Going to the Races

February has mostly seen me idly whiling away my time online window shopping and dreaming wildly about having lots of money to spend on buying beautiful clothes and doing interesting things. March will be more of the same, bah. My daydreams are currently all about galloping horses and the glamour of Cheltenham.

I adore jump racing and I've always wanted to go there. It's very handy for me living so close to Aintree, home of the Grand National. I usually go to two or three meetings a year there with Papa Odd Socks as we are both rather fond of a flutter. But much as I love the place, Cheltenham in March is the dream destination for anyone who likes their racing.



If you're going, you take Zara Phillips as your style inspiration, not a WAG. Smart, country, heritage brands are the order of the day. Tottering around in skyscraper heels and a floaty floral dress is for Ascot Ladies Day in the summer, not the Cheltenham Gold Cup in early March.

This is England. Even if the sun is shining, it won't be hot. It's far more likely to be like this:



If you're in summer clothing you may actually die of hypothermia.

Plus, jump racing is not the same as flat racing.  It's still very much a social occasion but for a slightly different crowd.  Lashings of tweed are needed, along with good shoes, an extremely classy coat and, if you're that way inclined, a hat. Not for me though: I can't pull them off. Sad face. Sad, hatless face.

If money were no object and I was heading down to Gloucestershire in a couple of weeks, this is what I'd be wearing. Imaginary shopping involves an imaginary bank balance, so I haven't let price hold me back!

I've been lusting after this Dubarry coat for so long. It would be perfect for everything.

Equally perfect are this pair of Duo boots. People who are better in heels than me might go for something higher but you're on your feet for hours at the races so this pair would be a much better idea. I'd rather be comfy than limping! Smart and flattish, that's the winning combo.

The coat and boots are easy enough to pick: I'm desperate to buy them both anyway! The problem part of the outfit is the dress. Being realistic, it won't be warm enough to take the coat off anyway so you're not going to get more than a peek of whatever is underneath it. A dress that manages to be smart, a bit sassy and that's suitable to wear a) under that style of coat and b) with knee high boots is not that easy to find! This Burberry dress is divine though and meets all those requirements.

Alas the bag in that photo is not divine. Bleurgh. I'd rather have something a lot more colourful like this Brit Stitch beauty.

If you need me, I'll be dreaming of a 66-1 winner of the Gold Cup earning me a fortune...

*[]*

What I Wore...To The Races

Ah.  It's Aintree time again and that means it's time for tons of patronising Southern bile in the media mocking Scouse women for daring to make an effort when they go to the races.  I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the tone of the Daily Mail's article yesterday though.  It's much less vitriolic than in previous years (note - I haven't read the comments because they'll make me want to punch things) although I can't help but feel that they've picked some peculiar photos to go along with it.  There were so many beautifully dressed, chic women there yesterday.  Lots of peplums and really smart fitted dresses and fab platform shoes.  That wasn't even the day when people get really dressed up! We shall wait and see what the coverage of Ladies Day (today) brings...

So, what did I wear?  This:

Ah, so chic to accessorise with a pint of Bulmers, isn't it?

 

Much more soberly dressed than most people there, but here is the basis of my thinking when it comes to an outfit for the races. 

• Something smart. 
• Something I won't freeze in.  
• Preferably something I already own, because I can't countenance doing what some girls do and spending £500 on getting ready and buying the outfit.  That is just madness. 
• Oh, and flat shoes.  My back hurts after spending over six hours standing up and I just can't wear heels for that long without ruining my day with pain and moaning. 

So, as I said on Twitter yesterday, I may have been by far in the minority with my flats on, but at least I wasn't teetering along and moaning about how much my feet were killing me after an hour.  Or worse, walking round barefoot holding my shoes.  *shudder*

Instead I was having a wonderfully fun day out in the sunshine.  And being assaulted by my brother when trying to study the form in the Racing Post.  He didn't stop me picking a couple of winners though, muahaha.

Dress - Closet @ Dorothy Perkins
Jacket - Warehouse via charity shop
Flats - New Look
Ring - Dorothy Perkins sale
Bag - H & M



Racy In Red

I had a rather fab day at the races on Saturday. I had two winners and two thirds out of four bets so I was a) happy and b) rather richer than at the start of the day. I employed my usual combination of reading the form, inspecting the horses in the parade ring and then picking on sentiment. It works though! Just Smudge (we used to have a cat called Smudge...) zoomed in at 8-1 and then my trusty old favourite Monet's Garden ran his usual brave, bold race and came home first to the cheers of practically everyone there. What a horse.

Winnings are not there to be spent on practical things so I bought a new hat instead.

As for my outfit for the day, I went for wintery fabrics, spiced up with some jazzy red accents, and based it all around wanting to be warm and comfortable. No heels for me, not when I'm going to be on my feet all day. A chilly October day is NOT the time to wear a party frock, heels and nothing else - not that this stopped some girls. They would have looked amazing in the summer but all the goosebumps on show rather detracted from the overall look at this time of year.

Vest - Zara (I know, again. It does get washed though, honest)

Skirt - Warehouse

Tights & pearl headband - Dorothy Perkins

Cardi - Matalan

Brogues - River Island

Ring - Primark

Blazer - vintage St Michaels, via Oxfam

Clutch - courtesy of Margaret from Penny Dreadful Vintage - I made her a pom pom necklace and she was lovely enough to send me this in exchange.


The blazer needed a wee bit of alteration before I wore it as it had these beasties tucked away inside the lining. Easily sorted though and I'm very pleased with it. Am equally pleased with the skirt as I bought it when I was about 13 and it's never fitted. It does now though, muahahaha.

Holy shoulder pads Batman!! That's an A4 sized magazine they're sitting on - they're huge!!


Ps - sorry for the lack of weekend posts - I've given up on the pc. I tried to keep up on comments via my phone but it's a bit tricky due to screen size etc. However all is not lost as I'm going to pick up a shiny new netbook after work. WOO!!