Can I wear Birkenstocks to a Buckingham Palace Garden party?

[MrsSchadenfreude]

PPH, I can see you wincing from here...but am worried about being on my feet for along time. If Birkies not acceptable, please direct me to something suitably elegant and comfortable that is (and not Footgloves, please).

No, I wouldn't. I can't imagine anything elegant going with Birkenstocks.

No. Birkies are not acceptable

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING??!

The queen does not want to see your toes.

CLosed toes.

Repeat after me. Closed Toes

THank you

I went to a Buck House garden party when 8 months pregnant. Hired a lovely outfit. Bought low court shoes to wear. Had to wear bloody tights too. The temperature was in the high 20s. I nearly fainted.

But I have lovely toes, PPH. They are straight and hair free.

LittleLapin, which date are you going?

Was googling the Queen's shoes for you to find out what she wears (nasty granny court shoes methinks) and found this . I draw your attention to...

"Some of the female guests actually took their shoes off and walked around barefoot (clearly their feet were hurting), and some people didn't seem to make a lot of effort with their outfits. We saw one guy in jeans (how the hell did he get in?), and a couple of older ladies in what looked like Marks & Spencers / Farmers old lady lounging trousers and cheap blouses that school teachers wear. Compared to them, we looked like Royalty, if we do say so ourselves :-) Surely the occasion demanded some decent clothing and a bit of effort?"

Sounds like Birkies would be fine to me.

ballet pumps sound perfect.

tights absolutely necessary (did you learn NOTHING at school? )

PPH, evenb tho you are my lifestyle advisor (resting) i am going to contradict you and say: WHATEVER!

i have been drinking tho.and the queen can kiss my arse. frankly

wwww.frenchsole.com

you should be able to find some nice ones to match your dress....

I have met Mrs S and she is clearly in possession of delightful digits. They would cheer up the Queen's day.

here for you pic is rather horrid, but they are relaly nice. pph has it, NO TOES. no silly strappy things either. proper shoes.

Depends on length of dress I think. Not sure I'd wear tights with a dress and ballet pumps.

(malory I'm just betting that the sort of person that even thinks of wearing birkies to buck house doesn't have the sort of feet that one might take the risk of exposing to the queen. just a wild hunch )

Why the hell not? What are they going to do, refuse you entry on the grounds that your toes are out? Hogwash!!

The Queen will probably be resplendant in ugly dingy suit and industrial cork-lined old-lady stockings anyway.

Pristine piggies, yet.

I don't think tights would be compulsory, would they? Tights and birkenstocks - now there's a lovely image.

well the Queen looks like something out of a tin of Quality Street most of the time so I would wear what you want

No-one will bat an eyelid (apart from all the people on this thread)- you should do what makes you feel comfortable. Well, as long as it doesn't involve crocs.

I don't think even I could bring myself to wear something which describes itself as "casual slip-on, medium wide".

And my toes are lovely - will be even lovelier if I can get rid of that nasty fungal infection by then...

no they won't refuse you entry
but who wants to feel humiliated standing around in bloody birkenstocks at a garden party like you were just off the beach at benidorm?
and who would show so little respect to the occasion?
honestly, she's been invited, the least she can do is make the effort to wear proper clothes.

If your feet are honestly not horny and hairy then get a nice pair of proper summer strappy sandals if you like. but wedges, or you'll sink into the grass

but ballet pumps sound comfortable