Under starter’s orders: race-day outfits for the Investec Derby Festival 2011 - in pictures

This white Brioni short suit is playful. Brioni is renowned for its men’s tailoring but has recently started doing womenswear. The jacket is immaculately tailored. It’s a sexy outfit, but you’re still buttoned up, not showing any cleavage. The fabulous headband by is by Louis Mariette – it picks up the gold detail in the shoes and gives it a bit of a Roman feel, but it’s very subtle. White and gold are a great summer combination.

White cotton-mix jacket, £1,235, silk shorts, £455 and cotton shirt £390 from Brioni (020-7471 7711)
Taupe patent leather sandals with hammered metal heel, £710 from Sergio Rossi, available at London SW1X 9QX
Gold ‘Ceasar’ headband, £250 from Louis Mariette (020-7730 3050 )
Woven cord and rhinestone ‘Louis’ ring from Miquella (020-8202 2020)
Photograph: Philip Riches

This white floral dress, by Erdem, is stunning. The workmanship is unbelievable: there’s incredible lace and embroidery. The florals are very fresh but the shape of the dress give it a bit of attitude. With a dress this size it’s nice to have a small hat, like this straw hat with a bow by Gina Foster. These amazing orange leather and snakeskin shoes, by Tabitha Simmons, give the whole look a 1940s feel.

Cream faill embroidered ‘Raisa’ dress, £3,780 from Erdem, available at Harvey Nichols, London SW1X 7RJ (020-7235 5000)
Cream woven hat with bow detail, £258 from Gina Foster (020-7937 7611)
Red leather ‘Isadore’ platform sandals, £840 from Chrissie Morris, available at Matches
Photograph: Philip Riches

This look is a classic suit, but with a twist. The skirt is covered in bows, so it’s playful and fun. The volume of the skirt, by Mulberry, makes it very modern. The beautiful clutch, by Wilbur & Gussie, and the coated straw headpiece, by Gina Foster, liven up the look.

Midnight blue belted mini boucle jacket, £812 and silk crepe bow skirt, £1,532 from Mulberry (020-7491 3900)
Black patent leather and braid hat, £257 from Gina Foster (020-7937 7611)
Black leather sandals, £836 from Pierre Hardy, available at netaporter.com
Printed silk clutch, £160 from Wilbur & Gussie (020-7908 3940)
Midnight cocktail ring, £174 from Kenneth Jay Lane, available at Merola (020-7351 9338)
Photograph: Philip Riches

The soft blue shade of this beautiful dress, by British designer Peter Pilotto, is very flattering and easy to wear. It has beautiful covered buttons and the back is a very fine crochet or lace; it’s really unusual. It’s a longer dress and would be good on a slightly older women because it’s so elegant and flattering. The hat, with jay feathers, by Gina Foster, is a bit of fun.

Blue silk-blend dress, £2,565 from Peter Pilotto, available at Dover Street Market, London, W1 (020-7235 5855)
Blue silk hat with jay feathers, £823 from Gina Foster (020-7937 7611) Photograph: Philip Riches

This dress is a key piece from Prada’s spring/summer collection – the colour blocking and the stripes reflect two of this season's strong trends. The stripy hat adds extra emphasis, so it’s the full-on stripes vibe, but you could always try vertical stripes, which are easier to wear. The dress has a very unusual shape to the shoulders – it’s very much a woman’s dress: designed by a woman for a woman.

Natural and black striped straw hat, £770 from Rachel Trevor-Morgan,
(020-7839 8927)
Striped cotton dress, £1,100 from Prada, London W1X 3DA (020-7647 5000)
Hibiscus ‘Nancy’ leather pouch, £360 from Smythson (084-5873 2435)
Photograph: Philip Riches

This Victoria Beckham minidress follows the classic rule of not showing too much: if you’re wearing a short dress you shouldn’t also have your cleavage on show. This look is modest and demure. It’s a strong powerful colour and in a beautiful mandarin shade. The dress has a slight bit of movement, it’s not too tight so it’s very comfortable to wear. The black patent hat, by Victoria Grant, makes the overall look very sharp.

Tangerine silk crepe dress, £1,250 from Victoria Beckham, available at Selfridges
Black patent headband with black ribbon detail, £189 from Victoria Grant
Black suede lamb ‘Marano’ clutch, £330 from Anya Hindmarch (020-7501 0168)

Photograph: Philip Riches

This pink Valentino dress really picks up on the romantic trend seen on the catwalks. The soft chiffon and layering on the dress is exquisite, the empire line is very demure. The look is very sweet, especially when teamed with these vintage-looking shoes by Miu Miu. The nude hat, by Victoria Grant, works well with the punchy coral of the dress, and gives it an old-fashioned feel.

Ruffle top pink silk dress, price on request from Valentino (020-7235 5855)
Pale pink, gold and black leather multi-strap shoes, £525 from Miu Miu, available at London W1S 2TU (020-7409 0900)
Pleated satin clutch, £520 from Christian Louboutin, London W1K (020-7491 0033)
Pink Swiss braid disc hat with taffeta roses from Rachel Trevor-Morgan (020-7839 8927)
Photograph: Philip Riches

This blue Akris trouser suit, worn with an orange hat, highlights the impact of colour this season. Swimming-pool blues and tangerines are key trends. It’s a bold colour combination but it really works. It’s nice to have a different attitude towards smart dressing, a trouser suit is fun to wear and gives a bit more freedom to the wearer.

Blue cotton poplin blazer £1,830, wide-leg trousers, £530 and tank top £330 all from Akris (020-7758 8060)
Orange silk pleated hat with round orange diamante, £348 from Victoria Grant
Orange and taupe patent leather sandals with a wood and hammered metal heel, £530 from Sergio Rossi, available at London SW1X 9QX (020-7811 5950)
Leather ‘Silverline’ compact binoculars, £690 from Leica (020-7629 1351)
Photograph: Philip Riches