IF you’re heading to Ascot this year, you don’t have long left to find something to wear.
And although there’s plenty of occasionwear out there, it can be difficult to find something that is both appropriate and stylish.
Plus, you don’t need to spend a fortune – there are lots of gorgeous and affordable options on the high street, if you know where to look.
Our fashion editors have done the searching for you, and picked out their favourite pieces that won’t break the bank, plus you’ll be able to wear them numerous times throughout the summer.
Abby McHale, 30, Deputy Fashion Editor
Abby is going dotty for the polka dot trend this year[/caption]
- Fascinator, £79, Karenmillen.com – BUY NOW
- Top, £16, F&F at Tesco – BUY NOW
- Skirt, £22.50, F&F at Tesco – BUY NOW
- Necklace, £26, Bohomoon.com – BUY NOW
- Bag, £49.99, Zara – BUY NOW
- Heels, £55, Charles & Keith – BUY NOW
I love any excuse to get dressed up, and the races certainly ticks the occasionwear box.
If you think you have to spend a fortune on a posh outfit, then think again.
The high street has really upped its game this year – supermarkets included.
Can you believe this polka dot co-ord is from F&F at Tesco?
I love the skirt and top combination, as it’s a slightly different take on a classic dress option.
I’ve added a pop of colour with this red headband from Karen Millen and kept the rest of my accessories neutral, with a pearl bag, black heels and gold jewellery.
Plus, once I’ve worn this to the races, I can mix and match the pieces to create even more outfits.
Tracey Lea Sayer, 53, Fashion Director
Tracey proves that a suit can be just as glam as a dress[/caption]
- Hat, £85 to hire, Camilla Rose – HIRE NOW
- Trousers, £140, Mint Velvet – BUY NOW
- Waistcoat, £145, Mint Velvet – BUY NOW
- Bag, £100, Mango – BUY NOW
- Sandals, £45.99, Stradivarius – BUY NOW
I go into a panic whenever I get asked to attend a formal occasion!
I don’t look great in dresses or hats, so I have to be really specific about what I wear.
But I do love a suit, so opting for a two-piece always takes the pressure off a bit.
This soft pink, elegant suit from Mint Velvet feels dressy and special, but I know I will be really comfortable – and I’ll still feel like me!
As for the hat, I hired one this year and am hoping it suits me when it arrives.
I do know I need a hat with height, so fingers crossed this Camilla Rose one will look the part in the royal enclosure.
Clemmie Fieldsend, 34, Fashion Editor
Clemmie’s monochrome look is inspired by Dior[/caption]
- Hat, £119, Phase Eight – BUY NOW
- Blazer, £145, Aligne – BUY NOW
- Bag, £79, Fiorelli – BUY NOW
- Skirt, £32.99, Reserved – BUY NOW
- Shoes, £36, Next – BUY NOW
This year, I’m swapping my frock for a jacket and skirt look inspired by Christian Dior.
I’ve been lucky enough to go to Royal Ascot a handful of times, but I feel overwhelmed by all the dresses on the high street and can’t find one that’s right for me.
So this year, I’ve built a look that doubles for Dior’s iconic “New Look” outfit that changed fashion history in 1950.
I’ve gone for this beautiful jacket from Aligne that’s actually part of the bridal range, and paired it with a statement full skirt from Reserved.
Phase Eight has lots of fantastic headgear for races and weddings, so if you’re looking for something that will make you stand out, definitely take a look.
I’ve gone for classic black court shoes and a Dior bag dupe from Fiorelli, and I’m all set.
Emily Regan, 25, Fashion Assistant
Emily has picked a co-ord that she’ll be able to wear to other events[/caption]
- Bag, £39.50, M&S Collection at Marks & Spencer – BUY NOW
- Cardigan, £35.99, Zara – BUY NOW
- Top, £22.99, Zara – BUY NOW
- Skirt, £45.99, Zara – BUY NOW
- Hat, £59, John Lewis & Partners – BUY NOW
- Heels, £38, River Island – BUY NOW
Choosing an outfit for the races is always a challenge, especially with the unpredictable weather and strict dress codes.
For Ascot, it can be hard to find something stylish that’s also appropriate, but I recently spotted this Zara co-ord that ticks all the boxes.
The boucle cardigan looks luxe, covers everything it needs to, and comes with a bandeau top underneath, so I can wear the buttons undone if the temperature rises.
I’m really into combo skirts right now – they’re all over the high street and work especially well if you’re petite, like me, giving the illusion of longer legs.
For shoes, these River Island heels are so comfortable, especially for long days, come in loads of colours, and the closed toe means no emergency pedicures!
I’m not usually a fan of hats, but this raffia number from John Lewis & Partners feels like a polished take on a sun hat, so it’s perfect.
Why the high street still rules!
Fabulous’ Fashion Director, Tracey Lea Sayer shares her thoughts.
I WAS 10 when I first discovered the utter joy of high-street shopping for clothes with my mum and nan.
Going into town on Saturday became a family tradition – a girls’ day out we would look forward to all week.
My mum’s favourite shop was M&S, where she would gaze at jackets with big shoulder pads and floral sundresses, while my nan would make a beeline for John Lewis and their classic coats and elegant court shoes.
I was all over Tammy Girl – Etam’s little sister – and Chelsea Girl, which was later rebranded to high-street fave River Island.
I would spend hours in the changing rooms, watched keenly by my two cheerleaders, who gave the thumbs up – or thumbs down – on what I was trying on.
Frilly ra-ra skirts, duster coats, polka dot leggings, puff balls, boob tubes… I tried them all, often making my nan howl with laughter.
Fashion wasn’t so fast back in the 1980s and every item was cherished and worn until it fell apart – literally – at the seams.
At 18, I went to art college and my tastes became more refined.
Extra cash from a part-time job in a bar meant I could move on to slightly more expensive stores, like Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and the mecca that was Topshop.
I knew at this point I wanted to work in fashion because the high street had totally seduced me.
One day, I wrote an article for a competition in a glossy mag about my love of retail therapy and my favourite LBD – and I won!
That led me to where I am today – Fashion Director of Fabulous.
It’s not just me that loves the high street – big-name designers are fans, too. When Cool Britannia hit in the ’90s, they all turned up in one big store.
Designers at Debenhams was a stroke of genius by Debenhams CEO Belinda Earl, designer Ben de Lisi and fashion director Spencer Hawken, who introduced diffusion ranges from John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Betty Jackson, to name a few.
This meant we could all afford a bit of luxury and wear a well-known designer’s signature style.
Years later, I hosted a night with Debenhams and Fabulous for 250 readers, who were in awe meeting all the designers. It was a real career highlight for me.
In 2004, H&M started rolling out their international designer collabs.
Karl Lagerfeld was first, followed by Roberto Cavalli, Marni, Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela, Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garçons, Balmain, Versace and many, many more. I could barely contain myself!
Then in 2007, Kate Moss launched her first collection with Topshop, with thousands queuing along London’s Oxford Street.
I remember sitting behind Ms Moss and Topshop boss Philip Green at a London Fashion Week Topshop Unique catwalk show.
I had my three-year-old daughter, Frankie, in tow and we both made the news the next day after we were papped behind Kate, my supermodel girl crush.
At the time, the high street was on fire. Who needed designer buys when Mango stocked tin foil trousers just like the designer Isabel Marant ones and you could buy a bit of Barbara Hulanicki’s legendary brand Biba from Topshop?
High street stores even started to storm London Fashion week.
Although Topshop Unique had shown collections since 2001, in 2013 River Island showed its first collection in collaboration with global superstar Rihanna, who was flown in by a friend of mine on a private jet. KER-CHING!
A whole new generation of high profile high street collabs followed.
Beyoncé created Ivy Park with Topshop’s Philip Green and I even flew to LA for Fabulous to shoot the Kardashian sisters in their bodycon “Kollection” for Dorothy Perkins.
I am pleased to say they were the absolute dream cover stars.
Fast forward to 2024 and while the high street doesn’t look exactly like it did pre-Covid, it has made a gallant comeback.
Stores like M&S, Reserved and Zara, and designer collabs like Victoria Beckham X Mango and Rochelle Humes for Next are giving me all the feels.
The supermarkets have really come into their own, too, smashing it with gorgeous collections that look expensive, but at prices that still allow us to afford the weekly shop.
The last 30 years of high street fashion have been one big adventure for me. Bring on the next 30!
