The Perfect White Summer Dress for a British Social Season
- Aug 9
- 4 min read
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Size & Fit: For reference, I’m 5ft 4in (163 cm) and typically wear the smallest size available from most brands.
There are few things that feel quite as quintessentially British as a summer afternoon spent watching horses jump, dressed up for the occasion, with a glass of something cold in hand and the London skyline somewhere beyond the horizon.
So when I was invited by Longines to experience the Longines Global Champions Tour in Chelsea, it felt like one of those wonderfully English summer days that you want to bottle up and keep. It was glamorous without feeling overly formal, effortlessly elegant without taking itself too seriously and, most importantly, it was a brilliant excuse to dress up.
The Longines Global Champions Tour brings together some of the very best show jumping in the world, and Longines has been deeply connected to equestrian sport for more than a century. The relationship feels particularly natural when you are actually there watching the competition. The precision, timing, discipline and extraordinary connection between horse and rider all seem to mirror the qualities that have become synonymous with the Swiss watchmaker.
But while the horses are undoubtedly the stars of the show, there is something about the whole experience that makes it so much more than simply an afternoon of sport.
Arriving at the event in Chelsea, there was an immediate sense of occasion. Beautifully dressed guests, tables set up overlooking the arena, champagne and wine flowing, and the unmistakable sound of horses and hooves in the background.
It was one of those rare London days where everything seems to come together perfectly. The sun was shining, everyone was dressed for summer and the atmosphere had that slightly glamorous, slightly old world English feeling that I love so much. There is something particularly wonderful about dressing for an occasion where you know you are going to spend the afternoon outside. You want to look polished, but you don’t want to look as though you’ve tried too hard. For me, that meant white.
I wore a beautiful white waistcoat style backless dress, which felt like the perfect choice for the setting. White in summer is one of those combinations that never really needs reinventing. It feels fresh, elegant and incredibly chic, particularly when you’re surrounded by green grass, horses and sunshine. And this one had just the right amount of drama. The structured waistcoat detailing kept it feeling sophisticated, while the open back gave it that little bit of femininity and glamour. It felt powerful without being overly serious, exactly the sort of dress I want to wear when I’m in London during the summer.
On my wrist was the same watch I wore during my trip to Scotland with Longines, which I think says quite a lot about how much I love it. It was the Longines Mini DolceVita Quartz, in stainless steel with an 18 karat yellow gold crown. The rectangular case is beautifully understated, and the combination of stainless steel and warm yellow gold gives it that very subtle luxury that works with almost everything.
It worked beautifully with the white dress, particularly because of the little flash of gold. And I actually love the fact that I wore the same watch in Scotland. It has started to feel like one of those pieces that naturally becomes part of my wardrobe rather than something I reserve for a particular occasion.
That’s always the sign of a good accessory for me, when you stop thinking about whether it goes with something because it simply does.
The Mini DolceVita has that lovely balance between classic watchmaking and something that feels very modern. It is delicate, elegant and timeless, which makes it the sort of watch that can move effortlessly from a summer afternoon in Chelsea to dinner somewhere in London afterwards.
And then there was the food. I wasn’t expecting to be quite so excited about the lunch, but honestly, it was spectacular.
Rather than the slightly restrained idea of an event lunch where you choose one course and politely wait for the next, this was more of a feast. There was an incredible selection of food, from steak to pizza and pasta, with seemingly endless options to choose from. It had all the indulgence of an all you can eat buffet, except this was very much the glamorous, beautifully presented, champagne at the equestrian event version.
Of course, the real spectacle was happening in the arena. Show jumping is one of those sports that becomes even more impressive when you’re watching it in person. On television, you see the horse and rider clear a fence, but being close enough to hear the horses moving, feel the energy around the arena and watch the precision of each jump makes you appreciate just how much skill is involved.
The relationship between horse and rider is extraordinary. There is so much trust involved, and the smallest movement can make a difference. The horse has to respond almost instinctively to the rider, while the rider has to read the horse, the course and the timing perfectly.
Longines’ connection to equestrian sport feels particularly fitting for that reason. The brand’s involvement in the world of equestrianism stretches back to the nineteenth century, and its history includes partnerships with prestigious events across show jumping, racing, dressage and eventing.
Standing there watching the competition with my Mini DolceVita on my wrist, it was actually quite a nice reminder of how much of sport comes down to timing.
