It can get easily stressful, we know, when you want to look your best, especially when there are thousands of dollars' worth of prizes to be won for the most smartly dressed. We've asked one of Dubai's most active fashion bloggers, Bebhinn Kelly, who is also the Chief Fashionista at Hellwafashion.com, to guide you through the stormy waters of race-day fashion.
For the Women:
DOs
- Wear something in your hair, not many occasions these days call for headgear and trust me you'll feel much more complete and glamorous if you do make the effort. If you have the budget for it, get something really fabulous, but if you don't there are some great fascinators, headbands and hair pieces available on the high street. When it comes to your head, use your head, the most expensive is not always the best. Remember, two years ago, the runner up in the Dubai World Cup best dressed competition was actually wearing a sponge on her head.
- Think about your footwear, wedges or flats are the most sensible but I've never believed that the words "shoes", "sensible" and "practical" should occupy the same sentence. If you want to wear heels, do. But bear a few things in mind: you should probably get some heel stoppers and you should (bag permitting) try to bring a pair of flats for the drive home. Once the races are over your aching feet will be doing a lot of waiting around for a taxi and sitting in traffic.
- Check the fabric just under the arms of your dress. If wearing white or light colours, you are likely to get perspiration marks, which will look awful in photos.
- Wear a dress. Other attire is acceptable (jumpsuits, suits) but if you want to be different and edgy express yourself through your hat. The World Cup is a dressy occasion, rise to it.
- Wear a comfortable dress. Race day is long and involves a lot of eating and drinking. Forget your body aching, the last thing you want to be doing is struggling to get yourself in and out of a complicated dress in the tiny toilet cubicles.
DON'Ts
- Wear heavy make-up, it surely won't last past the first photo.
- Wear silk directly on your skin. It will likely be very hot, and silk will stick to your back and legs – not a good look
- Bare your midriff, or too much cleavage. This ultimate sin has been committed many times before. Unlike Ascot, Dubai does not have rules about dressing for the races but it's a Muslim country so baring too much is offensive anyway. In addition to that, you are likely to run into colleagues or be socialising with them. You need to be suitably attired.
- Forget to wear or bring sunscreen. A crispy nose and sunburned shoulders are never in season.
- Bring a shawl or jacket (unless the weather turns really bad). You are likely to leave it down somewhere and it will get lost in the crowds.
For the Men
DOs
- Get the simple things right: match your belt and shoes, polish the shoes, keep logos away from belts.
- Choose crisp, cool wools, as they suit this climate. I don't understand why men wear shiny suits made for European climates here. The cuts never keep that pressed look.
- Always tie a Windsor knot on your tie. If you don't know how, use the internet or go open neck with a properly fitted shirt. Larger gents use colour for this, slimmer men use fitted whites.
- Find out what colour your wife is wearing and match your tie with her dress. You get to feel like David Beckham for the day and you will earn more brownie points.
- Complete your outfit with some nice cufflinks.
DON'Ts
- Feel you have to buy a new suit. Spruce up an older suit with a new tie and make it different by having a matching pocket square
- Wear a Morning Suit (top hat and tails). Dubai World Cup races are in the evening and they are not appropriate evening attire.
- Wear dark suits (black, dark charcoal, pinstripes). Go for lighter, cooler colours (light charcoals, greys) or if a darker colour is a must, then only a crisp navy (like the one above).
- Forget that you will need to carry your own things all night. This is not the time to ask your wife if she can carry your wallet, phone, keys, BlackBerry or money in her bag. She's carrying a clutch which is already bulging from all the things she has to bring.
- Arrive underdressed, the races are an occasion. It's better to be overdressed than under dressed.
By Bebhinn kelly, editor, hellwafashion.com