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Racing Fashion Weekly

Date to be announced · a Friday in mid-to-late July (2026: Friday 17 July)

Del Mar Opening Day

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, United States

flagship

The West Coast's biggest racing fashion day: the Opening Day Hats Contest draws 150+ entrants and the whole crowd dresses up in hats, fascinators and bright summer dresses.

Theme colours

  • Del Mar blue
  • gold

what to wear

The dress code

Dress standard
Smart
Millinery
encouraged
Season
Summer

Women

No general-admission dress code was found on dmtc.com (read 2026-11-13); the only written policy is the Turf Club's. Opening Day custom is hats and summer dresses.

Encouraged

  • hat or fascinator (Opening Day)
  • summer dress
  • wedges or block heels

Men

No general-admission dress code found (read 2026-11-13). Custom: linen or light suit, sport shirt, straw hat.

Encouraged

  • linen blazer
  • straw fedora or Panama

Outfits built to this dress code

What to wear to Del Mar Opening Day

5 outfits for women and men, with the reason each one passes.

See the outfits

Styling notes

'Where the Turf Meets the Surf': Southern California colour, big sun hats, florals, linen; less tailored than the East except in the Turf Club.

Weather

Del Mar in July: about 18-25 C, sunny, morning marine layer.

History

Founded in 1937 by Bing Crosby, who greeted the first guests at the gate; the autumn meet carries his name.

where you are standing

Enclosure by enclosure

Turf Club (members and guests, applies daily)

Children of members and guests are expected to follow the code. Management may refuse admittance. No Opening Day exception is stated.

Women

Suits or daytime dresses are preferred. Slacks and tailored denim are allowed when worn with tailored jackets. No shorts, t-shirts, athletic wear, wind-breakers, flip flops, abbreviated clothing, or ripped, torn or oversized denim.

Men

Suit or sport jacket must be worn at all times. Sport shirts and tailored denim allowed when worn with a sport jacket. Ties optional. No shorts, t-shirts, athletic wear, wind-breakers, flip flops, abbreviated clothing, or ripped, torn or oversized denim.

Fashions on the Field

  • Opening Day Hats Contest (32nd annual in 2026; 150+ entrants). Categories, one per entrant: Most Glamorous; Best Flowers; Best Fascinator; Best Racing Theme / All Others. Category prizes: 1st $300 plus a $250 Studio Savvy Salon gift basket, 2nd $200, 3rd $100. Grand prize (2026): Yaamava' Resort & Casino package (two two-night stays, two show tickets, $500 food and beverage credit, $500 free play), a Rancho Valencia one-night stay with a meal for two, and a $500 Studio Savvy Salon gift basket. Enter in person at Plaza de Mexico 11:30am-3:00pm, or without a ticket by emailing one photo 8-11am PT. Judged on creativity and originality considering the whole ensemble; hats may be bought, borrowed or custom-made, of reasonable size; a celebrity panel picks the grand prize from the category winners. Open to US residents 18+.

Check the official details before you go: dmtc.com ↗

for the day

Shop the look

HeadwearDressesShoesBagsJewellerySuitingOuterwearAccessories

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