As Chester Racecourse celebrates another milestone in its illustrious history, a new pop-up exhibition at the Chester Grosvenor Museum will open to commemorate 480 years of racing at Chester. Going the Distance – 480 Years of Racing at the Roodee on Saturday 20 April.
In celebration of the upcoming exhibition, as well as the much-anticipated start of the 2019 race season at Chester, Official Style Partner for the Boodles May Festival, McArthurGlen, Cheshire Oaks have unveiled a fashion installation at the centre showcasing raceday fashion through the ages. The costumes displayed are on loan from the Handling Collection at the Grosvenor Museum, Chester and are examples of apparel that Ladies may have worn to the races over the last 200 years, displayed alongside stylish raceday looks from Cheshire Oaks.
Kenny Murray, Centre Manager at Cheshire Oaks said, “We are thrilled to commemorate this year’spartnership with this special installation showcasing the fashions of yesteryear. The installation serves as a perfect juxtaposition to the contemporary racing outfits on offer here across our range of fashion retailers. The styles are all so different and it is interesting to see how fashion has come full circle. Inspiration from the pieces can even be found in our designer stores today!”
The stylish outfits displayed include a Victorian dress from the 1800’s and a beaded evening dress from the 1930’s, both have pastel pink hues and tones in a nod to this year’s Official Style Guide and BoodlesMay Festival campaign identity.
Kate Harland, Senior Learning and Operations Officer, West Cheshire Museums said, “The costumes areeach unique and demonstrate how Ladies fashion has developed through the ages. The dress from the1800’s is a classic Victorian piece. Good quality silk with a demure neckline, styled with a bonnet which would have been worn to prevent the tan of a field-worker on the faces of the well-to-do. The 1930sdress shows the extravagance and joy of the era with heavy beading and gold embellishments.”
In addition to the installation at the Designer Outlet, the official Chester Races style guide in partnershipwith McArthurGlen Cheshire Oaks will soon be revealed. Showcasing this season’s Style Guide and bringing to life Chester’s dress-code guidelines, whilst providing some fashionable inspiration with some carefully selected ensembles, from the extensive range of fashion brands available at Cheshire Oaks.
Share your raceday fashion influence and outfit planning online using the hashtag #ChesterRaces #ThinkCheshireOaks and follow @ChesterRaces and @CheshireOaksDesignerOutlet on Instagram for the build up to the season.
Tickets and badges to all fixtures across the 2019 Chester racing season, including the Boodles May Festival, are currently available to purchase at www.Chester-Races.com
Visit Cheshire Oaks to see the stylish installation www.mcarthurglen.com/en/outlets/uk/designer-outlet- cheshire-oaks
For more information on the upcoming exhibition visit https://www.chester- races.com/latest/news/going-the-distance-480-years-of-racing-at-the-roodee
