The feathered hats have been dusted off and the glamorous dresses are ready, which can only mean one thing: Aintree is here.
Revelers descended on the Merseyside countryside this morning in typical style, with bright colors and cut-out dresses the order of the day.
While Cheltenham is all about tweed country looks, Aintree is its more glamorous cousin, and the ensembles did not disappoint.
Dressed to impress, racing fans sported fabulous floral designs, strappy sandals and springy hairstyles.
Unlike Royal Ascot, which adopts stricter rules about what to wear, Aintree takes a more relaxed approach, telling attendees to simply come “dressed to feel your best.”
But first, let’s take a selfie! A group of friends made sure to capture their outfits for the ‘gram as they arrived at the Merseyside racecourse.
Perfect prints! One racing fan donned a stylish shirt dress with a daring hemline for the occasion, as shown in the photo to the right. In the photo on the left, the influence of the hit Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie was clear in the fashion choices on display.
Double trouble! These fashionable friends seemed delighted to attend today’s racing at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool.
Blazers ready! To combat the cold weather, these glamorous runners opted for sleek jackets instead of their tight dresses.
Costumes for revelers are also permitted, as long as the costume is not offensive or derogatory.
Around 150,000 people are expected to attend the three-day festival in the coming days, making it one of the largest of its kind in the world.
As well as enjoying the racing, revelers are sure to enjoy the party spirit with plenty of champagne for everyone.
Saturday’s Grand National, known as the People’s Race, will attract national attention in a way that perhaps no other horse race can achieve.
Every year, millions of people gather at Aintree for the steeplechases, which stretch over 4 miles, 7 furlongs and 74 yards, making it the longest horse race in Britain, although it used to last about a furlong and a half more.
The decision to shorten the race slightly was made to move the start line further away from the grandstands to help avoid false starts and make the first jump safer as riders and horses would arrive more slowly.
Pretty in pink! Some of the first to arrive opted for Barbie-inspired dresses with strappy sandals and blow-up hairdryers.
Three times more pleasant! These stunning racegoers were clearly dressed to impress in their high heels and flattering dresses.
Couple goals! This attractive duo gave their best in this morning’s races.
The hat is the ticket! Two members of this group of glamorous revelers opted for statement pink hats to top off their radiant looks.
Monochromatic magic! Showing off their toned legs, these women opted for thigh-skimming black and white ensembles.
Flower power! A person looking beautiful while attracting attention in a floral dress.
These ladies look anything but blue in elegant navy dresses paired with strappy heels and statement headpieces.
Cold shoulder! The friends put on a glamorous display: one wore a chic one-shoulder jumpsuit and the other opted for a fun zebra-print cut-out dress.
Here come the girls! A group of friends looked ready to enjoy their day off as they showed off their glamorous dresses.
Guidance on what to wear on the course. website says: ‘At Aintree Racecourse we believe everyone should enjoy racing.
‘And one thing is certain: the more relaxed and comfortable we feel, the more likely we are to have a great time. That’s why we’ve created a very simple guide: come “dressed to feel your best.”
‘We are all unique, and especially in our sense of style and comfort. For some, wearing a nice sweatshirt, a pair of jeans, and clean sneakers is what makes them feel confident and comfortable.
‘Others may prefer to turn heads in a smart suit or glamorous dress and high heels, especially for one of our big races.
‘But whatever your tastes, the most important thing when choosing your outfit is, of course, comfort and confidence. So wear what feels right to you and it will make you feel better from start to finish, no matter the weather.”