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.

The Royal Ascot dress code is a difficult thing to get right and something that high fashion does not often cater to. In trying to find Royal Ascot dresses, many women choose to hire designer dresses, finding the selection of Royal Ascot dresses offered by dress rental services to be ampler and often more tailored to the Royal Ascot dress code. In other words, online designer dress hire makes the lives of women, who would otherwise dread having to buy or hire their Royal Ascot dresses a much less stressful experience.

Rent Designer Dresses – Avoid Wardrobe Malfunctions at Royal Ascot

On the subject of dress code, Royal Ascot is renowned for being strict.  Depending on the event, the Royal Ascot dress code can vary.   The Royal Enclosure dress code is of course the strictest area of all where Royal Ascot dress code is concerned.  And exceptions are not made for the privileged and the influential, the rich, or the famous.  Which is why last year, Emmerdale actress Roxanne Palett was turned away from the Royal Enclosure because stewards ruled her dress to be too short.

Women who choose to hire a dress from an online designer dress hire boutique like Girl Meets Dress, know that the collection of dresses available to rent have been hand-picked for the occasion.   So when they rent designer dresses, all of which are high-fashion labels, ladies wanting to look their best can rest assured that their selections absolutely meet the occasion dress requirements.  What’s more, if you rent designer dresses from an online designer dress hire service  you can borrow multiple pieces.   Which is particularly useful if you require Royal Ascot dresses for several of the event days.

Royal Ascot Dresses – Dress Code for the Royal Enclosure

If you are lucky enough to get invited to the Royal Enclosure ( if you are not a member you need to be invited by a member who has attended for four consecutive previous years), when you hire a dress be sure to let the online designer dress hire customer services know.  The Royal Ascot dress code for women attending the Royal Enclosure is as follows:

• ‘Formal day dress with a hat or substantial fascinator’
• ‘Off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch and miniskirts are considered unsuitable’
• ‘Midriffs must be covered and trouser suits must be full length and of matching material and colour’

The online designer dress hire stylists at Girl Meets Dress have put together the following Royal Ascot dresses suggestions, ensuring you do just the right amount of ‘standing out’ from the crowd.

1. Alberta Ferretti – Floral print dress – hire: £179, RRP: £948

2. TIBI – Patterned silk dress – hire: £49, RRP: £320  

3.  Halston Heritage – Knot cocktail dress – hire: £99, RRP: £223.

4. Paul & Joe – Montargi dress – hire £89, RRP: £300.

With the party and holiday season upon us navigating through all the different dress styles and terminology can be confusing. So here’s the Girl Meets Dress guide to social glamourings!

WHITE TIE

The most formal of all the occasions is the White Tie, traditionally worn after dark or five pm, which ever one comes first. Dressing for this type of event requires a full length dress, no exceptions! I especially love this coral red jersey dress by Issa , favourite designer of Kate Middleton. What is great about this dress is that it’s both sexy and elegant at the same time. If bold colours aren’t your thing this PPQ dress is just as fantastic in classic black. Another stunning choice is this asymmetrical gown by Marchesa.

BLACK TIE

For a more semi-formal event, known as Black Tie anything from a full length to a cocktail dress is perfectly acceptable and appropriate. With it being less traditional than White Tie you can be a bit fashion forward or even daring, if you wish. For the brave I suggest you try this gorgeous orange dress by Stella McCartney. However if you want to play it safe you can never go wrong with a LBD (little black dress) and Alexander Wang has the perfect one.  YSL offer an alternative contrasting choice with this adorable bow dress.

SMART CASUAL

Last but not least you have Smart Casual. It’s a modern term and look that isn’t steeped in tradition like the others and therefore harder to define. For me the key is in the title, it’s a combination of both smart with casual. This look can vary from a wrap dress to shirt dress to a mini dress. Avoid a ball or cocktail gown however a full length dress in a more casual fabric is a great combination. Here are some of my personal picks for the perfect Smart Casual look.

By Jessica Moazami

Useful links: