Sustainable fashion takes centre stage at Aintree for Ladies Day

Aintree Ladies Day is renowned for its impeccable style, and this year, racegoers brought a new element to the forefront: sustainability.

As guests descended on Aintree Racecourse for Ladies Day at the Randox Grand National Festival, it was clear that thrifted finds and handmade creations were stealing the show.

In a groundbreaking move, Aintree introduced a sustainable style award alongside its annual fashion awards, encouraging attendees to showcase their eco-friendly ensembles.

Skye Brocklebank, 20, and fiance Michael Shellis, 22, wore 1920s-inspired outfits with a theme of peacock feathers.

Skye Brocklebank, from Runcorn, said:

“A lot of the stuff we’ve either made ourselves or thrifted, so a lot of it is sustainable.

“There’s so many clothes going to landfill. It doesn’t make sense to buy new any more.”

She accessorised a blue and green floor-length dress with a handmade bag, made with a Christmas tree decoration, a fan, feather-covered parasol and fascinator.

Former Style Award winner Faith Amond, 71, from Carlow, Ireland, wearing an all-white outfit with a headpiece, said wearing classic clothes could be key to sustainable fashion.

Faith Amond said:

“If you have something that’s on trend it will only last for that season but with these (clothes) they are timeless and what I call the old reliables.

“We go racing a lot so I like to be able to wear my clothes a lot and just change them up a bit.”

Stephanie Todd, 36, from Moreton, Wirral, made her own headpiece, with pearls and peacock feathers, and wore clothes and accessories from online second-hand marketplace Vinted and charity shops.

Stephanie Todd said:

“I just like putting things together and seeing different things. I got the skirt first and had a bit of a shop around to see what else I could find.

“I think you find the best bargains in charity shops, you find some amazing things and you can just pop them together and make yourself an outfit.”

Milliners Viv Jenner, 50, and Rachel Oates, 52, both wore extravagant handmade headpieces which had taken about 30 hours of work to create.

Ms Jenner, from Ascot, Berkshire, said:

“I hire my hats out and that is sustainable because people are not buying a hat and wearing it once to put in a box and never come out again.

Ms Oates, from Andover, Hampshire, added:

“I think you can wear an outfit again and again if you change the hat.”

For all the live coverage of Ladies Day at Aintree Racecourse click here.