By Sally Meeson

Those looking for a little refinement following the mud and mayhem of festival season, trotted down to the riverside for Henley Royal Regatta. Many found a stylish solution to honouring the enclosures’ over the knee dress code, by opting for elegant, full-length maxi dresses.

Henley Regatta is the rowing fixture of the season and a glorious summer event, but finding the right outfit can be tricky. With their fellas spruced up in smart boaters and blazers, ladies generally want to look smart too. The dilemma lies in finding an elegant option in which one can also sit out on the grass and enjoy a picnic…. or dance the night away in the Mahiki tent once the rowers have put away their oars.

That’s where the trusted maxi comes in! The beauty of the maxi is that, depending on accessories, you feel equally at home wearing one at a smart wedding as wafting down a beach in Ibiza at 8am after rolling out of Pacha. And their light, floaty fabrics and colours make them perfect for a summer event such as Henley.

This year, riverside style queens were seen sporting maxis in soft pastels and bold patterns, as well as confidently colour popping with the aid of acid coloured belts and accessories. Topping off their outfits with designer clutches, huge sunglasses and an obligatory glasses of bubbly, the river was as easily as stylish as it was sporty.