Ladies Day Grand National
It's a week to go today until Crabbies Ladies Day at Aintree for the Grand National and I am so honoured to be the Style Ambassador for the event. I cannot wait to see what everybody is going to be wearing on race day. Ladies of Liverpool, are you ready? What a fabulous fashionable event it is going to be…
And I’m even more excited about judging the' Best Dressed’ on the day for the mega amazing competition that's taking place where race goers are in for the chance of winning a brand new Range Rover Evoque, literally my dream car and loads of vouchers to spend in Liverpool One. No pressure to look your best then!
This week, I myself, have been putting together my outfit. There is so much to prepare for and I thought I would share with you a few tips and helpers to get you on your way. Dressing for a big occasion can be daunting but don’t let it be. At Aintree there isn’t a strict dress code for this prestigious event so really anything goes but make sure its mega stylish if you want to be in for a chance of winning.
First golden rule is to remember to dress for you and only you. I want to see women looking and feeling a million dollars - and that comes from inside. Please remember you wear the outfit and don’t let the outfit wear you. That means, dressing in something that is flattering, elegant and above all chic. You need to shine through and not let the outfit take centre stage. More is most definitely less when it comes to dressing for success this Ladies Day. I always make sure I employ this tactic when I am dressing Celebrities for red carpet events. Its so important in my job for me to make sure they shine rather than be over powered by the outfit they're wearing and that’s exactly how all you lovely ladies should be next Friday.
Its important to find the colour or shade to suit you. Block colours always work as do pale pastels on race day. Choose your prints carefully as these can be over powering. If you do want to go for texture, go for lace. Its so elegant and really a big trend this Spring.
Always try outfits on in daylight and don’t be alarmed by shop floor lighting, this makes even a supermodel looked washed out. Try going to the front of the store nearest natural light to look in a mirror. That way you will get a true reflection on how you're going to look on the actual day.
Remember you don’t have to spend a fortune to look good. The High Street have some amazing options and when it comes to occasional dressing they have it down to a fine art. I love dresses from Zara, Coast, Reiss and LK Bennett - just the perfect look for a Spring day. I am massive fan of dressing on a budget.
Above: Topshop | LK.Bennett | Reiss | Maje
Choose a length that suits you. I love just above or on the knee. It shows enough leg to be flattering and feminine and hides just enough so that you can feel comfortable when your sitting down. And lets face it we all want to feel comfortable as well as looking our best. Comfort is so key for enjoying yourself on a great day out. That goes for shoes too. Make sure you heels are comfortable enough to walk in. There is nothing worse that sore tootsies so come prepared with gel heels, plasters and flats in your bag if needs be.
Underwear too this can make or break an outfit. I put all my clients in SPANX. I call this their support network. It helps keep everything in place and makes your outfit fall in all the right places. Oh, and by the way a new bra is just as important as your new outfit so make sure you get a brand spanking new one for the big day for that extra uplift. The right fitting bra can help you drop a dress size instantly and that’s a FACT.
Above: Strapless Bra | Racerback Demi Bra | High Waisted Panty
I love fascinator hats, they are that bit of elegance that can complete your outfit. I much prefer them to hats and think they are far more flattering. I love ones with feathers and a bit of structure. You can wear your hair up or down with them and whats even better is you don’t have to worry about your face shape as fascinators suit everyone.
Above: CC | John Lewis | Jane Taylor | Jane Taylor
Go for a clutch bag or an over the body bag. Having one of these means you’ve got your hands free for other much more important things such as studying your race cards and drinking a glass of champagne. Heaven forbid a handbag would get in the way of such important activities.
Heres my little box of must haves for the day:
Above: Miranda Kerr | Kate Middleton | Colleen Rooney | Victoria Beckham | Laura Whitmore & Millie Mackintosh