Kate Middleton’s wedding dress is currently by far the most hotly contested issue in Britain, and perhaps even the world. Wedding dress designers in the running  as top candidates to be designing Kate Middleton’s wedding dress have the following odds stacked against them:

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress designer to  be Sarah Burton: 4/11

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress designer to be Phillipa Lepley: 5/2

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress designer to be Libelula/Sophie Cranston: 9/2

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress designer to be Bruce Oldfield: 9/2

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress designer to be Alice Temperley: 5/1

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress designer to be Christopher Bailey: 5/1

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress designer to be Jasper Conran: 7/1

Amongst betting shop Paddy Power’s terms and conditions was that the wedding had to take place before the end of 2012 (there’s really no going back now for Katie, is there?) and that the designer had to be confirmed by a royal spokesperson.   For those who aren’t on the money for Katie’s bridal gown at the official ceremony, they can always bet on the designer of her evening dress, how late she is, the length of her train, or on her tiara choice.  Then there’s even the sermon length, sermon clichés, and the colour of the Queen’s hat- reassurance for Katie-in-waiting that at least in the betting world not all the focus is on her.

The In Vogue Designers for Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress

The world and his wife are still beside themselves as to who Kate’s wedding dress designer will be, with a flurry of designers passing ‘in’ and ‘out’ of bridal-gown-authorship-vogue every day.  Last week saw a media frenzy sparked around the prospect of a Libelula wedding dress for Kate, following her being spotted in a Libelula coat earlier that year.  Subsequently, the boutique’s website crashed, given the unexpected onslaught of press attention and publicity such speculation had brought for the Chelsea based dress boutique.  Just a day before the royal nuptials, Bruce Oldfield was reported to have ruled himself out, as did Dame Vivienne Westwood, who intimated that Kate and her label were not natural style bedfellows.  And what with Alice Temperley reported to be dressing Kate’s mother and sister Pippa, it would seem a bit unlikely Kate Middleton’s wedding dress would be coming from the same designer.

Sarah Burton or Jasper Conran – Still Contenders for the Bridal Gown Design?

The obvious answers of Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and Jasper Conran (reported in the Telegraph as a ‘safe choice for a classic bride’) seem to have been heard on the grapevine for so long that speculation around these designers has already waned.  And then what about non-British designer – Kate’s daytime dress go-to favourite and the designer she wore for her engagement, Issa?  Frankly, all this speculation is growing rather tiring.  It’s almost as if we’d have been content for Nina Ricci creative director Olivier Theyskens to have given it away while he was being interviewed the other day at Tribeca Film Festival- something which very nearly happened, as he blurted out that he ‘[knew] who does it!’ when interviewed.

Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress – Enough is Enough!

Enough with the speculation! Even Grazia, who purported to be giving us some concrete info about the dress, following Paula Reed being present at the rehearsal this morning was only able to offer an update regarding Kate Middleton’s train length being 4-5 metres long, and nothing much to do with the dress itself. Whoever the designer, Kate Middleton’s wedding dress will go down in history and like Miss Middleton herself, succeed in winning everyone over.

These outfit suggestions for Henley Regatta 2011 will ensure you tick all the right fashion boxes while ensuring you dress choice is in-keeping with the dress code for Henley Royal Regatta.  Unless in the Stewards’ Enclosure, if you are attending Henley Regatta 2011 smart casual dress is all that’s required. However, many women choose to dress up for the Royal Henley Regatta whether they are in the Stewards’ Enclosure or not.   Not ones to do things by halves at GirlMeetsDress, we wholeheartedly support women who choose to pull out all the stops come event day (after all, these things only come round once a year!) So, whether you’ve got to get your hemline just below the knee for the Stewards’ Enclosure, or you’re just looking to look fabulous at the prestigious rowing event, here are some outfits that are guaranteed to do both.

Look Great (& Appropriate) for the Henley Regatta 2011

This Nicola de Main Flamingo coral dress is demure and sexy without revealing too much leg.  Dress for hire: £49. RRP: £190. Pair with wedges and minimal jewellery such as this emerald cut cuff by Blaguette available to buy for £105.

‘Fascinate’ at Henley Regatta 2011

This chic chiffon Ballard silk printed dress by Tory Burch comes has (fittingly for a dress code for Henley Royal Regatta) a boat neckline, and elasticized pleated belt.  Why not pair with this fabulous fascinator as modelled in the photo here (heavens, the outfit is going nowhere near Henley Regatta 2011!) Oh! Nena ‘Ofelia’ fascinator available to buy for £19 from our designer dress hire website ‘for sale’ section. Would look even lovelier set off by these Cordelia earrings, £290 from Blaguette.

‘Maxi’-mum Glamour at Henley Regatta 2011

Our third (but by no means) final answer to nailing the dress code for the Royal Regatta is this elegant art deco Glamazonian ruffle maxi dress by Suzannah.  To those in the fashion know, the dress, with its print designed and painted especially for the brand and printed on silk chiffon from Como, Italy, is the epitome of exclusivity and sartorial elegance. Hire the dress for £79, (RRP was £475). Pair with these ‘Kiss Me Kate’ earrings, £85.

With the Henley Royal Regatta 2011 fast approaching, now is the time to start thinking about an outfit.  And with that, should come a  swift adherence to the dress code for the Henley Royal Regatta.  It’s important you get it right; get it wrong and you risk being turned away for not meeting the strict requirements of the assigned dress code for Henley Royal Regatta Stewards’ Enclosure.  (If you’re not going to be in the Stewards’ Enclosure then smart casual dress is more than acceptable. ) Thankfully in all 172 years of the rowing event’s existence, the dress code for the Henley Royal Regatta Stewards’ Enclosure has remained very much fixed in place.

Dress Code for Henley Royal Regatta – Dresses with Short Hemlines Beware!

That the dress code for Henley Royal Regatta is renowned for being particularly strict was proved at the event two years previously when a 22 year old girl from Ascot, Berkshire was turned away from the distinguished Stewards’ Enclosure at the Henley Royal Regatta. Wearing a strapless, ruffled peach dress from Reiss, student Lucy Mogford was turned away after guards told her her dress did not cover her knees, and therefore did not sufficiently meet the specified dress code for Henley Royal Regatta.  Even despite Miss Mogford’s protests that she had been allowed into the Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot wearing the same dress earlier that year, Royal Henley Regatta stewards denied her entry to the Steward’s Enclosure.  While the student maintained she’d been allowed into the Royal Enclosure at Ascot earlier that year, the dress didn’t succeed in passing the strict dress code for Henley Royal Regatta test.

The Rules: Dress Code for Henley Royal Regatta Stewards’ Enclosure – Ladies

• A dress OR suit with a hemline below the knee
• Culottes, divided skirts, or trousers of any kind are NOT permitted
• Ladies are also encouraged to wear hats or fascinators

Henley Royal Regatta 2011

If you’re not a culottes fan, the no-culottes mandate might come as a welcome restriction.  The exacting hemline length rules, however, might serve more as an annoyance- high-street and even designer fashions don’t always run parallel to the dress code diktats of events such as Henley Royal Regatta.    However, with our online designer dress hire boutique catering to women with special occasions and events to go to, we guarantee that women in need of a dress that meets the requirements of the dress code for Henley Royal Regatta 2011 will have no trouble finding something that meets both their and the vigilant stewards’ approval.  Pictured are some of our suggestions for the perfect outfit, all of which are designer dresses for hire on our website.

What to wear to the races isn’t just a dress issue- an outfit for the races needs to tick all the right boxes in terms of what you wear with it.  A stunning dress can be ruined by the wrong jacket, too much jewellery, or an oversized hat. On a practical note, getting what to wear to the races right, can mean the difference between having a good day and having an amazing day!  You don’t want to be shivering in the stalls or caught short in the rain, due to not being properly prepared.  Below is a checklist for you, your dress and your handbag to ensure ‘what-to-wear-to-the-races’ worries are banished come race-day.

What to Wear to the Races – Practical Must-Haves

• An small-sized umbrella- you don’t want your what-you-wore-to-the-races photos to look more like what-you-were-wet-in-at-the-races type pics.

• A spare pair of tights; always handy should yours ladder/the weather turn- we have various tights to buy from our hosiery section.
• A decent sized bag or roomy clutch- this Angel Jackson satchel will fit all your essentials and add edge to your outfit.
• A shawl for when it gets chilly/warming up your seat/protecting your dress.  Browse our shawls to buy such as this Vintage Rose Tassel one (pictured), by Honey Lulu.
• A pair of sunglasses.  It might be worth bringing sun cream or applying it before you go.

What NOT to Wear to the Races

Stilettoes or any other heel that is likely to sink into the grass is THE major what-not-to-wear-to-the-races tip.

Aside from that, get your hemline and straps in order (always check the dress code on the official website of the particular race meeting you are attending) and what to wear to the races is suddenly a piece of cake!