Ladies let loose: Racegoers end first day of Aintree with a party (but few women are sticking to the Chanel-inspired style guide)

It's the second year running that a sophisticated Chanel-inspired dress code has been in place, but efforts to smarten up standards at Aintree seem to have produced mixed results.

The low-cut dresses, tight fitting skirts, bare legs and platform shoes that have become a Grand National staple in recent years were still out in force revellers arrived for the first day of racing at the Liverpool course.

A blonde woman in a floaty pink number falls victim to the wind as she enjoys festivities at the opening day of the Aintree festival

While some racegoers opted for demure floral midi dresses and sophisticated fascinators, others couldn't resist flashing the flesh in a variety of barely there outfits, including one who opted for a backless jumpsuit slashed to the navel at the front. 

A baby pink mini dress with whie applique hearts, teamed with metallic sandals helped one racegoer to stand out from the crowd. Meanwhile a woman showed off her tanned legs in an unusual mini dress with lace trimmed voluminous sleeves.

Two of the more daringly dressed ladies - who attended with Coleen Rooney - at the event wore Versace style cut out dresses reminiscent of Elizabeth Hurley's famous safety pin frock.

Towards the end of the day, revellers were seen turning the Pavillion wine bar into a makeshift dance floor.
Several women were seen kicking off their shoes and dancing around with their arms outstretched while other racing fans looked on in amusement.

One woman was clearly suffering from sore feet as she kicked off her shoes and stood in her bare feet whilst enjoying a cigarette.
Another looked a little sleepy as she held hands with a male companion and closed her eyes while resting her head against her fist.
However, it looked as if spectators may have been saving themselves for the biggest days of the festival - tomorrow's Ladies Day and the iconic Grand National race on Sunday. 

Some appeared to be a little the worse for wear after indulging in a few drinks, but there were none of the outrageous scenes that have been a feature of the festival in years gone by. Although there was no shortage of tanned limbs on show, not everyone opted to flash the flesh.

An elegantly dressed group, who appeared to be a family, were a stylish bunch with two of the ladies opting for floral midi dresses.
An older woman wore a sohpisticated knee length blue dress and covered up with a white jacket, while two men accompanying them looked dapper in well tailored suits.

One racegoer was the picture of elegance in a blue dress and a camel coloured poncho, while another rejected the thigh skimming hemlines of previous year in a navy maxi dress.
A group of girls dressed in red added a touch of class by whipping out Fulton's Birdcage umbrellas when it started to pour.
The brand's offerings are famously the only umbrellas used by the Queen.

Kate Middleton's favourite nude court shoes were sported by plenty of racegoers, although their outfits were probably a good deal more racy than what the demure Duchess usually favours.
It was a windy day at the Liverpool course, which caused troubles for some racing fans who were seen clutching their fascinators as they walked along.

One woman lost her hat altogether while posing with friends, while another suffered an embarrassing moment when a gust of wind blew up her skirt, revealing her underwear.

She wasn't the only one left red-faced - a woman was seen taking an unfortunate tumble as her friends rushed to help her up while she clutched the side of a wheelie bin to break her fall.

At one point the heavens opened, but the downpour did nothing to dampen spirits among fans as they took in some of the first races of the day, including the Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle
It may have been a cool 11°C and the skies were grey, but that didn't stop plenty of people stepping out in ensembles better suited to the height of summer.

Many racing fans opted for floaty maxi dresses and shorter styles in lace and light chiffon, which many teamed with skyscraper heels. 
There was certainly no shortage of bare legs and uncovered shoulders on show, with several opting for off-the shoulder styles including Coleen Rooney.

The WAG traditionally puts in an appearance on the first day of the festival, but last year she missed out.
Today however, she was back with a bang to continue the celebrations for her 30th birthday, which she marked last weekend.
Wearing an eye catching orange lace dress with a cape feature at the shoulders, she arrived with a huge gaggle of friends and relatives at the racecourse where she had hired a large hospitality box to accommodate her guests.

The knee length, off the shoulder dress offset the glowing tan the mother-of-two picked up during her recent holiday in Barbados.
Coleen is expected to attend the festival again tomorrow for Ladies Day, and bookies Ladbrokes have tipped her to wear pink on the day.

The bookies are taking bets on the queen of Aintree's dress colour for the big day and make a pink number the 3/1 favourite, from purple at 4/1 and black at 5/1, with Manchester United colours an outsider at 100/1.
Ladbrokes also anticipate one of the best-backed horses on a day when festivities always start early to be Cocktails At Dawn at 20/1 in the 4.05.

It's 25/1 the bumper Aintree crowd manage to drink the course out of champagne while it's also odds-on at 5/6 racegoers witness another streaker.
Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: 'Coleen is the queen of Aintree and it looks a good bet she'll be pretty in pink on Ladies Day. With the fun odds-on to start early, if Cocktails At Dawn does the business the drinks will be on us.'

Although husband Wayne and sons Kai and Kit weren't in attendance, it was still a family affair for Coleen today as her mother Colette McLoughlin was also in attendance.
Colette looked chic in a cream dress with black lace panel and a matching coat, which she teamed with a pair of black strappy sandals. 

She cut a stylish figure by 'shoulder robing' her coat, a style made popular by the ever trend-setting Kim Kardashian.
Some of the more demure outfits on show this afternoon set the tone for Ladies Day tomorrow.
Earlier this year, Aintree bosses announced they were putting measures in place to try to improve standards.

Racegoers attending tomorrow are being asked to up the sartorial stakes with £43,000 worth of prizes on offer.
Fancy dress, garish colours, sky-scraper heels and knicker flashing were all par for the course at last April's event.
And that's not to mention Grand National guests ruining their outfits by lying on the floor due to one to many glasses of Champagne.

But Aintree bosses are hoping to improve standards this year.

To that end they have invited ladies to show a more toned-down approach to fashion by offering a style award in the shape of a £35,000 Range Rover.

Announcing the prizes earlier this years, John Baker, the northwest regional director for the Jockey Club, which owns Aintree said he hoped the financial incentive would help give the event a facelift.
However, he insisted the move was more of a refresh for the event as opposed to a major makeover.
The ambassadors for this year's competition include Katie Walsh, the Grand National's most successful female jockey and face of Ladies Day 2015.

Former amateur flat jockey and Channel 4 racing presenter Emma Spencer are also ambassadors and will be leading various style discussions in the run-up to the event.

The prizes, which include a £35,000 Range Rover as well as £8,000 worth of fashion vouchers, are hoping to encourage better dressing at the event.




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