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!

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle Ha! I will very much be buying a new outfit for ROH. It's a very exciting thing for us. I'm a frazzled doctor with four kids. We in the throes of my mum calls 'the good years' and our days of 'Glyndebourne this weekend?' are many years both behind and ahead of us. The events I have 'many outfits' for are work, book club, Wagamama and nativity plays 🙂

Well aren't you quite the wit.

OP dress is beautiful, I really love it!

If I had the figure I'd love that cream dress, and the green dress is lovely too.

The Ritz is quite smart but the ROH is smart/casual as is any theatre in London these days. You might be the smartest dressed people there.

I don't get any special outfits for the opera, it's a bit dressier than the ballet but as others have said, many show up looking as if they're going to a garden centre.

I love it. Take a look at Self Portrait too for similar styles.

When I last went to the Ritz, I found everyone was in jeans. Bit disappointing. Appreciate you keeping up the standards OP,

What on earth is going on here. The green dress is just….bizarre for a 16yr old and the tweed number isn’t any better. When I was 16 I celebrated by having fun with my mates not buying a £200 dress to go the opera, is she doing anything fun?

Perfect. 😊

I love it OP! Last (and only come to think 😅) I was at the ROH there was a real mix but I wore a dress and felt smart. I think your outfit will be perfect. I also prefer the cream. Enjoy it!

Both outfits are lovely but I think you are both going to be slightly overdressed at the ROH. Unless you don't mind that I'd dial it down a little.

Teenagers are a different breed these says. I was getting pissed and clubbing and going to gigs at 16-18. My DD is 18 and is out tonight...making cookies at a friend's house. No I don't understand either, but if this girl wants to go to the Opera, then let her go to the Opera. She must find it fun, and that's all that matters really, isn't it?

@FloofyPoofy Yes, she's doing seething fun, she's going to the opera. She's a keen classical singer and going to the opera is her idea of fun. I could suggest she gets pissed behind a bus shelter instead because some random on the internet reckons she's doing life wrong, but I suspect she'd politely decline.

Not sure if "we" includes dad's father, but just to remind you that The Ritz still insists men wear a tie for afternoon tea.
He won't get thrown out without one but he will be lent something hideous and most probably brown or maroon!

Not for afternoon tea in the Palm Court which has a dress code, definitely no denim.

I've seen people in velour tracksuits at the ROH so I wouldn't ever worry about being underdressed there. Most women just wear a nice blouse and skirt/trousers, you'd stand out a bit if you made much effort which I think is a shame. Enjoy Onegin, love that opera (and ballet... and poem...!)

My 15th birthday present was a trip to the ballet at the ROH with my dad, it was a dream of mine since at least 12 and it was my first time. I probably also had fun with friends, I don't remember - I do however vividly remember that night at the ROH, including where we were sat and who was dancing.

Lots of people (like me, usually) go to ROH straight from work. So people aren’t generally dressed up beyond business casual. I’ve sat in the stalls in cycle leggings and hi-vis before now (top tip - take your cycle shoes off, the floors in the foyer are skiddy).

Also the lights are turned off for most of the performance, so nobody can even see what other people are wearing except for during the interval.

That dress is lovely for the Ritz. I like the ivory best.

Onegin is an amazing opera (and ballet, and poem). So tortured and angsty and beautiful and romantic, perfect for a teenager. I would have been in heaven seeing that aged 16. I also spent a lot of time clubbing in the Big Beat Boutique in Brighton at the same age.

It is possible to do some things with your family and different things with your mates, and genuinely enjoy doing both of them.

I prefer the black and think it would be more appropriate for London in January. I'd stick to flats in London and certainly at Covent Garden.

We have tickets for Onegin in January. I'll keep an eye out for your dd in her striking frock.

I hope you have a lovely time. Our dd would have loved it at 16 and is another with a classically trained voice.

What a nasty and completely unnecessary comment. Bore off.

I can’t offer any style advice but I think the outfits looks fab, especially your DD’s.

I’m planning on doing the same thing with my DD for her 18th next year - tea at Ritz and then ballet at ROH. I’m more of a jeans and cardy sort of person though!

Have a great time OP.

I love the cream Me+Em dress. Deffo get it in the cream, it’s much more Wow than the black.

I also love your DDs dress. You’ll both turn heads. Have a wonderful time.

Gorgeous frocks. What a fabulous treat!

Both dresses are gorgeous.

Well said. Don’t get the judgey comments on a STYLE AND BEAUTY thread! Weirdoes!