Zenouska Mowatt's Guide To The Races
Meet Zenouska Mowatt, Head of Marketing at Katharine Pooley and a fellow Rotator with an impeccable eye for sourcing timeless and elegant pieces for her wardrobe.
We visited Zenouska’s London home to have a look inside her shared wardrobe and discover all of her tips for the Races season, whilst she’s getting ready to attend Royal Ascot 2024.
Rent Zenouska's wardrobe on the app now.
What inspires your Races look?
My aim is to emulate sophistication - can't say I have always achieved it - but I have found the hat styles that work for me now after many years down the line. My ideal look Christian Dior's 'New Look' - there is nothing quite like it.
How do you incorporate your style into your Races look?
I feel like my style comes through with how I accessorise my look, the clutch bag, earrings or the shoes. I love timeless pieces and base my entire look around one or two things to modernise it.
Which headpiece should we be wearing?
I would always opt for a hat that is structured and with plenty of height thanks to the fact I have been blessed (!) with a round moonface and a proper hat is required to help with this. There is also something about wearing a beautifully-crafted hat that fills you with confidence too, hard to explain. I love Jane Taylor as she will always do her utmost to match the colours of the hat to my outfit. Rachel Trevor Morgan for something fun and Laura Cathcart too.
Tell us a little about one piece from your shared wardrobe and why you can't wait to share it with others?
The green Emilia Wickstead dress I wore to Royal Ascot last year - this dress is a treasure and I bought it to wear as bridesmaid to my best friend's wedding and have since worn at a number of other smart occasions and it's become one of those pieces which I have lent to a few of my friends to wear to weddings. I love that. It's like the sisterhood of the travelling dress! A timeless shape and so comfortable to wear, I am delighted to add this to the By Rotation shared wardrobe for everyone else to enjoy too!
What is the best way to arrive at the Races?
For Royal Ascot, I will almost always get a cab with a couple of friends or family and try to book one with plenty of room to make space for your hats. The first thing I do when I arrive, is a trip to the bathroom for a fit check and then to walk on over to my pocket of friends.
What is your favourite hack to prepare for the races?
My absolute go-to is Ruuby. It’s a reliable beauty concierge app, you can have pretty much anything you need beauty-wise done from the comfort of your home, just the best. Ruuby is offering By Rotation users a special discount code, ZEN15 for £15 off a first-time Ruuby booking!
What is guaranteed to be inside your bag?
A creature of habit, I will always carry a good pack of business cards along with my fountain pen (which writes in racing green ink), my monogram enamel box filled with mints or gum, a spare pair of earrings to switch into for the evening and the usual lipstick or gloss to top up throughout the day.
If you had to wear one brand only to the races, which would it be and why?
I couldn't pick just one, but my favourites are Luisa Beccaria, Emila Wickstead, Carolina Herrera, Victoria Beckham and the fantastic Alice Archer - her embroidery work is amazing. The link with them all is that each designer offers a traditional shape, elegance and timelessness.
You can also take a look at the official Royal Ascot dress code here for more inspiration.
What is one trend to avoid when attending the Races?
I love the new trends of wearing beautifully tailored suits, and I suppose it’s not a trend, but the overwhelming temptation to remove your heels on your way home, don’t do it!