Why Men Were Turned Away From Royal Ascot For Not Wearing Socks
The annual horse racing event ran from Tuesday the 17th of June to Saturday the 21st of June 2025. People are still talking about the highlights, every year the fallowing the fathering of Royals, celebrities, the British elite, and racing fans from across the globe sparks conversation. There were many memorable moments from the 2025 races, however one controversy came from an unexpected place, the Royal Ascot dress-code enforcement.
As we were experiencing heatwaves across the country in what is now being called the predicted hottest weekend of the year, many of us would have been reduced to hiding in the shade in just a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. However, that was not an option for those in attendance at Royal Ascot.
The royal ascot dress code specifically states “hoes worn with socks covering the ankle” for gentlemen- however many attendees decided to forgo this rule and show up in loafers and no socks. This ankle-out look has been growing on popularity in recent years, as many men opt to keep their feet bear inside their shoes during the summer months.
According to The Mirror Gentlemen who showed up to the racing event with no socks on were forces to purchase a pair available from the Royal Ascot giftshop or be denied entry all together.
This strict dress-code has sparked a lot of controversy online. Some people are defending the Royal Ascot’s decision to enforce the rule. Some areas of the event, such as their Royal Enclosure spectating area, enforce a traditional dress code of “Morning dress of black, grey or navy material” this means that all gentlemen must wear a waistcoat, necktie, top-hat and black dress shoes (with socks of course)
Ladies attending the event are also strongly encouraged to dress to a certain standard, with the “what to wear” section of the Ascot official website reading that ladies outfits must include “A dress or skirt falling just above the knee or longer” and “Shoulder straps that are a minimum width of 1 inch / 2.5cm”, meaning that shorter skirts or exposed shoulders may also get women turned away on entrance.
Some people online are arguing that these rules are outdated, and that in modern times, the general opinion of what is acceptable formal wear is much wider, and events such as the Ascot should update their ruled to reflect the progress in fashion.
The enforcement of the socks rule has attracted a lot of controversy as the heatwave that was affecting the country at the time of the races could have led to some attendees overheating if they were too over dressed to deal with the heat.
Regardless of your stance on the dress code enforced at the racing event, it is undeniable that sock hold an important place in traditional British gentlemen’s formalwear. Even during the hottest weather, there are still many men who simply opt for a thinner fabric of sock over going sock-free. You can shop our range of men’s summer socks here. This range includes the casual trainer socks that you might associate with the season, but also classic crew socks made in breathable cotton with ultimate comfort during hot weather while still looking Ascot ready.
We would love to hear any of our readers thoughts on this topic, so please feel free to reach out to us on social media, X or Instagram with your thoughts on Ascot’s sock policy.