So from loungewear to formalwear in one day. I’m the lucky recipient of a last minute invitation to Ascot. Like Monday-lunchtime-for-Tuesday last minute. My first thought was excitement. My second, what on earth am I going to wear?! When it comes to formal occasions I struggle with getting the balance right between looking appropriately smart and still feeling like me. Although I like the idea of getting dressed up, in reality my wardrobe is more Hackney Wick than Henley Regatta.

Before flying into full-on panic mode and dropping a guilt-inducing amount of money in Selfridges, or somewhere similarly expensive, on a dress I will probably only wear once, I decided to check the dress code against the clothes I already owned. According to the Ascot website formal daywear is the order of the day and is defined as follows…

Dresses and skirts should be of modest length, falling just above the knee or longer. The majority of my dresses and skirts are either (much) shorter than that or are beachy maxi dresses. Maybe one of those will do?

Dresses and tops should have straps of one inch or greater. That rules out all my beachy maxi dresses.

Jackets and pashminas may be worn, but the dresses and tops underneath should still comply to the dress code. So there’s no hiding the fact that none of my dresses is appropriate. Also I don’t own a pashmina.

Trousers suits are welcome. They should be full length and of matching material and colour. I don’t own a trouser suit. If only I was Angelina Jolie, who is owning the trouser suit look right now…

Strapless, off-the-shoulder, halter neck and spaghetti straps are not permitted. Strapless, off-the-shoulder and halter necks do not feature in my wardrobe and I’ve already rejected all the spaghetti strap dresses and tops due to the one inch or greater rule.

Hats should be worn. Is a fedora allowed?

Midriffs must be covered. Oh it will be.

Fascinators are no longer permitted. I’ve never worn a fascinator, and am not about to start now.

By now the pile of rejected clothes that didn’t fit the dress code or the weather forecast pretty much comprised every single item of clothing I own. Bar one dress. A silk Mary Katranzou for Topshop dress (see above) that I’d loved from the minute I’d seen images from the collection prior to it going on sale but that I’d hesitated about buying because the price tag was so much more than I’d ever spent on one item in Topshop (although cheap for a Mary Katrazou dress). Obviously in the end I bought it.

Putting it on yesterday afternoon, I mentally checked it against every element of the dress code. It covers my midriff. It doesn’t break any of the strap rules. It goes with my favourite (only) summer sandals. My Topshop fedora with its blue and white band is the perfect dress-code-pleasing finishing touch (I wasn’t joking about that). The hemline possibly falls a whisper shorter than just above my knee, but I’ll risk it. Most importantly I still feel like me when I put it on. I think the reason why is that I bought the dress because I love it, not because I thought it would be appropriate for any specific occasion. It’s not what everyone would wear to Ascot, but I would rather feel comfortable and like me than uncomfortable and like somebody else. I can’t wait to go to the ball, er, Ascot…!

Anyone else struggle with the dress codes for formal events? Is it more important to dress appropriately than feel like you? Anyone else got a wear-anywhere dress that was totally worth the investment? Any tips for Ascot…?!