guinness.

The race marks the 21st running of the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown and the 5th year of the hugely successful Hennessy Best Dressed Lady competition in association with the Design Centre.

On the day, the winner of the Hennessy Best Dressed competition will be presented with a €4,000 Design Centre voucher to spend on the fabulous selection of exquisite designer clothes that the Design Centre, situated in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin, has to offer. One lucky runner up will walk away with a magnificent neck piece from renowned jewellery designers Erickson Beamon.

Contestants are encouraged to enter the competition by registering online at www.hennessybestdressed.ie before February 4th 2011 or by presenting themselves at the registration desk in the Hennessy Best Dressed marquee on Race Day.

All contestants will receive a welcome pack and get the chance to meet the stylists from the Design Centre. The pampering will continue throughout the day as style experts from Make Up For Ever will be present in the marquee, offering ladies a chance to touch-up their makeup or try some on-trend looks, perfect for winter racing.

Image credit: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images. Jasmine Guinness and Philip Treacy attend the Woodhead Caliva Christmas Party at Mortons Club on December 9, 2005 in London .

	Hennessy Gold Cup
When	Sunday, February 6, 2011 12:00 - All Ages
Where	Leopardstown racecourse. (map) Foxrock Dublin 18

With the racing season kicking off this weekend at the Hennessy Gold Cup (where Jasmine Guinness and Philip Treacy will be judging the Best Dressed Lady competition) we get in the mood with some racing outfit inspiration.

I got as a gift an animal print dress and matching shoes from Karen Millen.  I have been trying to match a head piece/bag/umbrella to it as I would like a nice outfit for the racing season. Any tips? S.

For this Ask the Stylist query, we turned to Martha Lynn for her expertise. Martha has won quite a few Ladies Day competitions herself, most recently at Leopardstown Races. She also happens to be a milliner (hat maker) and works out of her studio in Dublin.

The dress and shoes are amazing. Animal prints are very popular this season.

As the dress and shoes are matching I would probably go for some neutral accessories ie nothing too busy, to bring the outfit together.

I would suggest focusing in on either the black or the beige colours in the animal print. This also means that you will be able to wear your headpiece and accessories with a variety of different outfits.

I would also recommend going for a simple headpiece to compliment the pattern on the dress and shoes, as the pattern on the dress and shoes in themselves are the showpiece.

It would of course be ideal to get your hat or headpiece made to order to compliment your individual style, but if that was not an option there are a great variety of headpieces and fascinators available from some of the high street shops, like Accessorize and Marks and Spencers.

Avoca do a range of coloured umbrellas and occasionally have matching gloves.

I make hats and headpieces to order, to suit the character and individual taste of the costumer. I take into consideration their outfit, hair style and of course, the occasion. There are a variety of sample pieces on my website www.marthalynnmillinery.com

Each of them can be customized to suit your own style.

Related articles

What to Wear to the Races

Style City Galway

Sonya Lennon at the Four Seasons Hotel at the annual ISPCC Luncheon.

Photo:Leon Farrell Photocall Ireland

	Miele Classic Lady Competition at the Darley Irish Oaks
When	Sunday, July 18, 2010 14:05 - All Ages
Where	The Curragh Racecourse (map) Kildare, Co. Kildare
Other Info	The Miele Classic Lady Competition at the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday 18th July. It will be judged by Newstalk Presenter and Rugby Pundit George Hook, RTE Presenter Sonya Lennon and Marketing Manager of Miele Ireland, Caroline Fleming. The prize on the day will be €3,000 worth of Miele appliances for first place, €1,000 worth of Miele appliances for second place and €500 worth of Miele appliances for third place. The top ten finalists will be presented with a Miele goodie bag on the day. RTE Presenter Sonya Lennon commented, “We’re looking for something quite sophisticated and timeless in the Miele Classic Lady Competition, someone with a discerning eye who is confident in her look. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the beautifully turned out and refined ladies at the Curragh.” The 1st of 8 races at the at the Darley Irish Oaks at The Curragh takes place at 2.05pm. General Admission is €20, Under 25s and Seniors €10, Under 16s are free. http://www.curragh.ie/

I caught up my friend recently.  She was looking ever graceful in a gorgeous polka dot blouse.  It reminded me of the one the actress Jennifer Connelly wore recently and brought to my attention that this print has come of age and found its way back into vogue again.

Pictured here at a publicity event in Paris, Jennifer Connelly’s Miu Miu polka dot blouse is worn with a simple cut, black Balenciaga skirt. This combination is super elegant. To get this look on a mid range budget, try Comme des Garcons , otherwise J by Jasper Conran is a great option for under €40.

What used to be associated with itsy bitsy bikinis and Minny Mouse – the polka dot was spotted (no play on words intended) on the 2009 Michael Kors Spring runway, where he captured the cocktail dress perfectly. 

How to wear polka dots

Catwalks aside, the polka dot look is easy to master so long as you limit your outfit to one polka dot piece at a time.

This timeless cocktail dress by Michael Kors (Sailback cocktail dress, €2041) would be perfect for a day out at the races, or any summer time event that calls for a touch of class.

For a daytime outfit, there are plenty of polka dot dresses in store, from New Look (who have a neat navy and white tea dress) to Lipsy, Urban Outfitters and Mango.

If you think that this print is too much for you as a wardrobe staple, there are plenty of polka dot accessories out there from hair bands to handbags.

There was a predominant red theme amongst the finalists of the best dressed lady competition today at Leopardstown race course (see group photo above), with red and black being an ideal colour combination for around Christmas time.

In fact, it’s very tricky to be a stylish best dressed lady and keep warm at the same time but Martha Lynn from Roscommon (living in Donnybrook) knew how to do just that and won the Irish Tatler and Fran & Jane Most Stylish Lady Competition today at Lexus Chase Day at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival (Bank Holiday Monday 28 December).

What The Best Dressed Lady Wore

The Best Dressed Lady or  Most Stylish Lady as it’s known here, wore a black and red headpiece she made herself, a coat from Penneys that she had dyed red, a H&M dress, Wolford tights and red shoes from Zerep – proof that you can still look stunning on a budget and by reinventing your outerwear!

There was a fabulous turnout of beautiful and stylish women at the races including Lorraine Keane, Faith Amond, and finalists in the competition Jane Mulrooney from Galway and Catherine London from Mullingar. Sir Alex Ferguson was also in the crowd.

The Prize

Irish Tatler gave Martha Lynn the winner of the Most Stylish Lady Competition a 5 page photo shoot to be published in Irish Tatler’s April issue. Martha also bagged a €2,000 voucher to spend in Fran & Jane boutiques. Andrea Roche was joined by fellow judges Jessie Collins, the new editor of Irish Tatler and Laura Nolan from Fran & Jane boutiques.

Andrea Roche, Top Irish Model & Irish Tatler and Fran & Jane Ladies Day Judge said: – “There was an incredible array of gorgeous women at the races today, oodles of style and it was great to see people dressed for the weather and enjoying themselves as, while the sun is shining,  its fairly icy out there!

We had a hard job narrowing it down to 10 finalists as there was so many to choose from. Our delighted winner Martha Lynn went away with a €2,000 voucher for Fran & Jane which is a great way to sort out her New Year wardrobe and we’ll be seeing our winner in Irish Tatler next March which was a fantastic and unique prize.”

Proven track record for style

At WhatSheWears.ie, we’ve seen the winner dress in style before back at The Irish Derby in April (when she also looked stunning in red) – see our pictures here.

She also won the G Hotel best hat competition at the Galway Races when she won a bespoke Philip Treacy designed hat, quite like the one SJP wore to the SATC premiere. Catch the picture of her here.

Martha Lynn, Winner of the Best Dressed Lady said: – “I’m so delighted and excited to have won today, it’s pretty amazing as I go racing all around Ireland from Kilbeggan to the Curragh… I can’t wait for the Irish Tatler photo shoot although it’s a little daunting and I’ll have a blast spending the Fran & Jane voucher – something to really look forward to going into 2010.”

Race Day style must run in the family, as her sister, Louise Lynn won best dressed lady at last years Leopardstown Christmas festival.

Photo credit: Shane from Fennell Photography.

Related articles:

Best Dressed at the Dublin Horse Show

How to survive the Galway Races

Go Buy Now: Little Red Dress

Goffs Millions Race Day at The Curragh takes place on Sunday, September 27th 2009.  Brown Thomas is sponsoring a prize to the value of €20,000 for the Most Stylish Lady on the day; the largest prize of its kind ever presented at a race meeting in Ireland.

With the fashion and style stakes raised by champion proportions, it will be a difficult task for the judging panel, which includes glamorous TV Presenter Amanda Byram (pictured), Publisher and TV Presenter Michael O’Doherty and Stacey O’Donnell of Brown Thomas.

All of those short-listed will be invited to The Brown Thomas Champagne Bar, where they will await the announcement of the Most Stylish winner and will also receive goodie bags compliments of Estée Lauder.  The Estée Lauder Beauty Rooms will again be on hand to offer ladies make-overs and touch-ups throughout the day.

The highly-anticipated Goffs Millions Races offer a total prize fund of €3.2million to be split across two races; the Goffs Million Mile and the Goffs Million Sprint.  Each winner is guaranteed to take home a staggering €1million, making these Europe’s richest races for 2-year olds. Without a doubt, the Goffs Millions Race Day is the most important date in the Irish racing calendar and one not to be missed.

Following the success of the Goffs Millions Race Day in previous years, this year’s event promises to be a truly magnificent occasion with spectacular racing, pageantry, glamour and entertainment.

Style Tips for The Races – by Shelly Corkery, Head of Fashion Direction at Brown Thomas

1. Dress for the Occasion
Race wear sits in its own distinct sphere within the realm of fashion.  It should be lady-like, elegant and feminine and most essentially remember that it is daywear.  Race wear is oftentimes confused with eveningwear, with some women dressing more appropriately for a night out than a day at the races!

2. A Passion for Fashion
Don’t forget to be fashionable! Race wear does tend to have a certain “look,” however it is important that the outfit reflects or incorporates current style and trends.

3. Co-ordination is Key
Clever coordination of your outfit is a must.  It is not necessary to match colours and fabrics from head to toe, however well chosen accessories which compliment the look can add wow factor. 

4. Killer Heels
Leave the stilettos at home! There is no reason why you can’t be stylish and spare your feet at the same time, as platforms and wedges are the key shoe trends for the season.  Peep toes and mary janes will also work well.  Comfort is of the essence, so make sure to wear in new shoes beforehand.

5. Top it Off
A great headpiece can really add to the look and is seen by many as an essential part of race wear.  Whether it’s a clip of feathers or a hair accessory, a well chosen headpiece and jewellery can complete the look.

6. Perfect Grooming
It is important to look well groomed.  Immaculate makeup and perfectly coiffed hair can make the difference.

7. Don’t Forget Your Natural Style
Style is what suits you, so don’t be afraid to dress with attitude and flair. You’ll never look stylish if you’re wearing something you feel uncomfortable in, so be sure your outfit is a good reflection of your personality.

The most important advice? Walk tall! If you carry yourself with confidence and grace you’ll look stunning no matter how much (or little) your outfit cost you!

	Goffs Millions Race Day
When	Sunday, September 27, 2009 13:00 - €20,000 for the Most Stylish Lady - All Ages
Where	(map)

See our pictures and article on the 2010 Dublin Horse Show here

The queue went on and on, winding around the grass pavilion of the Band Lawn at the RDS. Ladies sipped champagne in the sunshine as they waited their turn to go on stage in this year’s Blossom Hill Ladies Day at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

Unlike The Galway Races where the judges work the crowd and pick the entrants for best dressed lady, at The Dublin Horse Show one can enter oneself, and so you can imagine that the entries were plentiful.

What awaited the entrants was a chance to go on stage and speak to MC Aisling O’Loughlin (TV3 Xposé presenter), who quizzed the lovely ladies about their outfit; while the judges - couturier Synan O’Mahony and actress Amy Huberman - took in all the details. (Thought Amy looked fab in a Topshop tea dress and yellow court shoes, see the picture here ).

The stories were entertaining – one gal just got engaged, one had recently had twins and some got seriously reduced dresses in the summer sales.  The outfits were a mixture of high street, designer and vintage while a trend at the 2009 Horse Show was that a lot of women made their own hats. 

The lovely ladies, for the most part, combined great dress sense with a touch of individuality  – there was even an 80 year old lady who boldy stood in the long queue until she had her say on stage!

Here are the WhatSheWears.ie favourites:

1. Corkonian Jean Santry wore a cobalt blue body con dress from Saks Fifth Avenue. This creative lady made the hat herself.

2. Lucy Murphy from Enniskerry designed both her own hat and dress. The floral motif at the bottom of her dress was quite exquisite – perhaps we will see this Fine Arts student at IADT rise to be a famous Irish designer someday?

3. By Mary Rose is the hat designer behind these girls’ chapeaux. Catherine Keane from Galway(on the right), sister to the designer, wears a dress by Warehouse. Her friend, London lady Tatum Pask, got her dress in Selfridges of London and made the flower on it herself.

4. Our prize for Most Creative Hat went to Sheelagh Holland from Galway. Ironically the hat itself is called “Galway Weather” and was created by florist Hank van Enk.

Ladies Day at the Dublin Horse Show pictures

Best Dressed Winner: Emir O’Shea, Killarney, Co. Kerry
Emir is wearing a silver gold linen bustier jumpsuit inspired by the Chanel look and a large silver gold hat. Emir’s sister Clodagh designed the jumpsuit and her other sister Niamh designed and made the hat.

Most Colourful Outfit: Laura Tutty, Co. Kildare.
Laura’s Spanish themed outfit and shoes came from Crave Boutique in Co. Kildare. Laura accessorized with a contrasting dark Stefanel clutch bag from Italy and her hat was purchased the day before from the Marianne Flood trade stand at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show!

Highly Commended: Orla O’Neill, Co. Galway
Orla’s outfit is a cream and peach dress by BCBG, Christian Dior navy shoes, Navy shrug from Fran and Jane with matching hat. Orla’s umbrella was from Ferre and her clutch was her own.

Highly Commended: Faith Amond, Co. Carlow
Faith is wearing a sharp purple suit with purple accessories.

Most Creative Hat: Norma O’ Donoghue, Killarney, Co. Kerry
Norma’s stunning hat is made from stens of artificial flowers, netting and rose heads. Her metallic peach dress and ¾ length, bronze metallic coat is from Whispers boutique in Tralee, Co. Kerry and her stunning shoes are designed by irregular choice available in wild pair in Tralee. Her Gucci bag completes the outfit and is available from Brown Thomas.

Best Dressed Man: Richard Healy, Co. Wicklow
Richard’s blazer is from Zara, London; his shirt is available from Gap. His vibrant red tie is from Topman and his jeans are from Levi’s available at Arnott’s. Richard’s shoes are from Converse available at Schuh.

The Judges: Amy Huberman and Synan O’Mahony

If there was a prize for best dressed couple, this dapper pair would’ve won it.  They met in Australia and he has followed her to Ireland. She wore a hat and a Stella McCartney cardigan, both borrowed from her Mum.

Dubliner Aoife O’Donoghue stood out from the crowd in an all in black ensemble, braving ladies day in jeans! Aoife combined designer and high street wearing a Malene Birger jacket and Calvin Klein handbag, teamed with jeans from Pennys and a Warehouse vest. We certainly salute her individuality and loved her trilby hat!

The actual Best Dressed Lady at Blossom Hill Ladies’ Day won a fantastic trip to California worth €10,000.

 Images: Anne Marie Boyhan, WhatSheWears.ie.

Related articles:

 Summer Hats

Surviving the Galway Races

What to Wear to the Races

Muse of the Month: Amy Huberman

Style We Love: Body Con