- For the first time since it was held in 1839, women can wear pants to participate in the Royal Henry Yacht Race in England.
- Those who enter the exclusive area must wear formal regatta history.
- The new dress code still stipulates that the hem of dresses and skirts should be below the knee.
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For the first time in its 182-year history, the Henry Royal Regatta allowed women to wear pants as part of the formal dress code required by its members’ area.
The annual rowing event is held along the Thames in Oxfordshire, England. It lasts for five days. It started in 1839 and was sponsored by the Royal Family in 1851. According to the event website.
in a Press release, The organizers announced that the prestigious British Regatta, which was interrupted for a year due to the Covid-19 disruption, will return on Wednesday. According to the website, an average of 300,000 people visit the event every year.
according to Henry Royal Regatta website, It is described as “a modern sporting event with a long history.” Steward’s Enclosure is an exclusive area for sailing regatta members and their guests, and its dress code requires attendees to “respect this tradition.” At the same time, people visiting areas open to the public do not need to follow any specific dress code.
Gareth Catmore/Getty Images
However, respecting the “legacy” of the regatta once meant that women entering the butler’s fence had no choice but to wear skirts or skirts.
In 2020, Oxford University student Georgina Grant published an article Change.org petition Call the previous dress code “strict”, “sexist” and “discriminatory.” More than 1,680 signatures have been added to the petition that is now closed.
According to Grant’s petition, the previous dress code was as follows: “Ladies must wear dresses or skirts with a hem below the knee. Ladies are not allowed to wear culottes, culottes or any type of pants.”
Grant wrote: “It’s not just about women, it’s about everyone. Transgender, non-dualistic and disabled people are excluded from the HRR dress code. This needs to change.”
In July, she announced that the petition had been successful because the website had updated the dress code for the return of the 2021 Regatta.
Sir Steve Redgrave, chairman of the regatta, told Daily Telegraph He “strongly approves” the change to the outdated dress code.
“For many years, we have been asked if we can check the ladies’ dress code because the times have changed,” Redgrave said.
“Although we very much think of ourselves as a traditional event with a traditional dress code, with the introduction of more female events in recent years and more and more female butlers, we think now is the right time to make changes,” he added .
According to Redgrave, this change marked “evolution rather than revolution.”
The current dress code for women is as follows: “Ladies must wear skirts or skirts with the hem below the knees, or jackets or suit jackets with pants, or trousers. Although it is not a requirement, ladies usually wear hats. No one is allowed to wear shorts, shorts, or trousers. Tights, sportswear or jeans.”
Representatives of the Henry Royal Regatta did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
