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Dear Betsy,This will be my first visit to the Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain and I need your advice on the correct dress code and how to remain looking cool, calm and glamorous during the long days at the track.
I am very pretty and have a good figure, so I am fully expecting to be swept off my feet by a dashing driver, but what can a girl do to maximise her potential in such a competitive arena?
F1 Babe
Dear F1 Babe,
Just remember S.B.W (Sunblock, Water, Hat). These are the three most important items to get you through the three days of the Grand Prix.
No true F1 Fashionista will be seen without her bottle of designer mineral water ... Evian, Fiji and Vittel are covetable.
The dress code does vary but you should remember that individualism is everything in this uber-luxury world.
This year, Bermudas and Capri Pants are back in fashion and the colours are bold - royal blue, acid yellow, fuschia pink, lime green and outrageous orange, so you are spoilt for choice.
The catsuit or jumpsuit is trying to make a comeback this year and this would be an appropriate event to wear such an outfit.
I would advise long sleeves if you plan to be out and about as the power of the sun can be very deceiving. Adding a fun funky hat will keep you cool and add to your fashion statement. But how you wear it is almost important as the hat itself. Most likely you will opt for a baseball cap style as this is the most popular right now.
If your forehead is small, your neck short and your hair long, then push that cap up off your forehead and tuck your long hair behind your ears or your face and neck will disappear and you will look rounder and fatter.
If your neck is long, your forehead big and your hair long then you can push your baseball cap firmly on your head and pull that brim down to just above your eyes and wear your hair over your shoulders and framing your face or you can end up looking like a demented giraffe.
Wearing your favourite team's cap is popular, but if it is the wrong colour for your complexion then switch your allegiance without a second thought to a team whose colours are more flattering.
Overall, a white cap will suit most skin tones. Large oversized sunglasses are this seasons' signature style with a 70s revisited look with thick white frames being in vogue although black and even red are prominent too.
Huge sunglasses have the added benefit of covering up more of your delicate eye are and preventing wrinkles and also covering up the results of the previous evening's excesses!
Shoes are high, higher and highest when it comes to heels this spring. Thick chunky square heels with platforms and rounded toes or peep toes are competing with the new mega-wedges that will have you teetering on the very tip of your toes. Of course, you won't be able to walk very far in any of these, but with a bit of determination you should be able to make it down the Pit Walk and back again to the Paddock Club. Confident insiders know that the intelligent choice of F1 footwear are the snazzy and sexy sports shoes to be found in the new Puma Collection and I don't just mean the scarlet Ferrari range, (way too obvious).
Sparkles are in and even an old plain T-shirt can be jazzed up by sewing on some Swarovski crystals. These amazing little bits of bling can be found at most tailors shops and can find their way on to bags, belts, caps, shirts, jeans and even your mobile phone.
Make-up should shimmer and glimmer but not shine and whine with a florid, oily face.
Look for matt finish make up bases and try out a mineral powder which several of the bigger cosmetic houses now include in their collections.
Keep eyes simple by using a white pencil on the lids and a blue or brown liner smudged along your lash line and under the lashes too.
A bronzing powder sprinkled on top of your base will help you glimmer and subtly glittery lip gloss from YSL, Dior and Lancome will give you a sexy shimmer.
Forget about blusher and use a very subtle brush of pale gold or off white highlighter powder along the top of your cheekbones and brushed up to the outer corner of your eyes.
Emphasise your 'cupid's bow' with a very light dusting of the highlighter on the centre of your upper lip. Keep your lip-gloss handy, you will need to constantly reapply it as you sip your designer water.
Use your eyelash curlers and a water resistant mascara in navy blue or chocolate brown to finish off your F1 Face.
Your F1 handbag is, of course, of paramount importance and will probably mean taking out a new HM (Handbag Mortgage, of course) to get one that is just right.
A stroll through the A'ali and Seef malls will provide you with plenty of inspiration as will the new Fendi shop at the World Trade Centre Mall.
Why don't we have a Chanel Boutique in the kingdom? Their new spring collection has the perfect F1 solution, a sporty twist on their classic quilted and chained bag in red or navy with cream leather accents.
The most appropriate F1 fragrance? Well, for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix it has to be local hero/ine, Designer Shaik. I almost forgot about jewellery ... a huge sporty watch with plenty of designer dazzle, shiny earrings that dangle and any Cartier bracelet.
Necklaces? No one does serious money glamour like Theo Fennell and now that his accoutrements are available in Bahrain serious F1 babes don't have to commute to Dubai for their finishing touches.
A word of advice on smiling for the Paparazzi, forget abut mouthing 'fromage' and use the softer, poutier 'chess' when the flashbulbs are going off.
Finally, an invaluable insider tip, if you want to truly shine the next day then remember to carefully remove all your make up the night before and keep some of the caviar from the canapŽs at the Paddock Club to smear over your face before sleeping, for an authentic F1 Facial.
Finally, a veteran F1 Babe offers these man-magnet pearls of wisdom: "if you really want to outdo the competition then NEVER carry binoculars, this affords you the opportunity to ask the cutest fellow race goer you can find if you can borrow his".
Sneaky!
BETSY SAYS RELAX ...
Have a Formula One Foot Treat to soothe those aches after a busy day at Sakhir.
Fill a bowl with hot water and half a cup of Epson salts or Baking Soda. Soak your feet for 20 to 30 minutes.
Dry thoroughly and massage in some foot lotion or add a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil to your body lotion. Lie on the floor with your posterior right up against a wall with your legs supported straight up the wall for 5 to 10 minutes.
This will leave you feeling great and walking on air for the final race day. If you can get back up off the floor that is!
If you only do one thing this week
DO I have to say it? Get down to the Gulf Air Formula One Grand Prix at the amazing award-winning Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir and wallow in the atmosphere as you brush shoulders with celebrities and international film crews or even our very own Krazy Kevin! Enjoy!
