The Only True Dinner Plates Are White

[Mysterian]

I was killing time in the homeware district of my local big Sainsbury's today when I stumbled upon the dinner plate selection. I was distressed to see such a myriad of patterns and hues flagrantly displayed. Why would anybody want anything but clean clear crisp white plates? I don't want to accidentality misplace a nugget or waffle fry amongst a geometric jungle of shapes and shades. Surely the beauty of a blueberry pancake would be dulled when presented on a blue and white oriental landscape? And you can tell when white plates still have congealed egg on them from the other day.

AIBU?

Obviously not, but why do shops sell stuff like that?

Nope. Never wanted my babies to look like they were in some kind of hospital uniform.

Only for a PFB.

Everyone with more than one baby knows the white babygro isn't ever coming out again.

But they can be washed at 60/90 and lined dried sooo pratical.

White plates are utilitarian and institutional. Like school dining rooms or hospital canteens. Fine if it's what you like but it all seems too dull and staid for me.

We have M&S Ditsy Floral and apart from one chip from a dinner plate's underside rim (I can't remember the proper name for it), the set is intact. Not bad considering I bought it about twenty years ago. I like that they feel far more delicate than stoneware but are actually reasonably robust.

But I would like a change: local to us there's a Thai restaurant with beautiful blue and white plates. If I could find out where they got theirs, I'd be there in a flash.

I love my beautiful Bordallo Pinheiro sets and you won't ever change my mind. Colourful and crazy.

Those are absolutely lovely, and if I was a cucumber sandwiches and dainty petit fours at 4 o’clock person I would rush out and buy a set just for afternoon tea, but I’m not, so will stick to my Wedgwood white bone China.

On reflection, I think it is the material that is important, for some reason I really don’t like eating from stoneware or thick China, it has to be bone China.

White plates remind me of school dinners.

You wouldn't like dinner round at my place , OP . I don't have a single set of plates , I deliberately buy ones which are all different , just because I want to !

So can other colours....?

Ours are the common Denby ones which are whitish with a green rim, you can get similar ones with a blue rim, they are very functional and the dinner plates are quite deep. I don't like all white plates, especially the shiny translucent type of white

My school plates were a pale green. And then replaced by gross plastic tray things.
I'm quite fond of the green plates in retrospect.

We also have some M&S Ditsy Floral but only small plates and some mugs bought in the sale years ago, they have been really good and I use the plates a lot for tasty titbits throughout the day as they take up far less room in the dishwasher that our Denby dinner service ones. I actually think the M&S ones are better quality than the Denby.

White plates are boring.

@Mysterian the Only True Plates are the very dark blue Denby ones. Clearly. No plates may be purchased from anywhere else, unless you enjoy anguished cries of “they’re too light” (and if you do enjoy that, what is wrong with you?!).

I will accept an 80’s willow pattern, or granny’s old smoked glass (in other people’s houses), but they will never be the True Plates.

Also, white plates remind me of a school canteen.

Now just be told!

Were they the sort that had three raised rings around the rim as decoration? I love that style. English Village Hall, I call it. The cups were a pleasingly Deco-style tapered shape. I'd love a set if I could find one. Also came in pale blue.

Back to white plates -I'm genuinely baffled why people would choose plain white over this.

I think you can wash white hotter without worrying about it fading, can also use napisan and bleach in the sun. My preference, I love newborns in white.

I hate coloured plates. I don't mind a coloured rim but the actual plate bit has to be white.

And don't start me on fancy stone ware and the sound of scraping cutlery 😬

Ooh I am going to put the cat amongst the pigeons - I bought a huge dinner service from marketplace last year much to my DCs horror. It's brown and cream pottery and they now refer to them as "the 70s plates".

I love it as it makes me feel like I am back in my childhood (70s obviously), or perhaps having dinner with Tom and Barbara! Tbh I have such lovely memories of the 70s decor - habitat and rattan, orange and brown walls 😁. I do realise that I am a rarity in this appreciation though!

Really agree about cups. I refuse to buy them if they've coloured insides.

Don't like glass mugs much either.

Because people buy them. Since the invention of dinnerware they have been adorned with pattern, and as glazing came in colour.
I remember the scandal in my mother's family that she had coloured sheets and pattern in her bed linen!!

I agree white plates are best but I think they end up looking worn/scratched very quickly (even if they’re good quality). I hate patterned plates but I think plain plates in light colours (matte greys/creams) are fine.

We had these! Wow, completely forgot 😂

Berylware. Drinking glasses were Luminarc IIRC.

Plain white is boring. I like a bit of colour I my life