It’s occasion o’clock! What’s the dress code? Fabulously fashionable and formal you say? Yes, it’s possible to get three into one so long as you follow the rules. Ah yes rules. Although we British use the politely, euphemistic phrase, ‘dress code’, when referring to champagne-fuelled days out at Ascot’s Royal Enclosure or The Stewards Enclosure at Henley, what we are talking about here are rules.

The Royal Ascot dress code

BY JULIA ROBSON

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Michael Bastian PHOTOGRAPH: RAUL TOVAR

Michael Bastian’s current range gets us in the mood for the go-see movie of summer 2012: Baz Luhrmann’s remake of F. Scottt Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby.

We feel a modern day Jay Gatsby would definitely feel at home in the louche, Long Island feel of Bastian’s preppy stripes, which come in contrast collar shirts, cashmere sweaters and rugby tops.

The Royal Mail celebrates the best of British fashion in a new collection of ‘designer’ stamps out May 15. The Great British Fashion stamp set features original outfits from ten notable design houses including Ossie Clark, Tommy Nutter and Norman Hartnell along with Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.

Fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø captured the image choosing not to show facial features to let the designs speak for themselves. Our favourites include a dapper blue suit by Sir Paul Smith; a plaid mini skirted suit by Vivienne Westwood and the dramatic black plumage hooded dress, which was the star of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Savage Beauty 2011 show, by McQueen from his legendary Horn of Plenty A/W 2009/10 collection.

Fernando Jorge is one of three new Brazilian designers to Matches in 2012. Jorge is famous for gobstopper sized gemstones in organic shapes and languid, dreamy colours, picked out by pretty diamonds and yellow gold.

Having only graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2010 with an MA, Jorge has already built a global reputation for his unique manufacturing techniques, which combine highly specialised craftsmanship with contemporary technology. One of his trademarks is the use of specially cut Brazilian gemstones used in elegant cocktail rings, cuffs and earrings. Read our interview with the hottest force of fine jewellery.