THIS weekend I had another chance to wear a frock and heels even if the weather conditions weren't encouraging such attire. I was a lucky lady with a ticket not only to my first ever Royal Ascot but also for the Royal enclosure! I do love the fact that as girls we have many options on what to wear — rather than dusting off the same old top hat and tails — but there's always a mild panic involved.
I had a few dress options in my wardrobe but it's the accessorising that isn't so straightforward, and you can't start to plan until the dress is sorted. By Friday lunchtime I'd made up my mind. I found a wedding shop with hat hire, so as I wasn't committing to it for longer than 24 hours I went bold; a large monochrome number with huge amounts of black feathers, quite striking if I may say so myself. There were a few last minute adaptations needed on arrival at the races as the heavens opened yet again. I'd heard rumours of Wellington boots being allowed in all the areas but however muddy it might have been they just wouldn't have complimented my outfit, so with the old heels and a thicker coat I was ready.
How glad I was that I braved the mud in my heels as I found myself being interviewed alongside a supermodel dressed head to toe in designer and wearing impressively large heels, even if it was just for radio. Later on I had a TV interview in the parade ring, this time the heels weren't so appreciated as it was on grass. I became well and truly stuck which wasn't too big a problem until the camera man slowly rotated around in a circle leaving me standing in an odd looking twisted position, luckily it was used as a talking point and I think I didn't come across as too odd!
It's certainly goodbye to any heels or nice dresses for the next two and half weeks, I've just arrived in Font Romeu in the Pyrenees for an altitude training camp — let the training begin!