It’s a showcase for glamour and good taste and this year’s Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo tournament proved again that it is one of the most sophisticated events in the social calendar.
The event, held annually at the Val de Vie estate in Paarl, was attended by the local as well as some international glitterati. Even a few hippophiles made an appearance. And, of course, it was also attended by some very handsome young ponies, however they only made an entrance later on in the day. It’s hard to say if the ponies or the fabulous outfits drew more attention, but there were certainly a lot of beautiful creatures trotting around.
The Veuve Clicquot VIP lounge was host to a multitude of stylish celebs including Natalie Becker, Jeannie D, Jen Su, Gavin Rajah, Warrick Gautier and Simba Mhere, and staff made sure the champagne and canapés flowed constantly for all those lucky enough to be there.
The equally glamorous sponsors included global luxury brands such as Bentley Motors, Elizabeth Arden and BlackBerry. Other sponsors on the day were Jenni Button & Hilton Weiner, Grazia Magazine, The Taj Hotel, Avantgarde, Mango Airlines, Haagen Dazs, and Glaceau Vitamin Water.
The venue was decked out in comfy armchairs, leather poufs, canary yellow deckchairs, and fluffy scatter cushions. Tables were laden with local cheeses and charcuterie, and trays of canapés, brownies, cupcakes and mini Haagen-Dazs ice cream cones were whisked through the venue by the army of good-looking staff. Naturally, the champagne corks popped constantly.
The ladies were well looked after with pamper sessions available in Elizabeth Arden’s pop-up spa. And they made sure no one got sunburnt by dishing out factor 50 sunscreen to anyone looking a bit rosy. For those feeling sporty, table tennis tables and a petanque court were set up on the lawns in front of the polo field.
As is tradition, the ‘best-dressed’ awards were a highlight of the day. This year the competition was judged by Warrick Gautier, Creative Director for Jenni Button and Hilton Weiner, and celebrity judge Jen Su. Prizes were awarded for Best Dressed Female and Best Dressed Man, while Best Dressed Couple went to Elrico Bellingan and Ritza van Rensburg.
Finally, the reason everyone was there – the Polo match – began. We saw Team Val de Vie take on Team Veuve Cliquot. The match commentator was Jamie Hayward whose fervour kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Guests also had the chance to get up close to 3 stunning Bentley Continentals which were brought out onto the field during the divot stomping. In the end Team Val de Vie beat Team Veuve Clicquot 5 goals to 4 in a nail biting match.
For everyone involved, the event was a reminder of just how stylish we can be in the Cape.
