Don’t they look loverly! Maura Higgins, Holly Willoughby and Geri Horner channel Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady as they stun in white ensembles and distinctive hats at Royal Ascot

‘Tomato red’ may be the inaugural Ascot colour of the year, but some of the most stylish racegoers donned white a la Eliza Doolittle this season.

Audrey Hepburn’s striking black-and-white dress continues to inspire attendees of the prestigious British racing festival, over 60 years after the late American actress delivered her famous line, ‘Come on, Dover!’

This season, the racecourse in Berkshire witnessed some standout looks that put a modern spin on Cecil Beaton’s Oscar-winning Ascot dress, which was later auctioned for an astonishing $3.7million.

While their monochrome ensembles may not make history in the same way, attendees like Maura Higgins and Holly Willoughby certainly paid fitting tribute to the film as the ex-Love Island star gushed her vision had ‘come to life’ on Instagram.

As temperatures rose to 27C at the start of a six-day heatwave, white was certainly the colour du jour – with the Princess of Wales’s sister-in-law, Alizee Thevenet, among the ‘My Fair Lady’ brigade. 

Meanwhile, fashion designer Daisy Knatchbull put a surprising twist on the trend by donning a structured suit fit for the Savile Row supremo she is.

‘The Eliza Doolittle aesthetic works so well at Ascot because it celebrates femininity, sophistication and attention to detail,’ celebrity stylist Lisa Talbot told the Daily Mail.

‘What makes the look so enduring is that it strikes the perfect balance between elegance and drama. ‘The hats are bold, the silhouettes are polished, yet the overall effect remains refined rather than over-the-top. It’s a style that feels quintessentially British and perfectly at home on the Ascot lawns,’ she added. 

Maura Higgins 

Maura Higgins gushed that her ‘vision was brought to life’ with the My Fair Lady-inspired outfit she wore yesterday. 

The former Love Island star, 35, cut a glamorous figure in a custom white Sabina Bilenko Couture dress and a matching wide-brimmed hat and gloves as she posed for snaps at the racecourse.

She later shared images from the day to Instagram and penned in the caption: ‘A vision brought to life for Royal Ascot.’

Maura played the classic song from the 1964 film starring Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle over the top of her post.

Geri Halliwell 

Geri Halliwell, 53, also appeared to have Eliza Doolittle on her Ascot moodboard as the former Spice Girl opted for a form-fitting white dress for a day out at the races. 

Accompanied by her husband Christian Horner, Geri opted for a bridal-inspired look in a fitted white lace dress with a frilly hem and puffed sleeves, which she teamed with a matching hat

She wore her hair in a chic updo and accessorised her look with a pearl necklace and earrings, with an elegant burgundy mini bag by Simone Rocha and a pair of nude peep-toe wedges. 

Holly Willoughby 

Like Maura, Holly Willoughby put her own twist on Audrey’s unforgettable costume in the 1964 movie. 

Holly posed in her chic look before heading to the Berkshire racecourse for the Royal Meeting’s most popular day which traditionally brings out the most glamorous looks.

The TV star, 45, posted an Instagram snap of her ensemble, wowing in a white pleated skirt and wrapover jacket.

She added all-white accessories including an elegant wide-brimmed hat from Jane Taylor London and a £750 Aspinal midi Mayfair bag, finishing her look with a pop of ruby red lipstick.

‘Off to Ascot officially here for the horses, unofficially here for the champagne and cake’, Holly captioned her photo.

Alizee Thevenet 

While James Middleton’s wife, financial analyst Alizee Thevenet, is among the family’s more low-key members, she made a rare appearance at Ascot this year.

Accompanied by her mother-in-law, Carole Middleton, Alizee opted for a prairie-inspired white dress with a pie-crust collar detail. 

While the vintage-looking dress, with pink floral embroidery, may not be the most faithful recreation of Eliza’s Ascot outfit, it made the cut for its flattering silhouette and colour. 

Isabelle de la Bruyere

Joining the Royal Family’s carriage procession at Ascot yesterday, the French girlfriend of the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, Isabelle de la Bruyere, cut a stylish figure in black and white. 

The 53-year-old gallerista, who has been dating Princess Margaret’s son since 2022, picked a sharp white dress for her first time riding the royal landau alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

She cinched the dress with a black belt and finished her look with a black-and-white hat in a modern recreation of Eliza’s famous look.  

Daisy Knatchbull 

Prince William’s distant cousin, Daisy Knatchbull proved you don’t have to wear a dress to channel Eliza at Ascot as she donned a stunning white suit from her own label. 

The Savile Row designer, 40, who recently announced her engagement to Italian music executive Giovanni Damini, turned heads in the custom creation that featured a braided belt and cutout design. 

Jade Holland Cooper 

Much like her apparent muse, Jade Holland Cooper was a vision in black and white as the founder of fashion brand Holland Cooper picked a polka-dotted ensemble from her label. 

Documenting the design process on her Instagram, Jade revealed the jacket and flared skirt had turned out to be ‘exactly what I was hoping for’. 

Subsequently, Jade shared all her outfit details – including a 12-year-old black wide-brimmed hat made from sheer net, a pearl necklace and matching earrings.