June 17, 2015 2:03 pm

The Craziest Fascinators at Royal Ascot

By Stephanie Eckardt

Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The five-day Royal Ascot, Britain’s largest horse race, has begun, and so has its over-the-top display of peacockery. Each day begins with a royal procession (the queen has avidly attended every Royal Meeting during her reign), followed by races hanging on millions of dollars in prizes. As usual, the competition isn’t just among the horses: Racegoers adorn their heads as if there were a prize for gravity-defying accessories at stake, too. Click through to see the most impressive and impractical fascinators from the first two days of the races — including butterflies, giant hibiscus flowers, and mini umbrellas — and marvel at their top-heavy wearers’ ability to stay balanced.