Fillies and colts of fashion

Social butterfly Britta C. did not let her quest for sartorial splendour gallop ahead of her on Saturday at the Dubai World Cup races. Clad in an all-black layered ensemble teamed with flat jockey riding boots, a black hat encrusted with red roses and a black umbrella, she'd made a quick wardrobe change on Friday when she heard about the murky weather forecast.

Fearing scattered showers, the chosen colourful floral linen dress and the practical wide-brimmed hat were stashed into a corner and in its place came the sombre funeral-ish monochromatic look she "threw on" the night before.

Agreed, when the skies opened up briefly, this is one woman who felt validated about her fashion turnaround and embraced her must-have accessory - the hooked umbrella - with all her might.

And unlike hundreds of other women dressed in strawberry, raspberry or cobalt concoctions, feathered fascinators and pretty plumes, she was not seen scampering for cover when it began to drizzle.

But in all fairness, the majority who were dressed to the nines did not let the rain dampen their spirits.

Come hail or rain, the flashy socialites gathered at the Nad Al Sheba racegrounds were intent on having a good time.

They bolstered the fashion stakes with their pretty-but-hardly-practical heels, hats and dresses. As Dubai resident Lulu Flint put it, the Dubai World Cup was an event where glamour, glory and good times collided.

"I love the races, because it's one of the days when girls get to dress up in pretty clothes and hats. It is one of the rare occasions when anything goes. It's like an afternoon tea party, but a more glamorous and a colourful one," says Flint.

For her day at the races, she had resorted to some serious mall trawling before hitting on a cream-coloured BCBG Max Azria dress, a pink clutch from Debenhams and Forever 21 accessories.

Different flavours

Meanwhile, Rani Badri, who recently moved to Dubai from Indonesia, was intent on blending culture, comfort and couture in her ensemble. Clad in a flowing fuschia tunic and feather-lined headscarf, Badri played on the boundaries of appropriate race gear.

"I wanted to look classy and cool. I know my dress is different from the usual cocktail dresses, but I feel great and comfortable in this and I even modified my scarf a bit.

"I gave it a bit of a contemporary twist with all these feathers," says Badri.

Apart from the usual burst of colours that transformed the Nad Al Sheba racecourse into a colourful meadow, there were some men who bid farewell to the black tie and white shirt staple. Daniel Smith painted a patriotic picture with his Scottish kilt and even had a knife strapped to his socks. Playfully threatening to gouge out the eyes of all those who glanced at his wife, Smith was making the most of his day in the sun and rain.

Even after sundown, the mood was clearly upbeat as with the lovely ladies and their companions continued to paint the grounds red.