It has been a tradition during major horseracing events around the world to dress-up in class, but the second day of every horseracing festival is usually reserved for fashion where women set the standards, “Ladies Day”.
We are just a few days away from the Aintree Grand National Festival in the UK, an event taking place just outside of Liverpool. This festival could easily be the World Cup of jump horseracing. The very best horses of the UK, Ireland, France and other nations will gather on this event to compete to win high graded races and the Grand National race.
During Ladies Days fashion steals the attention with some racegoers spending weeks if not months preparing their unique outfit. It's not just fun and glamour, a winner will be selected to win a brand new SE Tech, Range Rover Evoque and hair and style products from the Barbara Daley salon.
The hair products as a prize are a bit curious as men have also won the fashion competition in the past.
And how are winners selected? Entrants take to the catwalk in the Red Rum Gardens where a panel of judges select their favorites. Let’s take a look at the styles and winners of past editions.
2015 – Toni Salters
Local Aintree designer won that season with creative combination of a LK Bennett dress, a very curious New York Kate Spade watering can handbag and a wide brimmed vintage hat.
2013 - Andy Champ
Andy Champ has been among one of the few men to have ever won the Ladies Day event. He won with a gentlemen style composed of a velvet jacket from Marks & Spencer teamed with a bespoke double-breasted waistcoat.
2011 - Lystra Adams
Lystra Adas caught the crowd’s eye with a towering feathered hat, a pink and Green striped Vivienne Westwood suit with black Prada shoes and a Christian Louboutin bag. Lystra is also a horse owner and the face of Racing Welfare.
The 33 year old was thrilled to win and added: “My hat was made by York milliner Dawn Guibert. It took her 16 hours to make. I’m quite a bubbly person. I wanted something with the wow factor."
2008 - Anna Perez
A sense of style can sometimes win against a big budget for fashion, more than one laid day-dreaming when Perez showed up in a summery vintage floral dress. One of the youngest winners with just 20 years of age, Anna added Kurt Geiger shoes and a handbag belonging to her grandma. The dress just cost her £75.
But not everything is fashion during Ladies Day! For those who seek to watch some splendid horseracing and take their chances with the bookies, William Hill offers handicap information and odds on favorite horse to win the event.
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