47 outstanding looks from Best Buddies’ Royal Ascot–themed derby event

Britain’s Royal Ascot is one of the biggest social functions of the year for the U.K.’s society set, which is why when we heard of Best Buddies’ “Thrill of Ascot” event, which raises funds for people with intellectual disabilities, we thought we’d see how Toronto would dress for such an occasion. On Saturday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack, Audi and Northfield Capital Corporation execs, along with PR professionals and some adorable children, donned their finest hats and fascinators to watch the ponies race to the finish line (sadly, no gentlemen wore ascots). Accessories worn came from many places, including a mall kiosk, Winners, Nordstrom’s, Lilliput hats, Holt Renfrew, Harrods and Wild Hagen. One woman said she purchased her chapeau in England just after Kate and William got married, while another said she picked hers up from a shop at Sheridan Mall. One thing became very certain: there isn’t one person in Toronto who has a monopoly on hatmaking. While the fashion was certainly a much more diluted version of what we’ve come to expect from the original event in Britain, attendees still came dressed to impress with ostentatious hats and feathery fascinators (and one guy even sported a cartoonish—and amazing—twirled moustache).

Click here to see what Toronto wears to a day at the races »