Queen bans facinators from Royal Ascot
(CBS/AP) Facinators, the whimsical pieces of headwear favored by the young and posh in Britian - who could forget Princess Beatrice's pink fascinator at the royal wedding - but now Queen Elizabeth II has banned the headgear from the royal enclosure at Royal Ascot, one of the most exclusive events in Britain's social calendar.
The organizers said Wednesday that no fascinators would be allowed to the event. The ban is the latest series of rules aimed at tightening the dress code at Ascot, where organizers have tried to push back against the proliferation of provocative outfits, outrageous accessories and revealing tops.
Other rules introduced or reinforced Wednesday include the requirement that women at the royal enclosure wear dresses that fall below the knee and that the men accompanying them must wear a top hat (gray or black).
Nick Smith, Ascot's head of communication, acknowledged "there is an argument that some fascinators are formal."
But he also added, "Some fascinators have become so small that they're nothing more than a hairband and a feather."
So, the Queen decided to do away with them completely. The Ascot takes place in June.
