FashionEtc.com April 19th, 2024

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Draws Rachel Zoe, Coco Rocha and More

Polo-ready, with parasols in hand, well-dressed New Yorkers and a VIP tent of celebs took in the fifth-annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic at the beautiful Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

Taking a page from Pretty Woman—except opting for a pastel sundress instead of polka-dots—we headed out for a day of horses, handsome men, sun and champagne.

With a forecast of rain, everyone was giddy from the unexpected sunshine and endless supply of bubbly.

Hosted by Clive Owen, along with the handsome Nacho Figueras, his wife Delfina Blaquier and Veuve Clicquot President Vanessa Kay, the event got a fashionable cameo from Rachel Zoe, who threw out the ceremonial toss-in to kick-off the game.

Zoe's husband, Rodger Berman, who was following their son Skyler around, said, "He's the sweetest kid and makes you want to have eleven more. He kisses all his stuffed animals every morning." What would it be like having a girl? "Hell on earth. She would be a little Rachel."

Earlier on the red carpet, Rachel talked about her adorable son, "He can say every animal sound. I'm always saying, 'What sound does a horse make? What sound does a car make?' Literally. He is super smart, active, curious and happy."

Whether they were polo regulars or first-timers, models, actresses and plenty of stylish socialites came dressed to the nines to enjoy the game and cheer on the beloved Nacho.

Poppy Delevingne, looking lovely in a pastel printed Richard Chai dress and sparkly Givenchy statement heels, told FashionEtc the reason she loves polo: "The boys. The boys. It's all about the boys and the horses."

Jessica Stam told us, "I like a preppy look with a little edge," which is exactly how she looked, dressed in a Thom Browne Spring 2012 ensemble. Dree Hemingway opted for Dolce & Gabbana, saying "I spent quite a long time in their showroom going through racks. This is my first polo match and I'm really excited. I grew up in Idaho and I love horses."

Jennifer Morrison, who looked chic and summery in white YSL, told us, "This was the one dress in my closet that I haven't worn and I felt was appropriate for today. This is my first Polo match and I'm very excited. I brought my sister and my one-year-old niece who is going to meet horses for the first time, so that's going to be pretty fun."

Olivia Palermo, who we caught stealing kisses on the sidelines from handsome boyfriend Johannes Huebl, told us, "I grew up around polo. My father played and I grew up riding. I've gotten thrown off my share of horses, but you just get back up and keep going. It's fun."

Coco Rocha, looking divine in a pale pink Dennis Basso dress, said, "I shot for Dennis a couple days ago in fur in this heat, so at the end of the shoot, I asked if I could keep the dress under the fur, and he said, 'Yes, that can be arranged.' So that's what I'm wearing." The model was excited for her first polo match, saying, "I appreciate the fact that you get dressed up for a sport. I kinda love that. It reminds me of My Fair Lady."

However, it didn't seem likely that Rocha would be trying the sport herself anytime soon. "When I was little, every time I was on a horse, something bad happened. Either a horse would attack another horse while I was on the horse or it would fly and jump over a wall so if you ever need a model with a horse, I'm your person. It scared me but don't they say, when you fall off a horse, get back up, and in reality, I have done that."

Another first-timer, designer Wes Gordon told us, "This is my first polo match and I'm really excited. I researched the rules of polo last night so now I'm an expert. If you have any questions, come find me. I'm the Wikipedia page of Polo."

Padma Lakshmi, who has been a fan of polo for a while, told us, "I used to have a boyfriend in college who played polo. He was really good." Clad in a floaty white Calypso dress and sporting flawless makeup, the Top Chef host gave us her best tip on dressing for summer weather. "Be cool and comfortable. Don't wear clothes that are too tight because then everything gets sticky and wrinkly and it's not fun."

Another longtime polo lover, Catherine Malandrino told us, "I've been to several games. It's a combination of first, [the] aesthetic because there are beautiful men and beautiful people and second, horseback riding with the powerful movement of the swing, all together make the sport quite exceptional."

In related news, check out the best celebrity style from the MTV Movie Awards.

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