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I am hoping to attend the Newport Polo USA v France match in August. I see that the suggested dress code is Newport Smart Casual. I also hope to attend the Lobster Bake afterwards. Would a tie be necessary for either of these events?

Would my wife have to wear heels for the full day?

–TPJ, United Kingdom

Dress code for Newport polo tends to be less formal than matches abroad, and yet festive flare in the form of lovely hats on the women and colorful trousers and bow ties on the men are always eye-catching.

Newport, as you know because you’ve been here before, is a summer resort and August can be hot, hot, hot.  A tie, along with a jacket would be required only on weekends at upmarket restaurants and private clubs for dinner. Otherwise a collared shirt with a lightweight jacket would be appropriate.

You would not need to wear a tie or jacket here in August to a polo match. Socks are rarely worn in summer. You won’t see men in sandals.

Men are more apt to be seen wearing white trousers or khakis — as opposed to bleu jeans or cargo pants.

Clambakes and Lobster Bakes are deliciously, terrifically messy affairs, and you’ll be given a plastic lobster bib to catch the melted butter in which you dip your lobster morsels and corn on the cob.

At the polo match you’ll need sunscreen and a hat or cap with a visor, as well as sunglasses. Your wife would NOT wear high heels to the polo match because a spiked heels could get caught in the turf and you wouldn’t want her to take a tumble. Instead of high heels, she can wear pretty sandals or ballerina-style flats.

A good solution if she likes a bit of height, is to wear shoes with a cork wedge heel — as opposed to a spiked heel.

More random photos from recent polo matches:

~Didi