My regular readers will know I love to get dressed up!! Any occasion to put on a fabulous dress and I'm there!! I've been lucky enough to attend a few race day Ladies Day's and honestly they are so much fun! The perfect girly day out, and a great opportunity to people watch and check out everyone's stunning style!

While there are a few Ladies Day's that take place throughout the year, it's The Punchestown Racing Festival which acts as the key event to open the social season and sets the tone for the style stakes that will be seen at racing festivals throughout the summer. It takes place from Tuesday 23rd April to Saturday 27th April, with the final of the Best Dressed Lady competition taking place on Friday 26th April!

It's with great pleasure that I can reveal that ultimate occasionwear specialists Coast have announced their sponsorship of the ‘Best Dressed Lady’ competition at the Punchestown Racing Festival for the second year running. Following the fantastic reaction from ladies in attendance last year, and the amazing experience 2012’s Best Dressed Lady Jennie Pierce enjoyed over the past 12 months, the coveted prize is up for grabs again this year. The most stylish lady at Punchestown 2013 will win a jet-set shopping spree with Coast at three international locations for her and a friend - to New York, Madrid and London!!

The lucky winner and a friend will enjoy a 2 day stay at each of the 3 destinations where global fashion brand Coast has stores located - in New York, Madrid and London; she will have personal ‘Coast by Appointment’ style consultations, with prize vouchers of €1,000 to be spent in each Coast store. All flights and hotel accommodation will be paid, so the focus is on enjoying the ultimate shopping experience at Coast in some of the world’s most stylish cities. A jet-setting shopping spree across the fashion capital's of the world, seriously what girl wouldn't want to win that!!!

Ian Galvin, Chairman of Aurora Fashions Ireland, commented, ‘As last year’s winner Jennie Pierce has let us know what an amazing experience she had travelling to three international cities and enjoying Coast shopping sprees in each location, we are offering the same fantastic international shopping experience again this year. Coast Spring Summer 13 Collection offers the perfect races attire, and we want the ladies attending this year’s Festival not to be afraid to put their own stylish twists on Coast pieces to create individual and eye-catching looks. We’ll be particularly looking out for sophisticated Coast-wearing ladies at the 2013 Festival!”

The search for ‘Fashion On the Field: Coast’s Best Dressed Lady’ will be held over the first four days of the festival, with the judges being tasked with finding the Most Stylish Lady in attendance. Not to be forgotten, daily winners will be announced on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday who will each win a personal ‘Coast by Appointment’ style session and a €1,000 Coast voucher. Each of the daily finalists will also receive a fabulous Coast goody bag.

For anyone who is loving the sound of being a part of this fantastic competition please note that this year the judges will be particularly looking out for ladies wearing racing attire from Coast – with their own stylish stamp on their looks, showcasing their interpretation of Coast’s key Spring Summer Collection, with a unique look. So ladies, start channelling your inner "Gok Wan" and have fun with your looks!

Race-goers can also make a personal ‘Coast By Appointment’ at Coast stores nationwide to enjoy style advice from the in-store occasionwear specialists, to ensure they are kitted out for the racing season ahead, and in prime attire to be in with a chance of being crowned Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown. 

Margaret McDonald, Managing Director, Coast, commented, “We are thrilled to be sponsoring Best Dressed Lady at Punchestown Racing Festival again this year, following the huge success of our involvement in last year’s Festival. As an occasionwear specialist brand we are delighted to partner with one of the most stylish racing events of the year. We saw some amazing fashion across the four days of last year’s event and are certain that this year we will have an equally difficult job in picking an overall winner, given the calibre of stylish and glamorous ladies who attend Punchestown. We know that the fashion tone for the season ahead is demonstrated and set by the ladies attending Punchestown in April, so we’re very excited to be in the position of choosing between them all and giving the winner the ultimate prize in fashion and glamour.” 

For anyone looking for some inspiration here's a sneak peek at some of the stunning new campaign images from Coast's High Summer Collection!!

The Punchestown Irish Jump Racing Festival 2013 will take place from Tuesday 23rd – Saturday 27th April. Punchestown offers a unique blend of fashion, entertainment, shopping, food, music and all the fun of a festival. The famous atmosphere comes alive when racing champions go head to head and Ireland’s most stylish ladies go peep-toe to kitten heel in the fashion stakes!

Welcoming the announcement, Dick O’Sullivan, General Manager, Punchestown racecourse said, “We are delighted that Coast are sponsoring the Best Dressed Lady competition at Punchestown again this year. Coast is regarded as a key shopping destination for style and glamour and is therefore an ideal fit for the event. The fashion element of the Festival has become a really exciting feature of what is widely considered one of the social and sporting highlights of the year.”

The Coast Best Dressed Lady competition will take place over the first four days with the final of the Best Dressed competition on Friday, 26th of April. Punchestown’s Party Pack ensures a complete day out for you and your friends from just €19, a super saving of €14 per person. With dining and hospitality packages available from €99 it’s no wonder why Punchestown is ‘everyone’s favourite day out’ and Ireland’s largest social event.

For all your festival information visit www.punchestown.com, call 045 897704 or follow us on Facebook and twitter.