Royal Ascot is the British social season's most photographed week, and 2026 promises to be its most colourful. The five days run from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June, with Ladies Day falling on Thursday 18 June. This year, Ascot has named its first-ever Royal Ascot Colour of the Year. The shade is Bright Tomato, encouraged across dresses, millinery accents, and tonal accessories on Ladies Day.
Jewellery is the detail that frames the face beneath the hat and carries through every photograph of the day. The right pieces hold their own against substantial millinery, catch the light in the parade ring, and complete an outfit that has been planned for weeks if not months. This guide covers the dress code by enclosure, the styling rules that experienced racegoers rely on, the lessons of recent Royal Ascot best-dressed lists, and a founder's perspective on choosing pieces that will photograph beautifully.
Royal Ascot 2026 and What to Expect
Royal Ascot returns to Berkshire for five days of flat racing, the Royal Procession, and the social calendar's most carefully assembled wardrobes. The headline facts for 2026:
- Dates: Tuesday 16 to Saturday 20 June 2026
- Ladies Day: Thursday 18 June (Gold Cup Day)
- Colour of the Year: Bright Tomato, encouraged on Ladies Day in particular
- Location: Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire
Each day has its own character, and the dress code differs by enclosure. The jewellery you choose should respond to both.
The Royal Ascot Dress Code by Enclosure
The dress code is set and enforced by Ascot Racecourse. It governs hemlines, shoulders, midriffs, and headwear, but it leaves jewellery largely unrestricted. That freedom is worth understanding, because the right earrings or necklace can elevate an outfit that already complies with the rules. Always consult the official Ascot.com dress code page ahead of the day.
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Enclosure |
Dress code essentials |
Jewellery approach |
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Royal Enclosure |
Formal daywear. Dresses or skirts of modest length, just above the knee or longer. Straps a minimum of one inch. No strapless, halter, or spaghetti straps. Hats required, with a base of at least four inches. Fascinators are not permitted. |
Considered statement earrings sit beautifully alongside a substantial hat. Necklaces are best kept understated when the neckline is high or the hat is sculptural. |
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Queen Anne Enclosure |
Formal daywear. Hats, headpieces, or fascinators permitted. Midriffs must be covered. |
Slightly more relaxed scope for bolder colour. Statement earrings remain the most impactful choice. |
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Village Enclosure |
Formal daywear with more flexibility. A hat or fascinator is required. |
More room for playful colour and texture. A statement necklace can take centre stage if the neckline allows. |
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Windsor Enclosure |
Smart attire. Hats and fascinators are optional rather than required. |
The most relaxed setting. A bolder pairing of earrings and a necklace is entirely appropriate. |
Two practical points worth noting. The first is that earrings tend to do more visible work than necklaces at Royal Ascot, because hats and high necklines often draw the eye upwards. The second is that Laurence Coste pieces are available in both clip-on and pierced, which means designer clip-on earrings for women, and earrings for unpierced ears, are an option for almost every design in the collection. Many racegoers find clip-ons more comfortable across a long day, particularly when a hat is secured with combs.
How to Style Jewellery Alongside a Royal Ascot Hat
This is the question most racegoers ask first, and it is the one most jewellery guides answer least. The hat is the highest point of the outfit and the most photographed element. Everything else, jewellery included, should be chosen in response to it.
Match the Scale of Your Earrings to the Scale of Your Hat
Tiny studs disappear beneath a wide brim or a sculptural headpiece. A larger hat needs earrings substantial enough to be seen and to balance the visual weight. A neat, smaller fascinator or headband pairs well with mid-drop or shoulder-grazing earrings.
A clear reference point comes from Zara Tindall at Royal Ascot 2025. Day three saw her in a black-and-white Laura Green dress with a Juliette Botterill hat in matching tones. The earrings were the Cosima Earrings from Laurence Coste, given a subtle twist for the occasion with gold-plated detailing added to the baroque pearl drop. Substantial enough to be photographed from the rails, restrained enough to let the hat speak.
Let the Colour Conversation Lead
Two simple principles cover most outfits:
- If the hat is the colour statement, keep the jewellery in a complementary metal like gold or pearl
- If the hat is neutral, in black, white, cream, or pale grey, use the earrings to introduce the colour
The second is where Laurence Coste's bold semi-precious palette comes into its own. Turquoise, malachite, coral, lapis lazuli, and aquamarine all photograph beautifully in the strong June light. Tonal dressing, where different shades of one colour run through the outfit, also reads well on camera. A coral lip, a coral earring, and a Bright Tomato dress are more sophisticated than three exact-match elements.
Mind the Side Profile
Most Royal Ascot photography is captured in profile, particularly during the Royal Procession and at the parade ring rails. Drop earrings catch the light from the side and photograph far more clearly than studs. They also frame the jawline and balance a hat that often projects forward.
A simple test before you leave the house. Look at yourself in the mirror from a three-quarter angle. If the earrings disappear into the hat brim or the hair, choose longer drops or a different design.
Plan for a Long Day
Royal Ascot is a marathon, not a sprint. Many guests arrive in time for the Royal Procession at two o'clock, watch six or seven races, and continue to dinner afterwards. Earrings need to be comfortable across all of that, particularly under the weight of an updo or a hat held in place with combs and pins.
Clip-on earrings can be more comfortable for extended wear than pierced. Laurence Coste's designer clip-on earrings are the same designs as the pierced versions, so the styling logic does not change. Comfort simply does.
Jewellery for Each Day of Royal Ascot
Each of the five days has a different mood. The races vary, the crowd shifts, and the wardrobe planning can shift with them.
Tuesday, Queen Anne Stakes Day. The opening day. Bold colour reads well in the strong June light, and energy levels are high. Statement drop earrings in turquoise, malachite, or coral pair beautifully with summer pastels and crisp whites.
Wednesday, Prince of Wales's Stakes Day. A slightly more relaxed pace. A considered statement necklace can take centre stage here if the dress neckline is open and the hat is sculptural rather than wide-brimmed. This is the day to wear the piece you have been saving.
Thursday, Ladies Day and Gold Cup. The most photographed day of the week, and the day Bright Tomato will dominate millinery. Earrings in coral, red, and gold-toned semi-precious stones will sit beautifully within the palette. Zara Tindall's choices on Ladies Day in 2024 (the Milly Rose Earrings in rose quartz, £195) and 2025 (the Cosima Earrings, £265) offer two very different but equally elegant directions to take.
Friday, Coronation Stakes Day. Often, the day for refined classic dressing. A pair of pearl or mother-of-pearl statement earrings reads as polished without being predictable. The Fleur Pearl Earrings sit well here.
Saturday, Platinum Jubilee Stakes Day. A celebratory close to the week. Vivid colour and bolder pieces are entirely appropriate. Zara Tindall wore bespoke Zara Luna Aquamarine Earrings on the closing day of Royal Ascot 2025, paired with a powder blue Veronica Beard suit. The earrings featured a mother-of-pearl top with a faceted aquamarine drop, designed to complement her complexion and the soft tones of the suit.
Lessons from Royal Ascot Best Dressed Lists
Looking back across recent years, a few patterns hold across the best-dressed photographs in the British press.
The first is harmony rather than match. The most photographed looks tend to use tonal coordination rather than exact-match accessories. A dress in one shade of green, a hat in another, and earrings that pick up a third work better than three identical greens.
The second is bold rather than busy. A single confident piece of jewellery does more work than three competing ones. A statement earring with a clean neckline. A statement necklace with smaller earrings. Both work. Both together rarely do.
The third is a photogenic detail. Cabochon stones, faceted semi-precious cuts, and pearl drops catch the light cleanly. Pavé crystal can disappear in daylight, particularly under a wide brim. This is one of the reasons Laurence Coste's bold colourful semi-precious style suits race day so naturally. The pieces were designed to be seen.
The fourth, and the one that matters most for Royal Ascot, is the founder's involvement in individual looks. Laurence has personally collaborated with Zara Tindall's stylist Annie Miall on bespoke variations of the Cosima and Luna Aquamarine designs for Ladies Day and Saturday. That kind of considered styling is available to clients planning their own social season wardrobe through Laurence Coste's bespoke service.
A Founder's Guide to Choosing Your Royal Ascot Jewellery
Laurence's perspective on race day dressing is simple. The wearer should always be the focal point, not the jewellery. The pieces should support a confident silhouette, photograph beautifully, and remain comfortable from the Royal Procession to the dinner that follows.
A short checklist, in the order Laurence herself recommends:
- Start with the hat, not the earrings. The hat is the highest point and the most photographed element of the outfit, which means everything else should respond to it
- Choose one focal point. If the earrings are the statement, keep the necklace understated, so the eye knows where to settle
- Think about how the piece will photograph. Cabochon stones and faceted semi-precious pieces catch light beautifully, which means they read clearly in race day photography
- Pierced or clip-on, the styling logic is identical. Laurence Coste offers both fittings on most designs, so you can choose purely on comfort
- Consider where the day takes you afterwards. Pieces that work for daytime racing and an evening table are doubly useful, so you can transition without re-jewelling
This is also where bespoke pieces come into their own. Laurence's collaborations with Zara Tindall are public examples, but the same service is offered to private clients. A bespoke consultation typically begins with the dress, the hat, and the enclosure, then moves to the pieces that will complete the look.
Where to Find the Right Statement Piece in London
Laurence Coste has three boutiques, each with pieces exclusive to that location.
- Chelsea, 109 Walton Street, the original boutique where the brand began in 2006
- Sloane Square, 149 Sloane Street, in the heart of Chelsea's shopping district
- Mayfair, 20A Brook Street, within walking distance of many of the milliners who dress Royal Ascot regulars, and a natural stop for jewellery to wear in Mayfair during the district's summer art weekend
Each boutique holds different pieces and offers personal styling. Laurence is available by appointment for bespoke consultations ahead of the social season, working directly with clients on bespoke costume jewellery for individual race day outfits.
Visit her boutiques in Chelsea, Sloane Square, and Mayfair, or book a bespoke appointment to plan your Royal Ascot pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Jewellery Should You Wear to Royal Ascot?
Statement earrings are the most impactful choice because they sit beneath the hat and frame the face in profile. Necklaces work when the dress neckline allows, but should not compete with a sculptural hat. Bold colourful semi-precious pieces read better in daylight than pavé crystal designs, which can disappear under June sun. Both clip-on and pierced fittings are appropriate.
Is It Appropriate to Wear Statement Jewellery in the Royal Enclosure?
Yes. The Royal Enclosure dress code does not restrict jewellery itself, only the cut and length of clothing and the size of headpieces. A pair of bold, considered statement earrings is entirely appropriate, and arguably the most flattering choice given the substantial hats the enclosure requires.
Can You Wear Clip-On Earrings to Royal Ascot?
Yes, and many regulars prefer them for comfort across a long day. Designer clip-on earrings from a brand like Laurence Coste are the same designs as the pierced versions, so the styling and quality are identical. Clip-on earrings for women are a particularly useful option for unpierced ears, or for anyone who finds traditional fittings uncomfortable when wearing a hat secured with combs.
What Colour Jewellery Goes with a Royal Ascot Outfit?
The Royal Ascot Colour of the Year for 2026 is Bright Tomato, encouraged especially on Ladies Day. Coral, warm red, and gold-toned semi-precious pieces sit beautifully within this palette. For outfits in neutrals or pastels, semi-precious stones such as turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, or aquamarine introduce colour without overwhelming the look.
How Do You Match Jewellery to a Royal Ascot Hat?
Match the scale of the earrings to the scale of the hat. Substantial hats need substantial earrings. If the hat is the colour statement, keep jewellery in pearl, metal, or a complementary tone. If the hat is neutral, the jewellery can introduce the colour. Always think about the side profile, because most race day photography is captured from the side.
Has Zara Tindall Worn Laurence Coste at Royal Ascot?
Yes. Zara Tindall has worn Laurence Coste at Royal Ascot in 2021, 2024, and 2025. Recent looks include the Milly Rose Earrings in rose quartz on Ladies Day 2024, the Cosima Earrings on day three of Royal Ascot 2025 (given a bespoke twist with gold-plated detailing for the occasion), and the Zara Luna Aquamarine Earrings on the closing Saturday of Royal Ascot 2025. The Daily Mail, Hello! Magazine, and The Telegraph have all covered the looks.
Where Can You Buy Jewellery for Royal Ascot in London?
Laurence Coste has three London boutiques: Chelsea (the original, at 109 Walton Street), Sloane Square (149 Sloane Street), and Mayfair (20A Brook Street). Each holds pieces exclusive to that location, and bespoke appointments are available with Laurence herself for clients planning their full social season wardrobe.
Planning Your Royal Ascot Look
The right jewellery is the detail that completes a Royal Ascot outfit. It frames the face beneath the hat, catches the light in the parade ring, and photographs cleanly from every angle. The pieces that work hardest are the ones chosen in response to everything else in the look, which means they suit the wearer, the hat, the neckline, and the day ahead.
Laurence Coste's boutiques in Chelsea, Sloane Square, and Mayfair are open by appointment ahead of the social season for clients planning their Royal Ascot pieces. Explore the full earrings collection, browse the statement necklaces, or book a bespoke consultation with Laurence to plan a piece for the occasion.