Summer Racing Fashion Guide 2017 SummerRacingFashionGuide2017PDFDOWNLOAD | Page 62

Sixty seconds with... Coral Turner is a couture designer based in London. She specialises in unique ready-to- wear handmade garments as well as bespoke pieces made to measure. BOOK PROFITS GO TO IJF There is Haute couture and couture, what’s the difference? Haute couture has a higher premium pricing point due to labour, fabrics and embellishments; dresses can start from £10,000, couture tends to more accessible. Is couture still relevant in today’s fashion? I believe couture garments will always have a place in the fashion world, their innovation for design filters down into ready-to-wear mass production. Eclipse Magazine talks about the social side of horseracing, one aspect being fashion; are couture fashion and racing a good mix? Couture fashion and racing is an excellent mix, in fact events such as horseracing help to keep the fashion industry vibrant. Queen Elizabeth II is a great Ambassador for fashion at the races, her ensembles of hats and dress suits always stand out. As a couture designer what changes have you noticed for the fashionable people who attend racedays? Some men and women have become a lot more flamboyant when dressing for the races, from colourful ties and suits, to hats that need their own personal space. It’s wonderful to see, it’s a mini fashion show where each member of the public is a catwalk model. Would you say then, that a day at the races is an opportunity to dress up? Absolutely, a lot of people think dressing up is purely to mark special occasions such as a wedding. At a horseracing event such as a big festival or a Ladies' Day, everyone wants to look their best; it’s one of those occasions where the expression ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’ is so apt. Would you say couture is only for a particular age group? Most definitely NOT, some of the ladies who come to me are from 17 years old upwards. Couture fashion is not age related or restricted; as with the audience that attends racedays, it’s across the board. For more information about Coral Turner Couture email: [email protected] or telephone: [phone]. Website: www.coralturner.com. 62 SUMMER RACING FASHION GUIDE 2017 ECLIPSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK When John Timpson, chairman of the eponymous high street chain, bought his wife Alex a racehorse in 2002, a friend commented it would be ‘a marvellous way to lose money’. Soon they were immersed in a world of trainers’ yards, Novice Hurdles and handicaps, and well on the way to proving the old adage that the best way to make a small fortune is to start with a larger one, and buy a few racehorses. As the number of horses increased and Alex became a well-loved figure on the racing scene, John kept a diary of their experiences. This witty book describes how racing brought something extra into their marriage – from Mondays at Ludlow to the Cheltenham Festival. It documents the wins, near misses, disappointments and occasional tragedies that make up a racing career – not to mention the friends made, the knowledge gained and the sheer thrill of it all. Under Orders is a joyous and humorous portrait of horseracing in Britain and a tribute to the owners whose dedication and enthusiasm make the whole thing possible. WWW.UNDERORDERS.CO.UK