I’VE been invited to
attend a High Tea next Saturday.
The invitation said to
wear my prettiest dress, killer heels and a glamorous fascinator. I’ve never been to one
of these but from what I’ve seen from different social media platforms, High
Teas are all about the glitz and the glam. They’re all about
embracing femininity and looking pretty. And nothing says
“womanly” like a pretty dress and heels. But, my first problem is that I don’t
own a fascinator. I’ve never worn one let
alone own one but I’m told they cost about $15 for a basic one and the price
goes up as you go for something fancier.
If you’re lost, a fascinator
is a headpiece, a style of hat. They come in lots of different colours and I’ve
noticed how many women like to match them with their shoes and bags. It’s the
right thing to do actually. Problem number two is
that I don’t have a High Tea pretty dress. Well, I’ve got a black number but
I’m not quite convinced this will work. It could, with a red fascinator and
matching shoes but it seems the British are a little more elaborate than that. I’m thinking maybe
floral, polka dot or a pattern of some sort and then pick out one dominant
colour for the fascinator and shoes. This would surely say glam!
Of course
going elaborate could go either way but I think every woman has the right to
try out more feminine pieces aside from the subtle black, navy blues and greys. In case you’re
wondering, in Britain, the drinking of tea not only became a social event for
the upper classes, it altered the time and manner in which they took tea. Afternoon Tea became
the bridge between meals because many wouldn’t eat their evening meal until maybe
8PM. As such, Afternoon Tea became a “mini meal” in itself. This was all well and
good for the upper classes, but the working classes ran to a different schedule
and a different budget.
Tea was still quite expensive at the time and the
working classes could not afford to waste it on anything other than
necessities. A wearied factory
worker wouldn’t arrive home until 6PM, and when he did, he was famished! So, in
the industrial areas of the United Kingdom (northern England and southern
Scotland), the working classes evening meal evolved and became “High Tea”. English High Tea
usually involved a mug of tea, bread, vegetables, cheese and occasionally meat.
Variations on High Tea could include the addition of pies, potatoes and
crackers.
So, while Afternoon Tea
was largely a social event for their upper class counterparts, High Tea was a
necessary meal in the 18th and 19th centuries. This traditional High Tea still
exists in some parts of the North and Scotland. So, what else can you
wear to this fancy meal? You can still have fun
with bold prints and bright colours, but maybe keep the shape and style of your
frock more traditional. A High Tea is a fun,
feminine way to spend your afternoon, so even if you’re not normally a
girly-girl, an invitation to a High Tea gives you an excuse to bring out the
inner “lady”.
Be sure your dress is
not too short or too revealing. If you choose to wear pants, a nice blouse with
a simple cardigan would work well. Avoid wearing T-shirts, ripped jeans and
shorts. Avoid
wearing flip-flops, open-toed sandals or running shoes. Where these might be
perfectly acceptable in other informal meal situations, general conventions and
sensibilities dictate that these are inappropriate for functions that aren’t
taking place on a beach or at the gym. For High Tea, women should wear flats or
heels.
Whatever you decide to
wear, be sure your outfit is clean and free of any stains or wrinkles. Where some
may overlook a creased skirt or a cardigan missing a button, these things can
be interpreted as poor etiquette to those who attend such events. Be sure your
outfit is neatly put together and your accessories are not too loud. For most such
gatherings, conservative outfits with tasteful accessories are appropriate to
wear.
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