The weather for this weekends Chap Olympiad 2013 in Bedford Square gardens simply couldn’t have been more glorious.
Of course, this brings with it its own sartorial dilemmas, and I will say that lugging picnic baskets, umbrellas, chairs and tables across the country on the train and the tube was a terrible hot mess, and my shoulders and arms are still screaming at me today.
As ever, I didn’t take many photos. I never take my proper camera to the Chap Olympiad and I think of it as my day off! I just enjoy the day, meet up with friends that I don’t get to see one year to the next and drink occasionally excessive amounts of cocktails.
I did, however, put a lot of effort into my outfit, so it’s worthy of being featured! It all started with the hat. Mr Chick bought me this Betsy Hatter hat for Christmas after I fell in love with it last October. It’s a green felt tilt hat, with pheasant feathers and green velvet flower trim and it’s so gorgeous I’ve been trying it on weekly since I got it, and not yet found anywhere worthy to wear it.
After weeks of stressing about what to wear with it, I finally found this checked Monsoon dress in a Charity Shop for £8. It’s 50s style, but on me needs to be taken up about 4 or 5″ to wear with a petticoat. However, on the advice of Shona from Heyday I added a dangling ribbon belt of dark green velvet to tie in with the hat and wore it long as a 30s style dress.
⤠Hat – Betsy Hatter ⤠Dress – Monsoon via a Charity Shop ⤠Handbag – c/o Radley â¤
⤠Shoes – Unisa ⤠Gloves – Dents ⤠Brooch, Glassses, Pearls and Fan – Vintage â¤
 The handbag is from Radley, good lord they sent it to me for free, free Radley handbags certainly isn’t something I expected when I started writing a silly little blog 5 years ago. The colour conveniently goes perfectly with my dress, and it’s surpringly roomy, I got my shoes in it and everything, plus as it’s leather it smells delicious (and it comes with a dust bag, I’ve never had a handbag nice enough to need a special bag to put it in when you’re not using it before).
Clasped in my hand there you can see one of the other essentials of this years Chap Olympiad. A fan. I think this one came from a boot fair, most of my fans do.
I even painted my nails to match my frock. I do love to be matchy matchy!
This is the first year I travelled down from Norwich on the train, normally we book into a hotel. I have to say I picked the wrong year for public transport, but we did everything we could to make it more civilised (and discourage people from trying to sit next to us on the train) a bucks fizz brunch is really the only way to start a Chap Olympiad day.
After a hellish tube journey, it was good to have a few hours of lounging. This years Chap Olympiad was a relaxed, and slightly over-heated affair. Apart from the occasional meander round the grounds to catch up with those I wasn’t sat with we largely lounged by a table and over indulged in cocktails and picnic food. (this picture is courtesy of Perditas Pursuits)
Sartorial mention of the day goes to His Lordship of Perdita’s Pursuits fame who persevered with some very dapper matching gloves and spats for most of the day, despite soaring temperatures and could only be persuaded to remove them when we explained we feared for his health.
Comments
26 responses to “What Are You Wearing? The Chap Olympiad 2013”
@Retrochick_uk You looked fabulous …. Must have been a bit hot for guys who went in suits/tweed though?
@Retrochick_uk looking fabulous loving the outfit x
Kat Floridly Eccentric K liked this on Facebook.
Katy Jane liked this on Facebook.
How did that poor man not die???!!!!
Well as you know, I wore my cotton Olivia dress in fan print, and a vintage hat, but I am DEFINITELY getting myself some headgear from Betsy Hatter as I’ve wanted one of those tie-on straw hats for absolutely YEARS.
Fun fact: I nearly passed out. But I think that was the gin.
It was brilliant to see you! You looked fabulous 😀
I wasn’t feeling too perky myself by the time we got to the train station home, I think it was the heat, rather than the gin this time!
Husband nearly passed out too. Combination of vanity (suit, spats, gloves) and rehydrating using cocktails and wine ONLY. Silly boy.
RT @Retrochick_uk: What I wore to this weekends Chap Olympiad #chapolympiad http://t.co/VCeEpd6zHg
@Retrochick_uk Looking good 🙂
RT @Retrochick_uk: What I wore to this weekends Chap Olympiad #chapolympiad http://t.co/VCeEpd6zHg
@Retrochick_uk For more pics from the day see our photo gallery! http://t.co/UrFxSECFtP http://t.co/aMW3tcXRsa
We loved your outfit, had a great day at the Chap Olympiad … can’t wait until next year! Here are our pictures from the day For more pics from the day see our photo gallery! http://greatbritishmag.co.uk/coffee-break/photo-gallery-the-2013-chap-olympiad/?uid=8252
I already wondered if you had managed to shorten the skirt. But I think it looks lovely this way! The green ribbon is a great detail!
I swear I can still feel the sweat running off my body 🙁 GAH!!!!!!
BUT. It was fab to see you. That and the fact that PP is the only one to have caught me in my dress. It was too hot to even take an outfit shot.
Jodi Swenson liked this on Facebook.
You look so pretty! Those nails are fantastic 😉
@Retrochick_uk Gorgeous outfit missus! Tried saying this on the blog comment bit but my comp’s having a moment…. #LeSigh
AC Silver liked this on Facebook.
I used to have that Monsoon dress! You look absolutely beautiful Gemma! The hat is amazing! I don’t know how anyone could wear a suit in this weather though! xxx
I was there!! I was going to say hi but wasn’t sure if was a bit stalker ish!!! You looked fab!
We had a wonderful time at the Olympiad too. It was strange not being rained on as usual, threw me off kilter with what to wear! Was too hot to compete I have to admit…those poor men in 3-piece suits and boots..very stoic. Here’s to next year’s shenanigans!
I was there – can’t believe I missed you in that beautiful outfit! It was very busy though. I had a wonderful time. Lots of G&Ts, big shady trees and excellent company – a wonderful afternoon 🙂
This looks like such a fun way to spend a day and I love your outfit.
It has appropriately been said by Fashion Trends experts that season 2010 is and will continue to be an exciting and exciting season for style. With the end of the international financial trouble and economic downturn pattern, an difficulty in the world of style was seen in the beginning of the season and this is ongoing.
Retro chic indeed! I wish something like this were here too. The retro bug has bitten me for sure.
Oh and I put together these 10 retro recommendations from my site. Stroll down the memory lane – http://blog.wooplr.com/post/55675624730/retro-watch-step-into-a-time-machine
Fame at last for himself!! Bless his very sweaty cotton socks!
Major, major accessory envy from me to you, my dear!