Style Awards: Newmarket’s best dressed contest is back!

Could you be Newmarket’s best dressed? With stellar prizes to be won, the challenge is on for this summer’s sustainable Style Awards, as media partner Velvet reports

Newmarket’s July Festival is as famous for fashion as horseracing thanks to the Style Awards - the best-dressed competition which is back this summer, promising to be more fun and fabulous than ever!

Taking place on Ladies’ Day, Thursday, July 13, the 2023 Style Awards will once again operate as a single, all-inclusive category, Best Dressed Racegoer, open to everyone on the course.

After the success of last year’s sustainable theme, which saw entrants wearing vintage, preloved, upcycled and eco-friendly pieces, the judges are also asking racegoers to take a planet-conscious approach to race-day dressing for 2023.

“We’re delighted that our sustainable Style Awards will be returning for the 2023 July Festival, and we’ve got some really exciting enhancements planned,” says Sophie Able, Newmarket Racecourses and International Director.

“Sustainability is such an important part of how we work day-to-day in Newmarket and across The Jockey Club, and with the choice of more sustainable outfit options now out there, we really want to see how racegoers can once again incorporate the theme into their summer looks.”

“As well as looking for outfits which work head to toe, suit the spirit of the occasion, and balance trends with personal style, we want to see people putting together sustainable looks,” adds Velvet editor Alice Ryan, long-time Style Awards Judge.

“We all need to be mindful of fashion’s carbon footprint, so don’t be afraid to recycle a favourite dress or separates from your wardrobe, giving them a fresh look with a different mix of accessories, or to shop for preloved, vintage or sustainable pieces. You can still be inspired by the current trends, but without buying everything new.”

Since The Jockey Club announced the dropping of formal dress codes across its courses earlier this year, instead encouraging visitors to “dress as you feel most comfortable and confident”, Alice says Style Awards entrants should “dress for joy: more than anything, we want to see people enjoying getting dressed up - enjoying the whole experience!”

As ever, the first, second and third-placed Style Awards winners are set to receive hundreds of pounds in prizes, from luxury minibreaks and dining experiences to pamper products and designer accessories - for a full rundown, keep an eye on our site and socials next week.

With an unrivalled racecard and a stunning setting - set in the countryside on the outskirts of Newmarket, the July Course is backed by 200-year-old beech trees and filled with beautiful flowerbeds - “the July Festival is always a highlight of summer in our region,” adds Alice. “Come for the racing, come for the fashion and, most importantly, come for the fun. . .”

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