South Africa · 7 outfits
What to wear to L'Ormarins King's Plate
Outfits built to the dress code as the racecourse states it, with the reason each one passes.
where you are standing
All areas (Style Village, Stud Club, Racecourse Building)
Women
The dress code
Official wording: 'Strictly blue and white. Guests are required to dress in a manner appropriate to racing.' No under 18s. Best Dressed Woman + Best Hat, Best Dressed Man and Best Hat prizes (Cartier); judges scout the course from 12:00 to 16:00.
Outfit 1
Navy and white classic
- Dresses
- white midi dress with navy trim or belt
- Headwear
- navy boater or disc hat
- Shoes
- white or navy block heels
- Bags
- navy structured bag
Why it passes. Only blue and white appear anywhere in the look, and a hat puts it in the running for Best Dressed Woman + Best Hat.
On the day. Cape Town in early January: about 17-28 C, dry, sunny and often windy; lawns in the Style Village. Pin or elastic every hat.
What regulars wear. The Real Crystal Birch blocks boaters in Cape Town.
Outfit 2
Blue print
- Dresses
- blue-and-white print tea dress (stripe, toile or porcelain pattern)
- Headwear
- white fascinator
- Shoes
- white wedges
- Jewellery
- pearls or silver
Why it passes. A print passes as long as its only colours are blue and white; keep jewellery to pearl, silver or white.
On the day. Cape Town in early January: about 17-28 C, dry, sunny and often windy; lawns in the Style Village. Pin or elastic every hat.
What regulars wear. Millerner and Okapi made a fascinator range for this day.
Outfit 3
Pale blue tailoring
Why it passes. Tailoring is 'appropriate to racing' and stays inside the two colours.
On the day. Cape Town in early January: about 17-28 C, dry, sunny and often windy; lawns in the Style Village. Pin or elastic every hat.
What regulars wear. Style Rotate rents a King's Plate edit of blues and neutrals.
Outfit 4
All white with a blue hat
- Dresses
- white column dress
- Headwear
- statement cobalt hat
- Bags
- cobalt clutch
- Shoes
- white sandals with a block heel
Why it passes. Built for the stand-alone Best Hat prize: the hat carries the blue.
On the day. Cape Town in early January: about 17-28 C, dry, sunny and often windy; lawns in the Style Village. Pin or elastic every hat.
What regulars wear. Lara Klawikowski makes upcycled-fabric statement hats.
Common mistakes
- Any third colour: a red bag, tan shoes or a gold dress breaks 'strictly blue and white'
- Black shoes or belts
- Casual denim, which is blue but not 'appropriate to racing'
- Unpinned hats in the wind
Men
The dress code
Official wording: 'Strictly blue and white. Guests are required to dress in a manner appropriate to racing.' No under 18s. Best Dressed Woman + Best Hat, Best Dressed Man and Best Hat prizes (Cartier); judges scout the course from 12:00 to 16:00.
Outfit 1
Navy blazer, white trousers
- Suiting
- navy blazer with white trousers and a white shirt
- Accessories
- blue-and-white tie or pocket square
- Shoes
- white or navy loafers or bucks
Why it passes. Every piece is blue or white and the tailoring is appropriate to racing.
On the day. Cape Town in early January: about 17-28 C, dry, sunny and often windy; lawns in the Style Village. Pin or elastic every hat.
What regulars wear. This is the uniform of the day; Best Dressed Man is scouted on course.
Outfit 2
Pale blue suit
- Suiting
- light blue linen or cotton suit
- Accessories
- white shirt, navy knitted tie
- Headwear
- white Panama with a navy band
- Shoes
- navy suede loafers
Why it passes. Stays inside the two colours and is cool enough for January.
On the day. Cape Town in early January: about 17-28 C, dry, sunny and often windy; lawns in the Style Village. Pin or elastic every hat.
What regulars wear. A Panama helps for the Best Hat prize, which is open to all.
Outfit 3
White suit, blue shirt
- Suiting
- white or ivory suit
- Accessories
- blue striped shirt, navy pocket square
- Shoes
- white leather shoes
Why it passes. Inverts the usual navy-over-white while keeping to the rule.
On the day. Cape Town in early January: about 17-28 C, dry, sunny and often windy; lawns in the Style Village. Pin or elastic every hat.
Common mistakes
- Brown or tan shoes and belts (a third colour)
- Grey or charcoal suits
- Jeans and a T-shirt
Race days this covers
- L'Ormarins King's Plate · Sat 9 Jan 2027
Dress codes change. Check the racecourse's own page before you go: lormarinskingsplate.co.za