Happy & Healthy

The best afternoon of the year (so far)

Where some people spontaneously break out in rashes and red spots when they see a dress code on an invitation (here by the way, here's an explanation of the most common dress codes), my fashion heart beats happily. The one for the Concours d’Elégance, for which I was invited on behalf of Renault, went as follows: “Of course, we cannot obligate you to anything, but a nice hat, a jacket for the gentlemen, and a beautiful dress for the ladies would be greatly appreciated.”

There was cheering in the Mobach household, because with three daughters, changing and dressing up is a family hobby. And I had just bought those cute pink hats at Monoprix in Paris for my girls. They matched perfectly with the blue-and-white striped dresses from New York (yes, sorry, but clothing is my kind of souvenir) and finally, that dress by Claes Iversen was not too much, but just perfect for the occasion.

Let me start by explaining what the Concours d’Elégance is. It is an annual parade of the most polished classic cars (and their owners) that you can imagine. And around it, car enthusiasts prance in their smartest, yet classic outfits.

”A place of honor was held by the very first Renault ever, the this-is-the-car-where-it-all-began-Renault from 1898”

We received a wristband for the Renault VIP stand where French cuisine was served, and where I fell in love again with ‘my’ Renault 5, the Gordine, the Alpine (which also has a fresh variant, so incredibly cool) and all the other classics that were on display there. A place of honor was held by the very first Renault ever, the this-is-the-car-where-it-all-began-Renault from 1898. I almost didn’t dare to touch it (I don’t think I did), but my daughters were lifted up in such a way. That must be the Monoprix hat effect combined with the cute dresses. Really, they could have driven straight to Downton Abbey and no one would have batted an eye.

There were food trucks with cod, classic fries, Italian ice cream, and we secretly danced in the fountain of the garden of Het Loo. Between the showers, the sun tasted extra good, and as I saw those shiny cars driving by with men in little helmets with sunglasses tied with an elastic band around the helmet and women in their flapper dresses, I thought that we would have had a great time in the twenties as well.