The summer sporting season is fast approaching. So take some tips from the best dressed guests at the Badminton Horse Trials…”
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Round Up is one of my favorite events to attend; it’s a brilliant blend of hair-raising sport, socializing and shopping in one of the most beautiful British estates. This all calls for careful outfit planning and a compromise of comfort, country and cool. For my outfit, I opted for a rather French sailor vibe with the Breton top, red neckerchief and navy velvet waistcoat – something I put it down to fact that I’ve been reading my father’s new book Resolution (a historic account of life at sea from my ancestors diaries and accounts). My one tip for event dressing? Sunglasses are a must at anything like Badminton because you just never know when the sun is going to pop out. Plus it’ll help hide blurry eyes for those of you who spend your time by the champagne bus!
Annabelle Thom was a lucky find at the end of the Badminton Friday; she immediately caught my eye with this amazing coat, which was a gift from a friend. Meanwhile, Annabelle designed the neatly fitted cropped waist coat herself along with the suede bag, which are both made and sold in Kenya where she has a shop trading under her own name. She has remembered the key style mantra that less is more and with this outfit it couldn’t be more fitting: the beige jeans and white shirt are perfect neutral items to let the waistcoat and coat do all the talking. And the Ray Ban sunnies and tassel necklace add an extra touch of glam.
It was Rose Hipwood’s leopard-print Nike trainers that made her stand-out. On a dry year, a good pair of trainers is perfect for Badminton – where you’ll spend a lot of time walking the course and partying late in the night. Rose has cleverly kept her outfit fuss free with a simple yet suitable military-style jacket and a comfortable pair of skinny blue jeans. Take note of how she’s really embraced the military vibe. Accessories were big a Badminton this year from rucksacks to fuzzy clutches but the most popular of them all were the pooches – Badminton is the perfect day to show off your canine friend.
