Dubai's stylish residents bring the glamour to Style Stakes at Dubai World Cup 2023


Style Stakes arrived in Dubai as attendees competed for the Best Dressed title


Two women in vibrant dresses and hats stand under a canopy at an event. One wears a pink dress and hat, the other a colorful dress and blue hat.
Georgia Brown
Georgia BrownSenior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
March 30, 2023
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Saturday 25 March saw fashionable elite from across the globe descend upon Meydan Racecourse for the highly-anticipated Style Stakes at Dubai World Cup 2023.

Horse racing and fashion have always gone hand in hand, and the Dubai World Cup is no exception. Despite Saturday's event marking the first year it has taken place during Ramadan, this didn't deter Dubai's most stylish residents who were keen to compete for the generous monetary prizes on offer. 

Style Stakes, sponsored by EMAAR, is organised in collaboration with Hats & Horses, and is a chance for attendees to wear their best race day outfits while enjoying top-class horse racing, fine food and entertainment.

The panel of expert judges consisted of Dorota Goldpoint, designer and founder of her eponymous fashion label; Gary Sweeney, brand and style director at Ascots & Chapels; TV presenter Dareen Al Tamimy; and Irish milliner Evelyn McDermott.

Group of people at an event, man in green suit and hat writing at a pink table.

Sartorial prowess reigned supreme at the lavish event, which saw competitors from Japan, England, India, Australia, the Middle East and more putting their most fashionable-feet forward to impress the judges. 

Scroll on to see the most daring and fabulous looks from the day...

Two women in elegant attire and large hats stand together on a red carpet.
A woman in a colorful floral blouse and blue hat smiles at an outdoor event.

Judge Gary Sweeney shared his vision of what elegance and style is in Dubai: "Nowadays, breaking the rules with style is fine, the style is very open and fluid. You can play with colour and textures and use things you couldn't in the past. The race day outfit can now be your best blazer, a shirt and tie, or a stylish suit."

Four individuals in vibrant attire and hats stand together on a purple carpet.
A woman in a patterned dress and hat holds a 'Best Traditional Outfit' award sign.
A woman in a floral dress and hat holds a 'Best Dressed Lady' award sign.
Dubai fashion event
Dubai fashion event
Dubai fashion event
Dubai fashion event
Dubai fashion event

Best Couple Look was won for the first time by a local couple dressed in a traditional outfit. The stylish duo took home 54,000AED (£12,000) for their unrivalled outfits.

A man and a woman hold a 'Best Dressed Stakes Couple' award. Another woman stands beside them holding a microphone.

Fashion fans don't have long to wait until the next event. Ariadna Vilalta, founder of Hats & Horses, is already planning the next fashionable horseracing occasion. Style enthusiats can save 27 May in their calendars, for the sixth edition of Hats & Horses in Menorca.

Man in a black top hat, black jacket, gray vest, and gray striped pants standing in front of a decorative wall.
Person in a plaid jacket and white pants stands before a 'Hello!' sign.

Find out more about Hats and Horses here.

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