For amusement value & in honour of Ladies Day here I am at Ascot, lurking around the Parade Ring in my role as a style reporter for the BBC a few years back.
I’ve appeared on television & radio as a style journalist for well over ten years now — on all manner of shows, from the BBC’s long-departed Liquid News to the Today programme and for three hilarious years I co-presented BBC Five Live’s fashion coverage from Ascot with comedian Kevin Day. (And will never again wear a Stephen Jones saucer hat without hatpins on a windy day when broadcasting live.)
Here I am in Diane von Furstenberg & a Philip Treacy hat. It was always tricky finding suitable hats to borrow because, if you look closely, you’ll see I am wearing headphones,so my hats always needed to be perched on the front of my head. Fortunately Mr Treacy believes in the front perching hat, so his beautiful saucers were usually the way forward.
The black cables snaking by my arm are from a Motorola pack, which was slung over my shoulder, so that I could hear what was happening in the studio. (We were broadcasting live all day and sometimes we never quite knew when they would be coming to us.) Somewhere to my left would be a nice radio tech with a huge backpack containing the transmitter, ariel & microphones which allowed us to roam the paddocks looking for stylish people and style victims to interview and mock comment upon.
Although I could always choose to be dressed by a designer, I’m not a sample size, so I usually wore my own dresses. (Especially after the year I got stuck in a Betty Jackson sample in the Brower Lewis showroom when optimistically trying on options.)
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
very pretty. x shayma
don’t you look pretty– I love Ascot, shame it’s all got a bit Wagged, and now I sound like a snob but it has
This perfectly illustrates when you are such a force in the fashion-blogging field. Managing the headset and le chapeau while also being expected to talk makes you a triple threat.
Why, not when.
Lovely hat, it deffently fits in with the atmosphere of Royal Ascot Ladies Day for sure! Whenever I go to the races here in the states you always see ladies wearing the most insane hat creations which I wish I had the guts to pull off!
I would never have noticed the headphones and cables. I love your outfit. It’s the perfect combination of summery, pretty and work-appropriate for your job. I’m not sure that many people can pull off front-perching hats with aplomb. I’m really, really impressed that you continue to post through your illness. Your posts continue to be fun and interesting. I hope you feel better soon. Thanks so much for a great blog, Sasha.
Love that hat! How fabulous!
Beautiful outfit and practical for ‘work’ , did Kevin keep you in stitches?
I’ve never been to Ascot, only to Henley. Love the fashion, especially the hats and your Philip Treacy one is fab! Love the dress, too!
You look beautiful! Lovely colours on you.
Have to laugh at the lady in black very enthralled with your black cords and on e would assume, your film crew! Perhaps PBD should have been at the ready to deter onlookers!
Oh, you’re as pretty as a picture! xx
Now I may not be able to worship overpriced plastic shoes, but I do bow down in homage to Philip Treacey. All hail.
You look remarkably stylish, even with the tons of technical equipment festooned about your person.
I always think of Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady when it comes to Ascot Hats. Sigh…
@katyboo1 ah Blessed Cecil Beaton…xx
i love the lady in black who’s checking out your shoes– she looks, literally, gob-smacked.
@annemarie @desiderata @topbirdy I know! I think she makes the photo…xx
I think my favourite part of that photograph is the woman in the background leaning back to check out what you are wearing.
Fabulous hat!:)
Desiderata — she is too! hahaha!
What a lovely pic! And v excited to hear that P Treacy is showing at LFW.
@rollergirl Thank you. And, yes, me too! xx