Puttin’ on The Ritz…(or maybe not)

Joan Collins, Ascot Ladies Day 2010 (Photo: Getty Images)

What a fabulous example Joan Collins sets to all of us women. She looks after herself and maintains the image of old Hollywood with utmost elegance. I believe she will be 77 this year – she looks just fabulous and has so much to teach younger women about good grooming and grace.

I was looking through an article at the Mail Online today, covering this year’s Royal Ascot race meetings and apart from the lady on the left here, who I think looks very elegant, and a couple of other exceptions, I thought most outfits were at best dull, with a couple of downright bloopers.   (Swags and tucks of shiny material draped like Austrian blinds across your bum are never a good look).  Then there are the usual silly hats – they’re for fun, I know, and good for grabbing Press attention to be sure, so I suppose it is at least mission accomplished there. 

Maybe I’ve just woken up in a curmudgeonly mood**, or maybe it was a bad article, not really representative of what was on show, but few people stood out as really looking ‘bon chic bon genre’.  There just seem so few occasions to really dress up and wear our finest clothes and Royal Ascot is definitely one such occasion, so why not go all out to look your best?

I’m not at all sure what this last outfit is trying to say.  Well, that’s not entirely true – I know what it’s saying to me.  (How to look a bit daft in one easy lesson).  Was I right?  This is Miss England, Katrina Hodge. 

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**And in other news…..

Maybe I’m being curmudgeonly because of England’s pretty dreadful performance at the World Cup last night.  (Two hours of my life that I will never get back).  Wayne Rooney needn’t be snarky because the team were booed at the end – those fans have paid a huge amount of money to go and support their team and the team’s playing was lacklustre and poor.  I’m not watching the next [and final?] match.  It’s just too painful and honestly, I can think of more exciting things to do with my time (…like changing the kitty litter).

Royal Ascot 2009

I’ve just been looking through a roundup of photos from this year’s Royal Ascot.  My favourite quirky hat has to be this one because of its wit (referring to the MP expenses scandal in the UK).  Like everyone else, I’m disgusted at the behaviour of some of the politicians here so it was nice to see a photo related to this that actually made me smile.  

Also included are Royal Enclosure ‘no nos’ (in this case, wearing strapless dresses…and I bet this lady constantly had to remind herself not to lean forward too far) ….

….and then there is a ‘what were you thinking’ moment captured for the world to see.  Just too embarrassing, although I have to say I find the man’s attempts to save her blushes quite sweet.

There is a good selection of photos over at The Daily Telegraph.