The Utterly Inessential Chelsea Shopping List: What you'll need for the famed Flower Show, from chic sunglasses to an obligatory brolly

We've rounded up all the utterly inessential products that you absolutely do not need (top hats for Ascot aside) to enjoy this summers season of festivals, shows and races. This week: Chelsea Flower Show.

Get kitted out for summer season events - Glyndebourne, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Hay Festival, Henley Regatta, Royal Ascot and Wimbledon

Tread boldly

(Image credit: Leo Acker/Country Life Picture L)

What better way to kick off our list than with you feet's best friends? Everyone knows that a statement shoe can lift a whole outfit and these beauties, inspired by the rolling hills of Sicily, are sure to be more comfortable than the heels you told yourself you ought you wear then supremely regretted last year.

Faza shoes, £635, Manolo Blahnik, www.manoloblahnik.com


Dress to accessorise

Luxury Summer Season shoot

(Image credit: Leo Acker/Country Life Picture L)

Go bold or go home certainly seems to be the theme with Eponine's most recent selection of prints, but we do have to say that for Chelsea, this is pretty spot on. Pair bold on bold with a chunky statement necklace but bare it back to a plain purse when purchasing that reviving glass of champagne at midday.

The English Garden dress, £595, Eponine, www.eponinelondon.com; Rose-quartz Necklace, £680, John Lloyd Morgan, www.johnlloydmorgan.com; Slim Continental Purse, £125, Aspinal of London, www.aspinaloflondon.com


Weather permitting...

Get kitted out for summer season events - Glyndebourne, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Hay Festival, Henley Regatta, Royal Ascot and Wimbledon

(Image credit: Leo Acker/Country Life Picture L)

It's England so if the sun comes, you can bet it will be at the most inopportune time and while you have little access to water and shade. Protect yourself with a broad hat and some chic sunnies.

A bold perfume can be too much, especially when surrounded by so many flowers. Jo Malone's natural scents will keep you smelling like roses, while still letting you enjoy the scents blossoming around you.

Photographs and Souvenirs Hat, £495, Lock & Co, www.lockhatters.co.uk; Charlotte sunglasses, £190, Mulberry, www.mulberry.com/gb; Frangipani and Silk Blossom colognes, £98 each, Jo Malone, www.jomalone.co.uk


If you're a fan of tulips...

(Image credit: Leo Acker/Country Life Picture L)

Once again, our fair island doesn't look out for our newly-done hair when deciding to give those plants an extra water. Make carrying a brolly less of a chore with a handle you can loop over your arm – no need to bring a large bag when the small ones are so fashionable.

Floral Tulip Fan, £80, Fern Fans www.fernfans.com; small Harlow satchel, £595, Mulberry, www.mulberry.com/gb; Whangee handle umbrella, £150, Pickett, www.pickett.co.uk


If you purchased our entire shopping list this week you would've spent £3,061 and will either be perfectly kitted out for this year's flower show or be one of the exhibits. Next week: Hay Festival. 


Posh picnic at Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta.
(Image credit: Alamy)

Curious Questions: How do you survive the Summer Season?

Potential faux pas abound in a British summer, but is it possible to find your way through to September unscathed?

A Kent garden designed by Jo Thompson.
(Image credit: Jo Thompson / Rachel Warne)

The best garden designers and landscapers in Britain

A beautiful country house is as much about its surroundings as its bricks and mortar, something that the best garden

Anderson & Sheppard suit

Anderson & Sheppard suit
(Image credit: Anderson & Sheppard PR)

The utterly royal shopping list, from beautiful winter flowers to hand-made suits that defy disposable culture

For one week only we've transformed our regular utterly inessential shopping list into an utterly royal shopping list, to coincide

Bacchus

Credit: Picasa

The Utterly Inessential Marathon Shopping List: The ulitmate survival kit, headphones to drown out the pain and a marathon where one can run with wine

This week on Utterly Inessential, we admire those who take part in one of the world's biggest fundraising events as

Credit: Foyle Fireworks

The Utterly Inessential Wedding Shopping List: From beautiful bouquets to romantic getaways

As the excitement of last night begins to fade into memory, we hold dear in our hearts those who are

John Williams x Fabergé - Portrait VER-2_A6A0367_sRGB colour space - MID res

Credit: Daniel Herendi

The Utterly Inessential Easter List: Bunny headphones, a terrific toothbrush and eggs, from scotch to cheese to (of course) chocolate

What ho! It's time for our regularly scheduled decadence to receive its regularly scheduled seasonal edit. This week we're considering

Nels Crosthwaite Eyre hall

The hall of a Grade II-listed manor house in Hampshire, transformed by Nels Crosthwaite Eyre of Eyre Interiors, a company which is among the new entries in the 2024 Country Life Top 100.
(Image credit: Simon Brown/Country Life Magazine Simon Brown/Country Life Magazine)

The Country Life Top 100 architects, interior designers, craftsmen, builders and garden designers in Britain

It's now six years since the original Country Life Top 100 was published, but the aim hasn't changed: we name

Alexandra Fraser
Ally is a writer, editor and social media superstar who has worked for the Royal Horticultural Society and British Rowing, but she kicked off her career at Country Life after graduating from University College London with a degree in Classics. In recent years she's split her time between Winchester and London, all while raising a cocker spaniel called Wilf. For questions, recommendations or to pass on dog training tips, find her at alexandralilyfraser@gmail.com.