Outfit for afternoon tea in London

[Birdy65]

I’m going to have afternoon tea at Claridges in a couple of weeks to celebrate a friend’s birthday. We’re travelling into London from Southampton so I need to be comfortable for the train and travelling on tubes.
I would appreciate some advice and ideas for an outfit, including footwear.
I live in jeans with flat boots or trainers, so would find it difficult to wear heels all day, so would definitely need comfortable shoes or boots.
We are due to go to a Christening in Edinburgh at the end of March, so I’ll be happy to buy a new outfit including shoes/boots to wear to both.

Sounds fun! But no one here knows what size you are or how much you might want to spend. And where do you usually shop?

I'd be looking at a well cut, fluid silk dress, fairly full skirted, with a waist line best length for me is either mid-calf or on the knee. But I make all my own clothes so can custom make.

Really, it's about your style & body shape & what you'll feel good in & enjoy yourself.

I recently went for afternoon tea at Claridges. Most women wear elegant floral tea dresses or smart casual - blouse and tailored trousers and long coatigans etc. But be prepared for some Insta queens in body con with 20 inch waists and 8 inch stilettos.

What smart flat boot options do you have? Let's start there.

Jumper, midi skirt and boots

Midi jumper dress and boots

Trousers, plain top, interesting blazer/jacket, with clean smart trainers

I’m a size 14, apple shape. I have a couple of dresses I could wear but no footwear to go with them. I would usually wear a heel, but as we’re travelling by train/tube, I’d want to feel comfortable. I would usually wear a smart trainer/pump as an alternative, but I’m sure I I could not wear this as footwear in Claridges.
My smartest boots have heels and I feel they would be too uncomfortable to wear all day in London. The most comfortable boots I have a some flat Chelsea boots, which I would not be able to wear with the dresses.

You could travel in casual shoes and change in the Ladies?

If you don't 'do London' often, you might not know that loads of women wear trainers to the office and have smarter heels there to change into. I've seen very smart women on tube etc in trainers and they are likely to carry other shoes.

I’d wear trainers and then change into flat sling backs, I think.

You're fine there in smart jeans, if that helps at all?
But I would wear my usual, which is this skirt from Whistles , black tights, black Kurt Geiger velvet ankle boots , and a tight black scoop neck top - tucked in.

Some nice dresses here. Expensive, though:

www.lkbennett.com/Clothing/Dresses

Love afternoon tea! And Claridges is so beautiful, hope you have a great time.

For tea, I wear a sleeved dress/outfit of some sort (I just don’t like seeing armpits over afternoon tea… that’s just me!). I generally chuck on a dress and flats, dress below knee length as otherwise I end up flashing 😓Claridges staff are lovely and not stuffy, but I’d lean more towards non-flouncy designs and non-lightweight fabrics. Equally you don’t want rigid sleeves so you can comfortably reach the goods! Can you tell I’ve been to a lot of events where I’ve felt uncomfortable…

Just from a quick browse of your size (I’m an apple too but mostly forget it lol):

Probably bit too formal - www.lkbennett.com/product/DRPERDYPOLYESTERMIXBlackBlack~-Black (in green)

www.lkbennett.com/product/DRESMEVISCOSEBlueAmparo%20Blue~-Amparo%20Blue

www.lkbennett.com/product/DRANNAVISCOSEPOLYESTERBluePale%20Blue~-Pale%20Blue

www.johnlewis.com/jolie-moi-sloane-fit-and-flare-dress-black/p109762305

www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-marianne-dress-magenta-pink/p6347795

www.johnlewis.com/jolie-moi-danika-keyhole-floral-mesh-midi-dress-red/p6372828 and www.johnlewis.com/sosandar-shirt-midi-dress-blue-white/p109999779 Friend has these and loves them, v comfy

www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-leslie-jersey-midi-dress-deep-red/p109633011 Like the colour but sleeves maybe a bit rigid?

Know someone with this and it looks cute in real life! www.johnlewis.com/finery-jadey-crepe-midi-dress/wine/p109419898

Wear one of your dresses and treat yourself to some loafers. Gabor have some nice ones in for spring. I'd do trousers, top and coatigan or jacket with loafers or an ankle boot.

I’ve gone down a very specific Whistles polka dot dress search!

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/whistles-lively-abstract-animal-print-recycled-stretch-polyester-dress_R03977495/#colour=MULTI-COLOURED Blue

www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/whistles-dobby-polka-dot-chiffon-midi-dress_R04063904/#colour=BLACK Found this elsewhere in 14

www.johnlewis.com/whistles-shirred-polka-dot-midi-dress-black-multi/p109704421?size=14&s_ppc=2dx92700071605015103_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1zKx9oUwTGYsys5NlJO0ezBg&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1zKx9oUwTGYsys5NlJO0ezBg&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6LyfBhC3ARIsAG4gkF-tJye8R1dvKugdLssGEGKIBnVGA7BUAVapE_Z_gRTkRE3NPRl-0XEaAsZ6EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.whistles.com/product/190421.html?ranMID=24794&ranEAID=pfxNKSnglIM&ranSiteID=pfxNKSnglIM-EIKgbWfaDL.Gf2gUIUshCA&utm_source=LS&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=Redbrain

My advice would be very different. It works perfectly for me, I'm short 5'3 and apple shaped, weight fluctuates a lot any this formulae works along the scale.

I understand flowered tea gowns or frocks are ideal for afternoon team and look lovely. They also tend to look particularly lovely on 'pear' shapes and do little for apples.

I'd start with a pair of these

M&S high waisted leather look

Leggings, which are very good quality and ridiculously cheap but really thick and hold you in. Very adaptable to dress up or down. I know they look good because I've worn them to 'show' to every fashionable person I know and they have all already got a pair or told me they bought a pair on the way home.

Wear them with casual flats or clean trainers for travel and change into heeled ankle boots when you get there.

Carry the boots in a 'decent' bag and no one will think twice is you disappear into the 'ladies powder room' on arrival. There will always be one away from the room where your afternoon tea will be served so you can make an entrance once all sorted

Wear with what ever top suits your face shape perfectly, for me that's quite a deep v neck and a bit of extra fabric or wear with a full, long scarf to skim over my tummy. Team with a jacket for me that's a 'rock chick' style zipped leather jacket which is quite short at the back to show off how trim my hips and legs are.

Necklace and earrings, touch of natural makeup and even my mother would be impressed.

You will look great, be very comfortable, look absolutely 'with it' but absolutely not try too hard. You will also be prepared for your other event and may find other events appear for which you now have the perfect outfit.

I am very happy to wear the same thing everywhere a bit like a uniform. Different tops, scarves but no one really notices the details, so long as the overall effect is so great for you and for now

P.s. if you do think about getting the leggings, M&S's click and collect service is great. You order all the sizes and colours you want to try on to a particular store, try them all on and give back any you don't want on the stop for a refund. Really easy.

Wearing one of her dresses with loafers is the most sensible suggestion. The OP has said " I live in jeans with flat boots or trainers", and has 2 dresses.

I don't see the point of then suggesting dresses that are over , £400, dresses that are cocktail/ evening dresses/ dresses you could wear to a wedding, far less afternoon tea.

The OP will get more use out of a smart pair of flat shoes than any of these expensive, very dressed up dresses.

Not sure which station you arrive at from Southampton - but would it not be possible to get a cab to Claridges? The tube will just be added stress when you want to arrive feeling unflustered. And the cab gives you somewhere to change your footwear after the train journey - so it’s essentially a good S&B decision!

As for clothes, at this time of year I’d want the very lightest and crunchiest tweed trouser suit in amazingly pretty colours. (It would be punishingly expensive, I admit.) With a wonderfully frothy silk blouse. And probably some T bar shoes with whatever heel looks best with the trousers. But I know my tastes aren’t always MN compliant!

the very lightest and crunchiest tweed trouser suit in amazingly pretty colours. (It would be punishingly expensive, I admit.) With a wonderfully frothy silk blouse. And probably some T bar shoes sounds like a very stylish choice but , I'm not sure if the OP from what she has told us, (a) has any of that and/or (b) is looking to spend what could easily be over £1,000 for one afternoon tea trip.

But your other suggestion of taking a taxi and changing footwear is good !

What else are you hoping to do in London , OP, or are you going straight to Claridges and then straight home afterwards? If you’re hoping to fit in some sight-seeing as well, it makes a difference

Well … The OP is fortunate enough to have friends worthy of a trip from Southampton to London and is at the start of a relationship with a child (godchild?) worth travelling from the south of England to Edinburgh for. Seems to me she may have several decades of celebratory events to look forward to! So One Good Thing might be a sensible investment.

Thank you so much for all of the very helpful suggestions. I am going to try on my dresses later and have a look to see what will work. We are hoping to do some sightseeing, so the idea of carrying some shoes is a really great idea! I have a nice tote bag I can bring with the shoes. Not sure why I did not think of this before.
I do also love some of the outfit suggestions and links and agree with MetaDaughter, that buying one good thing for both events, may be the best idea. I have looked at jigsaw and ME+EM this morning and like some of the outfits.
I will let you all know what I have decided on.

Flats or boots are fine. Just wear a smart jacket/blazer over trousers.

Plastic leggings for afternoon tea = absolutely not what I would choose, sorry.

I really like that Whistles skirt - that's similar to what I'd choose. I'd wear it with trainers or flat boots and then change into some pointed flat sling backs on arrival.

I am always a bit gobsmacked at the lengths people feel they need to go to (or advise others to go to) for a plate of tiny sandwiches and a few little cakes. OK the venue is Claridges and the crockery is pure china I'm sure, but really? Is it absolutely necessary to dress up to the nines for that!

For the record I would not turn up in jeans, jogging pants, scruffy trainers etc. but it wouldn't cross my mind to be even a tiny bit concerned about what I would wear. I have my favourite outfits none of which involve dresses (they are ONLY for weddings lol). So grab the tailored black trousers, put on the comfortable and colourful silky long sleeved top, polished ankle boots with a low heel, my leather bag, and off I go.

I always remember that my money is just as good as anyone else's in such places.

I am not, repeat not criticising the OP in any way, just saying my bit. I hope she has a great day, and as she has said, the investment in an outfit will be wise for both events she will be attending.

but it wouldn't cross my mind to be even a tiny bit concerned about what I would wear.

The S&B board is essentially intended for people who enjoy thinking about what to wear, for any occasion, whether that be the school run or an investiture.

Coming on to S&B to say thinking about outfits is a waste of time seems, if you’ll forgive me, somewhat pointless. No one cares that you wouldn’t care what you wore.

(Other than as part of professional / occupational dress - barrister or waiter, say, or for a funeral - I despair when I see women in black trousers. Now that Alexander McQueen isn’t here to replace the bell bottoms I bought in 2000, I find them depressingly unexciting. Couple of years ago at an Oxford conference I noticed an entire panel of disparate academics and creative people all wearing some sort of black jeans or inevitably faded trousers. Can’t see myself wearing them again any time soon. Certainly not to afternoon tea!)

@MetaDaughter

You're right, I'll head back to another topic. Apologies for the ill timed intervention.

Good tailored black trousers are indispensible. Can be dressed up or down and I have to say some of the outfits suggested on this board are absolutely hilarious and unsuitable, but the chat is good! So each to their own.