Is this okay for tea at the Ritz and ROH?

[DieDreiHexen]

We visit London quite often, but mostly supper in Marylebone, picnic in the park, the theatre, lunch by the river, an exhibition or Ronnie Scott's (or work!) Basically, nice stuff but nothing fancy, just wear jeans or a day dress. This outing is unusual for me...

We are celebrating DD's 16th birthday in January with a trip to Mikimoto for pearl earrings, tea at the Ritz and Onegin at the Royal Opera House. We are overnighting at the Ritz (already looking forward to breakfast!)

DD has an amazing Sister Jane dress.

Would this dress do for me? How do people dress for ROH? Is it better in black or cream? (I'm a Deep Autumn apparently) And what shoes might work? I was hoping I might get away with loafers as I hate heels.

Any ideas appreciated!

OP, have an amazing time with your DD. You're both going to look great on what sounds like a very special day you have planned.

It is bizarre that this Style and Beauty thread reads like Style and Beauty AIBU edition. The OP explained it's going to be a very special day, gave an idea of budget and what her daughter is wearing and wanted to know if her outfit would look appropriate but was open to suggestions. The responses should just be "you'll look great" or some helpful alternatives in the same price range without all the weird killjoy comments.

Rizt dress code for Afternoon Tea (and luck and dinner) is no shorts, no trainers, no sportswear. It may also be no jeans (can't remember). Men have to wear a jacket.

It varies enormously from smart bit quite casual right up to full evening wear . We go every year as a family treat /special occasion (usually for the set lunchb but did Afternoon Tea last year). It is absolutely well worth it and a wonderful experience (through we prefer Claridges for Afternoon Tea which is in a league of it's own, IMO).

Breakfast is more laid back.

I don't do 'dress up' as I'm quite self conscious and my goal is mostly 'be invisible'. I wear outfits I'm comfortable in as I don't want to be focussing on what I'm wearing. Smart easy outfit for me. I've never felt out of place or self conscious. Smart linen trousers with a nice top/blouse /tunic etc. Shoes and bags are my 'elevate and make the outfit' thing.

ROH - wear what you want. Unless we're doing something else that requires smart dress, I usually wear jeans, T shirt and trainers!

Sounds like an amazing birthday. Have fun.

Comments such as this, with the unspoken implication, always bring to mind the Tony Hancock comment in The Blood Donor, 'We're not all Rob Roys'!

I think we've established what the dress code for The Ritz is 16 pages in!

I didn't read 16 pages. Not everyone has the time to do so.

Having been to both places and also not someone who has loads of fancy outfits to choose from, I thought my input would be helpful. I should have realised that, of course on MN, that's not acceptable. There's always at least one person who has to make a snarky comment for seemingly no reason at all.

Hope you have a more positive happy day tomorrow.

My mum bought me a nice dress and took me to ROH on my 16th Birthday. One of the best memories of my life.
Parents who expose children to different experiences and teach them appreciation for art and curiosity about the world are definitely doing the right thing.

It's just a bit exasperating, if you know Mnet then you probably have noticed before that 16 pages in on a singular thread, there's unlikely to be much in the way of original input 😬

Please DON'T buy the black version..it doesn't do an Autumn ( or Spring) any favours...highlights any under eye issues and makes the face look sallow and washed out. I would guess the model is a Spring as the black dress ages her by 10 years.
I'm an Autumn too, so I avoid black if at all possible.

I go to ROH a lot and most people don’t dress up - in fact I think your DD’s dress is a bit much. I think it’s a gorgeous dress but she might feel overdressed.
That said I went to Onegin (opera) an in September and it was full of Russians dressed very, well… Russian so maybe the ballet will be the same. IME people tend to dress up even less for ballet than opera though. Can you pull off a Russian accent? 😆

I’ve sat in pretty much all parts of the theatre and the only place I’d give a hard swerve to is the bits of row L of the amphitheatre that are behind where the stairs come out - the amphitheatre can be a bit cramped if you have long legs anyway, but it was very uncomfortable there. Other than that most seats are good and I’d just go as far forwards as your budget allows. Boxes aren’t worth it IMO.

Go for a performance with Marianela Nuñez if possible - she’s fantastic and given her age there probably aren’t that many more opportunities to see her.

@DieDreiHexen I'm astonished and saddened by the reactions you've had on this thread. Your dress, your daughter's dress, the birthday plans all sounds fantastic.

WTF is wrong with everyone with their miserable snark???

What an awful post on so many levels. So you feel better for saying this?

The last sentence was clearly a joke. I don’t want the DD to feel uncomfortable or out of place if overdressed. I remember going to see the Threepenny Opera at [iirc] the Southbank centre at a similar age and being horrendously overdressed.

At the Onegin opera there genuinely were a lot more people glammed up and wearing furs than usual (who I recognised as speaking Russian because I speak basic Russian myself) so that there might be a more dressed up contingent than usual given what they’re seeing, which would provide context for her dress, but I’d still err on the side of less dressy.

It’s pretty standard that the makeup of the audience differs depending on certain aspects of the show - for example I remember when Like Water for Chocolate came out I went twice and both times there were a lot of Spanish speakers in the audience who were clearly fans of the conductor, who was a famous Mexican conductor. Some shows like Cinderella attract a lot of young families, etc.

I've never been to the ROH and only ever had coffee at the Ritz. If I had the chance to go, I would damn well dress the fuck up, of course I would.

I wouldn't choose the same type of outfit as you op because we clearly have different tastes but, if I saw you in that dress I would admire it and, if I had the chance, tell you so. I think your daughter's dress is fantastic.

I firmly believe that the arts should be for anyone who enjoys them regardless of how they dress. I also believe that anyone who feels drawn to sneer at people they consider 'overdressed' probably isn't as cool as they might think they are.

I hope you all have a wonderful time.

There was a group of Russians beside me at Eugene Onegin. The vile woman carrying the white fox fur stole was Russian. And I make no apology for criticising her. It was hideous.

However I go to the ROH a lot as well and a lot of people are very dressy/ very smart. I don't know why posters keep denying that- or comparing different venues.

I was at Alice in Wonderland (ballet) the night after. The person I was sitting next to you was wearing a very beautiful Needle and Thread dress.

I'm just curious as to what you are planning for her 18th or 21st 😁.

This thread is an absolute work of art.

OP, I LOVE your daughter's dress and she will look amazing. Yours is not to my taste (I'd immediately throw food down myself if wearing cream) but I think that it will be perfect for the occasion and I'm sure you'll look lovely in it.

(Since we're all stating our credentials: average income, used to work at Greggs, have been known to wear sequins at Bradford Alhambra, and wondered why everyone was getting so dressed up just to go out for one gin).

Definitely. When we went to afternoon tea at the Ritz I wore skinny black trousers and a smart top from SHEIN plus ballet pumps! It was an amazing afternoon and the staff make you feel so looked after. Make sure you tell them it’s her birthday as they’ll bring out a cake. We also took home a box with leftover cakes and sandwiches (the cucumber and cream cheese ones are divine) I also had the chocolate and spearmint tea. It was like drinking an after eight 😋 😋

I've been on MN for around 20 yrs. I was a local ambassador for a few of those. I arranged RL meet ups and made RL friends from MN. I used to regularly join in. The past 10 yrs, not so much due to the type of interactions, confrontations, rudeness and general negativity. It didn't begin it's life like this. MN used to be a very different space.

I'm happy for you. I'm happy that someone joining a conversation 16 pages in is the kind of thing that exasperates you. That would suggest you maybe have a stress-free carefree life. Savour it. And maybe try not to be so... you know.

Oh - and the input is original. It's mine. Not copied or duplicated. Straight from my brain to the page. Original

Also been here 20 years, sorry if I upset you. Not intentional and it was just different back then, the cliques were hideous so it's just different now not necessarily better or worse.

That dress is stunning. The colour and detail on it I just love, love, love it but I'm 62 so not for my body😂

I'm sure your daughter will look beautiful. Your dress was fab too. Have a lovely day/night out making great memories.

As an aside I'm not often over on the style and beauty board but goodness me some nasty comments on this thread. Lighten up people it's style and beauty🙄

Ah that's such a shame people don't dress up for Opera anymore. It really adds to the atmosphere and the whole experience. It somehow makes it more special to see everyone looking smart.

Think prefer the black version - less US Ambassdor’s wife. Also more useful.

That is gorgeous 😍

That's a good point about "Ambassador's wife".

If you're eating in the Balconies Restaurant or The Crush Room "Ambassador's Wife" is very much a look.