Dressing for the English Season

The Season
Guide to dressing for the Season. Credit: images courtesy of Kathryn Sargent and InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts

A highlight of the English social calendar, the Season includes a list of sporting and cultural events that require special dress codes, lessons in etiquette and lots of eccentricities. London master tailor Kathryn Sargent shares her advice on how to put the best foot forward.

The Season

Traditionally a time when aristocrats and gentry would come to the capital from their country houses to socialise and hold social events, today the events on the Season calendar include opera at Glyndebourne, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, the Lord’s Test Match, Polo and Henley Royal Regatta.

Dress codes at these events are strictly enforced with different occasions calling for specific attire (or stipulating certain conditions for entry). Don’t forget that you must wear a hat to Royal Ascot (top hats and waistcoats are mandatory for men) and at Henley Regatta a lady’s hem must reach below the knee.

Master tailor Kathryn Sargent, the first female master tailor on London’s Savile Row, and who now offers in-room tailoring consultations at the InterContinental London Park Lane, offers her advice and style tips on how and what to wear to get you prepared for the Season.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show – 23 to 27 May

Chelsea_BG
What to wear to the Chelsea Flower Show. Credit: Images courtesy of Kathryn Sargent and InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts

 

“Chelsea is a much more relaxed event for gentlemen, and it’s recommended to wear a linen or casual jacket in an understated colour. When wearing a tailored jacket to this event it should be softer in style and not angular or sharp. It doesn’t hurt to express your individual style but have respect for the amazing garden designs and blend in rather than stand out. A linen blazer in a pale red, pink or blue is a modern look for this event, worn with a chino trouser and an open neck shirt. Ties are optional when looking around the gardens.”

Glyndebourne – 20 May to 26 August

What to wear to Glyndebourne
What to wear to Glyndebourne. Credit: Images courtesy of Kathryn Sargent and InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts

“Glyndebourne is one of the most formal black tie occasions on the social calendar and is a chance to wear a wonderfully cut cream dinner jacket with silk lapels, with very smart black tailored trousers. A sharp white shirt should be worn, with exciting dress studs on to add modern and luxurious details. These events take place during the day and early afternoon, so men can be a bit more playful with their accessories and introduce pops of colour, from bow ties, pocket squares and a cummerbund in a deep burgundy, making the traditional look slightly more contemporary in style.”

Wimbledon Tennis – 3 to 16 July

What to wear to Wimbledon
What to wear to Wimbledon. Credit: Images courtesy of Kathryn Sargent and InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts

“Wimbledon is now more informal than it has been in the past, so for gentlemen it’s an opportunity to wear either a suit or blazer. A contemporary version of a traditional look is a slimline suit, with a single-breasted lapel and an outside ticket pocket. It should be lightweight because of the time of year and not too formal, such as a light grey with a fine blue check throughout the cloth. A tie should be worn with a crisp white shirt, but it doesn’t need to be a business tie and can be light in colour. It’s an opportunity to accessorise and wear a pocket square as part of the dress. I would avoid wearing strong stripes in suiting, and an option is to wear white trousers. For ladies, a well-cut jacket is key to the look and should be worn over a well-tailored dress, or a slim trouser with a heel. Hats are not advised, to avoid blocking the view of spectators seated behind.”

Royal Ascot – 20 to 24 June

What to wear to Royal Ascot
What to wear to Royal Ascot. Credit: Images courtesy of Kathryn Sargent and InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts

“Royal Ascot is a premier occasion in the summer season and one that has a very strict dress code for the Royal Enclosure. For a modern take on traditional styling, it is the perfect opportunity for gentlemen to wear a well-tailored morning coat in black, with grey and black striped trousers. The silhouette for the coat is very important and should be sharp. It should be paired with a pastel coloured waistcoat, and a tie in a similar hue, tied in a Windsor knot, with a black or grey top hat. For accessories, avoid thin ties less than 7cm in width and be advised that no cravats are allowed. For ladies, Royal Ascot is the perfect opportunity to be stylish without being revealing and they can wear a piece of tailoring, such as a beautiful tailored jacket with a matching dress, or a non-business trouser suit with a slim leg trouser. For a trouser suit, the jacket and trousers should be in the same colour, such as mint green or pearl yellow. For other outfits pastel colours are advised, featuring interesting textured fabrics and a matching handbag. A hat should be worn, but no fascinators. Any suiting worn should be soft and shapely in silhouette.”

Henley Royal Regatta – 28 June to 2 July

What to wear to Henley Regatta
What to wear to Henley Royal Regatta. Credit: Images courtesy of Kathryn Sargent and InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts

“At Henley Regatta, men can show their individuality in their outfit, as it is less formal than other events of the season. Blazers with contrasting trousers are a modern take on traditional dress, and men shouldn’t be afraid to go with a check, stripe (red or brown and blue) or window pane blazer, but should avoid matching their trousers in the same pattern. Trousers should be a plain colour, either grey or a pale chino, and have two pleats for a more summery look. To maintain a smart yet modern look, less formal shoes such as a tan loafer can also be worn. A tie is not compulsory for the event, but if worn it should not be a dark colour.”

Kathryn Sargent has partnered with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to launch her new Style Service at the InterContinental London Park Lane, offering private in-room consultations to guests staying in one of the hotel’s four suites. Find more information and to book parklane.intercontinental.com/en/news/style-service

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