what should I wear to....

[Phoebe]

a musical (Jersey Boy)? to a High Tea? I don't even drink tea. We will be shopping before and after the tea so it has to be something comfortable.

Please help this clueless one hanging out in sweats and t-shirts with no makeup.

[Vishenka69]

Re: what should I wear to....

Where are you Tea'ing? That will drive the outfit more than the show. These days you can wear almost anything to a show.

[Phoebe]

Re: what should I wear to....

The tea is some place called the Drake in Chicago. I think a hotel. Probably not fancy.

Re: what should I wear to....

The Drake is where Oprah puts her guests up (or at least she did years ago when I watched the show).

http://www.thedrakehotel.com/

Silly girl! Non-fancy places don't usually have tea service!

[madeintaiwan]

Re: what should I wear to....

DH's g'ma has a tradition of taking all the the women in the family for tea at the Ritz in Laguna for special one on one time. I wore an older version of this dress:

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jh ... Name=BLACK

Re: what should I wear to....

I'm surprised at the dress you wore Davita, that seems night like to me. I've never been to high tea, but I would have thought something like Sunday Best (Easter wear)

such as (see on model, much cuter IRL) also I suggest zooming in on these, beautiful details

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/cat ... &id=830033

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/cat ... &color=gre

Of course there are cheaper places to get dresses like the above. Davita, am I off on this? DH and I were going to do high tea on our trip to Victoria, B.C. , but ended up filling up our time with other things (oh and I don't think DH was that interested)

[madeintaiwan]

Re: what should I wear to....

Perhaps it depends on where you are but I was not over dressed by any means. There were a couple of women in gowns. I remember one family in which the woman was in a simple gown and her husband and infant son were wearing sport coats with ties. They host their tea in the Fireplace room of their Restaurant 162. We were able to sit right next to the bay window over looking the ocean. This is what they served.

The Royal Tea Menu

A Kir Royal Cocktail prepared with Chambord or non-alcoholic Berry Spritzer
Your Selection of Tea
Ham and Asparagus roll with Grain Mustard Spread on Wheat Bread
Smoked Scottish Salmon, Dill Crème with Caviar on Pumpernickel
Slivered Egg and Chive Salad, Sun-dried Tomatoes Cream on White Bread
English Cucumber Slices with Cucumber Cream on White Bread
Freshly Baked Currant Scone, Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd and Strawberry Compote
Lemon Roll
Fresh Fruit Tart
Soft Chocolate Macaroon
Strawberries with Devonshire Cream

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Propertie ... efault.htm

ETA: If you are going to high tea I think it would definitely be more dressy than afternoon tea. High tea is served in the evening. We attended an afternoon tea and people were dressed up. Maybe some one else can chime in about this. Again, I am sure it depends on where you are at. The Laguna Ritz in particular is an amazingly beautiful place that just exudes "wealth." As well as legendary service.

[Phoebe]

Re: what should I wear to....

The Drake is where Oprah puts her guests up (or at least she did years ago when I watched the show).

http://www.thedrakehotel.com/

Silly girl! Non-fancy places don't usually have tea service!

This is how clueless I am! My friend planned it for our girl's weekend. We will be shopping before and after outside in 40 degree weather.

[Vishenka69]

Re: what should I wear to....

So where are you having tea? Are you coming to NY for the weekend/show? I'm confused. I think the locale will also dictate how dressy you'll be. It doesn't sound as if you'll be going to a very fancy place, if you plan on shopping before and after. I would dress as if going to a nice dinner out.

[alison]

Re: what should I wear to....

The Drake is *the* place to have tea here and is a fancy pants hotel.
You don't have to be crazy dressed up, but I would say no jeans, tennis shoes, fleece, sports logos.

(There's a Chanel store in the building.)

[Phoebe]

Re: what should I wear to....

Sorry I am confusing you. I am meeting some college girlfriends in Chicago this weekend. One night is a musical and the next day is shopping on MI ave and the tea thing.

[Vishenka69]

Re: what should I wear to....

Unless you have nice knee high boots that you can shop in, I would recommend wearing pants with a nice sweater and leather footwear (boots or shoes). Add some jewerly to make the outfit a bit fancier and you're ready to go. I would also suggest having a purse vs backpack.

Re: what should I wear to....

High tea is served in the evening. We attended an afternoon tea and people were dressed up.

Ahhh that could be. Ok , just looked up where we were going to have tea, at the Fairmont Empress. It was afternoon tea, where did I get high tea from...? Here is the link on clothing:

http://www.fairmont.com/empress/GuestSe ... oonTea.htm



and their tea spread (can I say that about tea )

Re: what should I wear to....

tea explained

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_(meal)

High Tea (also known as Meat Tea[1]) is an early evening meal, typically eaten between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening. It would be eaten as a substitute for both afternoon tea and the evening meal. The term comes from the meal being eaten at the ‘high’ (main) table, instead of the smaller lounge table. It is now largely replaced by a later evening meal.

It would usually consist of cold meats, eggs and/or fish, cakes and sandwiches. In a family, it tends to be less formal and is an informal snack (featuring sandwiches, biscuits, pastry, fruit and the like) or else it is the main evening meal.

On farms or other working class environments, high tea would be the traditional, substantial meal eaten by the workers immediately after nightfall, and would combine afternoon tea with the main evening meal. See also The UK Tea Council Definition.

In recent years, High Tea has become a term for exquisite afternoon tea, though this is American usage and mainly unrecognised in Britain. However, this usage is disfavored by etiquette advisors, such as Miss Manners (see below).

So, there ya go.I guess you would have to find out per place if their American high tea was in the afternoon or evening.

[Meenah]

Re: what should I wear to....

If any of you are in my neck of the woods I'll be happy to entertain you with my version of high tea!!!!!

It sounds like you will have a wonderful time.