Dress to express
This guide is here to help you feel confident, comfortable, and racetrack-ready
Statement Looks
Choose what suits you best
Dress It Up
- Midi, tea-length, or maxi dress
- Solid brights, florals, or pastels
- Flowy or tailored — bring your version of elegance
Statement Looks
Choose what suits you best
Suited & Styled
- Lightweight suit or blazer (linen, cotton, summer wool)
- Colour palettes: navy, light grey, tan, pastels
- Tie, bowtie, or open collar — your call
Statement Looks
Choose what suits you best
Headwear (Highly encouraged!)
- Fascinator, wide-brim hat, fedora, crown, or custom creation
- Coordinate or contrast — make it you
Statement Looks
Choose what suits you best
Footwear
- Block heels, wedges, oxfords, loafers, or smart flats
- Choose shoes that work for walking (there’s grass and stairs!)
- Comfort + polish = win
Statement Looks
Choose what suits you best
Accessories
- Clutch, crossbody, or structured handbag
- Pocket squares, bold jewelry, layered necklaces, lapel pins
- Sunglasses & sunscreen — practical can be stylish
Quick Look Ideas
Mix and match to fit your energy:
- Floral midi dress + fascinator + nude block heels
- Pastel jumpsuit + wide-brim hat + platform sandals
- Navy suit + white shirt + loafers + no tie
- Tan blazer + floral shirt + white trousers + brown shoes
- Light grey suit + pastel shirt + pocket square
- Skirt suit + statement lip + custom headpiece + structured clutch
What to Avoid
To help everyone enjoy the experience, here are a few things to skip:
- Casual shorts, jeans, or graphic t-shirts
- Sneakers, flip flops, or beachwear
- Wrinkled or heavy fabrics (summer heat is real)
- Note: Jeans, shorts, and running shoes are not accepted on Level 4
Hat Couture
When coordinating your King’s Plate look, start at the top. Hat couture takes center stage once again with a blend of classic styles and avant-garde designs.
Oversized brims adorned with feathers, whimsical fascinators, bold fedoras and vibrant floral accents will add a touch of drama and elegance to every ensemble.
A Bold return of colour
Neutral tones and understated patterns will always be a fine starting point for fashion. But 2025 heralds a resurgence of bold colors and eye-catching prints in horseracing fashion.
Vibrant hues like electric blue, fiery red, and emerald green can exude energy and charisma. Your fashion statement should be a reflection of your true personality.
ACCESSORIZE ACCORDINGLY
As your outfit acts as the canvas, accessories are opportunities for captivating flourishes. Statement jewelry pieces, from bold chandelier earrings to intricate cufflinks, add a touch of opulence to every ensemble.
Luxurious silk scarves, classic pocket squares, and embellished clutches can complete your look with refinement or bold flair.
SET YOUR OWN TREND
Traditions are merely trends that have stood the test of time. Embrace your individuality and inspire others to do the same.
Whether it’s through a bold rethink of accepted patterns, an unexpected use of shape or contrast, or a whimsical accessory that allows you to step outside typical confines, this is your opportunity to strut as proudly as our magnificent thoroughbreds.
Official Milliner Ranelle Larocque
Ranelle Larocque is an award-winning milliner and the owner of Queen Bee Millinery, where she creates exquisite, handcrafted hats and headpieces. As the Official Milliner for The King’s Plate (2024 & 2025), her designs grace some of the world’s most prestigious events, including Royal Ascot, the Kentucky Derby, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday garden party.
Recognized for her artistry and innovation, Ranelle was honoured with the Queen’s Hat Exhibition Innovation Award in Milan for her contemporary vision of headwear. Her business, Queen Bee Millinery, was also named Business of the Year 2024 by the Perth & District Chamber of Commerce. She was voted Ottawa’s Best Fashion Designer (2023) and earned second place in HATalk magazine’s 2024 hat competition. A member of the British Millinery Association, she trained under acclaimed milliner Katherine Elizabeth in London, England.
At Queen Bee Millinery, Ranelle’s designs blend vibrant racewear with timeless elegance, each piece meticulously handcrafted to reflect individuality and sophistication. Her work has been featured on CP24, Breakfast Television, Global News, CBC Radio’s All in a Day, The Humm, Eastern Ontario Business Journal, and Ottawa Business Journal.
Beyond her atelier, she is a passionate advocate for millinery, serving as co-chair and organizer of Toronto’s inaugural World Hat Walk (2025).
With a dedication to craftsmanship and a forward-thinking approach to design, Ranelle continues to shape the future of millinery, bringing her artistry to clients worldwide.
On July 21, 2025, Ranelle Larocque of Queen Bee Millinery, the official milliner for The King’s Plate, appeared on The Morning Show on Global News to share a preview of this year’s hottest hat trends.
The Fitzroy: Elevating Dress Rentals in Canada
The Fitzroy is Canada’s leading dress rental service. Headquartered in Toronto, The Fitzroy carries an elevated, highly curated collection of new designer dream dresses, jumpsuits and handbags, handpicked from all over the world and made available to rent for any occasion where you need to get FANCY. The Fitzroy’s mission is to take the stress out of the getting ready process and make sure you look and feel your best at your next big event, without having to buy yet another one-time-wear piece.
The Fitzroy’s Toronto studio offers a welcoming, inclusive and non-judgmental space where you can drop in whenever is convenient for you to try on dresses with the help of their amazing stylists, and either reserve same day or for a future date. Dresses can also be rented online, with easy two-way shipping across Canada!
At the King’s Plate, dressing to impress is part of the experience and The Fitzroy makes it so easy to look stylish and on-point!
Check out their King’s Plate collection HERE or find more details at fitzroyrentals.com.
You can also visit The Fitzroy at 213 Sterling Rd, Unit 111, Toronto reach out directly at rentmagic@fitzroyrentals.com, and don’t forget the promo code of KINGSPLATE10 for KP ticketholders to rent a dress for 10% off – valid until August 16.
Fashion enthusiasts are treated to a spectacle of style and sophistication unlike any other. From extravagant hats to sustainable couture, the fashion trends shaping the racetrack scene blend tradition with innovation, creating a sartorial landscape that is both timeless and contemporary. With each outfit meticulously curated to embody elegance and charm, horseracing fashion captivates the imagination and celebrates the enduring allure of the sport in every stitch and seam.
Join us at the
166th running of the King’s Plate
