So many dresses, so little time: Henley Regatta Stewards' Enclosure

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to be invited to the Henley Royal Regatta - and to the Stewards' Enclosure, no less. I know. So posh.

This is the most prestigious enclosure and is only open to members and their guests, and the dress code and general rules reflect this. The most important element being that ladies' hemlines must be below the knee.

This might seem a little austere - especially in the wake of the controversial announcement about women's heels at Cannes - but I'm fortunate in that I really like midis and maxis. I think that sometimes more is more and these lengths can look so elegant. The key is to get the proportions right to ensure your legs don't look stumpy. Avoid strappy shoes that cut you off at the ankle: this will help to elongate your legs. A hat is optional.

I opted for a hat because...well, who needs an excuse to wear a hat?

The day was fabulous. I definitely fell into the trap of objectifying all the golden Adonis-esque male rowers - and, I might add, envying the athleticism of the female rowers. We cheered on our university team (Exeter) - who won, by the way - and ate a picnic in the car park and drank lots of Pimms. There's even a tent that ONLY sells Pimms.

Choosing an outfit was a little tricky, but in the end I opted for a midnight blue dress from & Other Stories, bolero and shoes from Hobbs, and hat from Debenhams - all of which are in the sales. The clutch is from Lucy Choi and I accessorised with a simple blue pearl and gold necklace, which was a birthday gift from the hubs, and sunglasses by Tom Ford from Fenwick Bond St.

Outside of the Stewards' Enclosure the other sections run along the riverbank, so you're guaranteed a good view wherever you are, and while dressing up isn't compulsory in those areas, everyone does it anyway and there's an almost tangible atmosphere of Prosecco bubbles and Pimms. A lovely day indeed - and I'm seriously considering taking up rowing.

Sarah x