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Original poster

Dress etc for Henley Regatta

34 replies

monkeysmama · 12/05/2009 17:01

Anyone been to the Henley Regatta before and know what kind of dress I should (and shouldn't!) wear?

I am size 10-12 with largish boobs (bfing) but dd won't be with me so don't need a dress I can bf in. Fancy some new high heels to go with the dress but haven't worn high shoes for a year so need some that aren't as mad as I'd have worn in my past life!

Price wise can spend up to about £300 on shoes, bag and dress though may not need bag or shoes depending on the dress.

I have long brown hair, green eyes and am 5"8.

Thank you!

MM

OP posts:
hf128219 · 12/05/2009 17:10

Are you going into a particular enclosure?

dexter73 · 12/05/2009 17:24

Found this for you to read!

Original poster
monkeysmama · 12/05/2009 17:26

Not sure - will check. Thanks Dexter!

OP posts:
MrsBoo · 12/05/2009 17:29

If you are going into Stewards enclosure - they are really strict on the length of dress (ie below the knee) and no shorts or cullottes etc. High heels, beware cos if it is wet then you will sink in the grass - as long as you have your knees covered you can more or less get away with wearing whatever you like. The link from dexter is good guide!

Go for comfortable shoes you can walk in - in case you get dragged up the towpath - it will be over 2 mile walk to the start and back.
If you are NOT going to stewards, then wear ssomething comfortable.

Lizzylou · 12/05/2009 17:30

The enclosure I went to was fairly relaxed. I wore a silk patterned dress (think it was Monsoon)and quite chunky wooden heeled sandals.
It was great fun and am that you are going!
You sound like you could wear anything and look fab btw, nice smartish summery dress would be fab.

Lizzylou · 12/05/2009 17:36

How about
Hobbs

This?

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 12/05/2009 18:32

I would spend the majority of your budget on a dress and avoid the typical high street stores (Coast, Monsoon, Debenhams, Hobbs etc) OR go for something plain-ish that you put your own stamp on with accessories. We have been to Henley twice now and both times played the "oh I tried that dress on" game . First time I wore a black silk top with a white 50's style skirt so it was fairly anonymous. Our second visit, I opted for a Marc Jacobs number.

We have been in the Stewards Enclosure and they are very strict about hemlines as others have said. There will be people on the gate assigned to "Hem Line Watch"! A colleague of DH's got turned away for wearing a skirt which finished mid-kneecap. Luckily she had bought an alternative with her and had to go back and change in the car!

Bizarrely, the Professional Husband Hunters and Hoorah Gels will have everything else on show except for their knees. Tis a veritable Nork Fest

hf128219 · 12/05/2009 19:12

www.theoutnet.com/product/22056

This could be nice on.

Lizzylou · 12/05/2009 19:15

I was OK as I had a 2 seasons old Monsoon dress on, none the same! The enclosure we were at was a younger crowd and less formal.
It was for a Hen party as well, but we didn't have tutus/cowboy hats or tiaras

Have you tried
The outnet
Some delicious dresses there!

Lizzylou · 12/05/2009 19:15

LOl xpost

southeastastra · 12/05/2009 19:31

that link is fascinating dexter

amidaiwish · 12/05/2009 19:34

you really need to know which enclosure you are going into, if at all and what day of the week you are going. find out and let us know as it varies from very casual to wedding-smart.

would def recommend wedge-type shoe high heels as it can get v muddy. also you'll be standing up/walking around all day. plus from Stewards enclosure it is a very very long walk to the start (2000m course) and very crowded along the towpath at the weekend.

cthea · 13/05/2009 15:36

What ridiculous rules! Sounds more like a fancy dress party, esp. with the men's blazers. Must be a good day out, though.

BootsTheMonkey · 14/05/2009 21:42

It's a fab day out! We went a couple of years ago. I thought it was quite conservative in terms of dress sense. Friend and I both went for calf length dresses (we were in Stewards Enclosure) but our heels were a big mistake! A wrap or cardi might be a good idea... Enjoy the Pimms!!

Original poster
monkeysmama · 18/05/2009 15:05

Thanks for all your replies. I've asked dp to find out which enclosure we're in but he's forgotten to ask our hosts so far. Will post again when I know.

OP posts:
rower123 · 31/05/2009 17:03

sorry i came across this while looking for a dress for a friend who is a girl (obviously), as a rower the rabbit's guide to henley (dexter's link) is very good and very respected within the rowing world here is the full website: www.twrc.rowing.org.uk/hrr/
which well give you the do's and don'ts of the regatta, as people have said it depends on the enclosure, Stewards, Leander, Remenham (not remenham farm), all have a similar dress code all dresses below the knee anything above is a free for all as long as it is tasteful that is the most important point, i have also known to much clevage on show to get rejected from enclosure's. I'm not sure about hospitality enclosure as a self respecting rower i am not seen dead near one (but it is fine if your not a rower), my guess is the tickets are hospitality ones (which normally include stewards enclosure tickets), and the two are often far apart so good shoes for the enclosure something comfortable to walk betwenn the two enclosure. any where else calling itself an enclosure is really not and so the dress code well be diffrent (it may not even have one), also if you are going with a man tell him to wear a blazer and dockers wearing a suit is a big faux pas in any enclosure, (no dress code for shoes however trainers well probably not be allowed through), also for enclosure he must wear a tie, look up rowing club ties for the style and brightness however unless he is a rower he must not wear a club tie otherwise it could lead to major ridicule the same goes for wearing another non-rowing sporting club tie, my final point in this rambling and maybe nonsensical typing, is read the Rabbit's guide to Henley read that and you'll be fine the stuff in the entertainment section some rowers par take in them and if the mood is right blazer bingo can make you new friends who might be able to get you tickets for next year, however do not par take in any un-clean entertainment as the rabbit calls it as a non-rower it could jeopardize any chance for being allowed in to any enclosure next year except for on the friday to an extend and saturday when lost hours is acceptable as long as you don't make a big thing out of it (binge drinking and henley saturday go together hand in hand)

faithnirvana · 17/06/2009 09:16

I have been to Henley a few times. The Stewards enclosure is the one where you get a tag to wear and you have to have a dress longer than your knee. Wear wedge heels to avoid slipping in the grass although there are ramps to walk around. You will be drinking a lot of Pimms and not really watching much rowing so you need something you won't fall over in. Wear a hat if you can, it looks stylish and, well, you don't really get a chance nowadays to wear one. Wear a faschinator or hairband with a flower on if you think it's too much. Bring a wrap or pashmina for the chill instead of a coat. Good places for dresses are Monsoon, Debenhams Debut, Karen Millen, Hobbs and mail order from Boden. Clarks have some fantastic red shiny peep toe wedges at the moment which would be comfortable and stylish if you went for a dress which had some red on it. If you're curvy, stick to a 50's style dress which flares over the hips. If you have a bust, wear v-neck or halterneck to show it off with some chunky jewellry. Simple pearl or diamond earrings are all you need if you have a hat or fascinator. Keep jewellry stylish and neat - same for make-up.

Original poster
monkeysmama · 24/06/2009 17:49

Good afternoon

Thanks to everyone who posted here before.

Having decided not to go I've now been told we are going again so I need to get my dress and shoes organised.

I quite fancy something green and can spend a couple of hundred quid if I need to.

Any suggestions?

Thanks again
MM

OP posts:
PiggyPenguin · 24/06/2009 19:17

How green, and do you like slinky? I quite like this green dress But I appreciate it would not be everyone's cup of tea!

Original poster
monkeysmama · 24/06/2009 23:15

I do quite like that dress but it's not very me. I like a greener green! Thanks though. Keep them coming!

OP posts:
Freyfreysmum · 25/06/2009 09:22

Hope you have a great time - we go every year, DH is an ex Oxford Brookes 1st XIII rower. I can never decide what to wear each year, and each year see a huge variety of tastes and styles. Now have the added quandry of going 6months pregnant and with our toddler lol (so therefore not allowed in Stewards), but all the same v excited. Please remember though, although you want to look glam and pretty and shiney, remember an element of it has to be comfort lol, it can be a long day, on various terrains, esp if you venture down the towpath etc. Good luck!x

Freyfreysmum · 25/06/2009 09:29

Hope you have a great time - we go every year, DH is an ex Oxford Brookes 1st XIII rower. I can never decide what to wear each year, and each year see a huge variety of tastes and styles. Now have the added quandry of going 6months pregnant and with our toddler lol (so therefore not allowed in Stewards), but all the same v excited. Please remember though, although you want to look glam and pretty and shiney, remember an element of it has to be comfort lol, it can be a long day, on various terrains, esp if you venture down the towpath etc. Good luck!x

jumpjockey · 25/06/2009 09:31

freyfrey a XIII? does it go round in circles?

One thing to remember is lots of suncream as there's very little shade in the enclosures. Sounds obvious but people get lobstered most years and if you're in green, bright red shoulders isn't a good look! TBH not many people bother with hats, if you wear one it will mark you as a socialite rather than there for the rowing as they block the view of the people behind!

jumpjockey · 25/06/2009 09:39

anyway - green dress how about this Smart enough for stewards, but also funky enough for other areas.

Original poster
monkeysmama · 25/06/2009 09:45

JJ is that smart enough? I thought I was looking more for the kind of thing I'd wear to a wedding? I am not enjoying this anymore!

OP posts:
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