I'm going to Royal Ascot this year -- just general admission (NOT the Royal Enclosure) and not on Ladies' Day. If I was just going to stay in the area I'd bring one of my fabulous hats, but this week is only the beginning of a few weeks in Europe on trains, etc. Dressing up is NOT a problem for me, but the logistics of a fancy dress hat aren't in the plan this trip.

Question: are there any concessions around the train station or racetrack that sell those little feather-y things, or some other decorative headgear, that provide some ornamentation in place of a hat? (I've seen those feathery-things in pictures of Ascot covered by the varous BRitish news media.) I figure that I could either pack that away, or if cheap enough, just toss it, but I'd at least feel decorated for the day....or something that makes me feel like I've made the effort for this special event?

This does not help you much - but those 'little feathery things' are called Fascinators in Australia!

I don't know which shops are in the area but Monsoon/Accessorise stock these fascinators. Check www.monsoon.co.uk click on accessories.

Marks and Spencer sell fascinators too.
You should be able to find one in any accessories shop or any shop selling women's clothes.

You could also rent a hat.

Look at these!!!!!! (Click on s/s 2005 and then on the orange hat):

http://www.philiptreacy.co.uk/flash/welcome2.html

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone. Please know that all the contributions are valuable -- somewhere I knew that those feathery things were fascinators, but could not remember the term. Thanks! Now I know what to ask for if I don't see them immediately in my 'rounds (I'm staying outside London near Ascot for business purposes, and won't have much time to shop before the race day.)

To provide some perspective, I own a few Philip Treacy hats (but thank you for the website,) and own more than a few cheaper hats. Either way, I don't want to bounce a dress hat through the Alps and beyond.

If you're staying near Ascot, your best bet would be Daniel's department store in Windsor. They do have a good millinery section.