July 2013, Henley-on-Thames

The Stewards’s Enclosure at Henley Royal Regatta adheres to a strict dress-code: men must wear lounge suits with a tie or cravat whilst women must wear dresses or skirts with hemlines below the knee, and also a blazer. Earning a boat club blazer is a rite of passage for many oarsmen and women, with great traditions from clubs all around the world on what it takes to acquire one. Blazers come in a wide variety of patterns and designs from solid colours to stripes and beyond, even from a set of old curtains! Some blazers have been handed down for generations, each owner adding another layer to the garment’s illustrious history. Other blazers are bestowed upon athletes as symbols of success at the highest level. Some blazers are worn by members of clubs established hundreds of years ago whilst some may be relatively modern. All are proudly worn by those who come to the Regatta, a walk through the Steward’s Enclosure is a kaleidoscope of boat club finery at its’ best.