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!

This sounds like the most wonderful day. I hope you both have a fabulous time.
The dress you have chosen is ok but I wouldn’t wear black flat shoes for fear of looking like Teresa Coffey.

Oh, stop it.

You do know "Onegin" is a ballet? It's opening in January.

"Eugene Onegin" the opera was on Sept/Oct and I don't see it repeated later in the year.

On the subject of the dress, I don't think the cream would be relaxing - I'd be on constant alert of it getting marked.

@plexie yes, that was observed earlier in the thread so possibly best to pushkin off if you only hopped on for a snark.

@DieDreiHexen ignore the comments about the dress. If you like it and it's your style, it's fine. I always dress up a bit for Covent Garden, albeit in a low key way.

😂

@RosesAndHellebores - I went through the whole thread but didn't see a comment about it being a ballet. If anyone is snarking, it's you.

😂😂😂

I'd be tempted to pick something a bit more artsy/whimsical for the ROH. When I went recently I was smart but I saw women looking a bit more dressed up and I felt I'd missed a rare opportunity to be a bit more expressive in what I wore. Wolf and Badger and Anthropologie stock the kind of thing I'm thinking of (or Vinted lets not forget how brilliant it can be especially for things you might not normally pick). That said the Me and Em is a nice dress and you won't look or feel out of place.

Is it not a ballet?

I like your outfit but no way would I trust myself to get it on cream-I’m far too clumsy! The black is nice.

The green dress is hideous and the cream tweed dress is a bit naff. Both look cheap.

The ROH is basically whatever you want to wear. A lot of people will be straight from work/day spent sightseeing and so dressed accordingly. In autumn/winter it's all sensible shoes, jumpers and raincoats.

However it is anything goes and many people do dress up.

As long as you aren't going to feel disappointed or out of place if you end up sat next to someone (me) in jeans and a hoodie it's fine.

When I speak to non-opera going friends they all seem to have the idea it's v posh and dress up to the nines. While I can't recall the last time I wasn't wearing jeans.

Really? I can’t think of anything worse!

I wonder why she had to mention the part about the pearl earrings.

I think the dress is nice for the Ritz but I wouldn’t wear it for the ROH. I think I’d want something slightly more eveningy.

@RosesAndHellebores - I've been through the whole thread again and the couple of posts that mentioned ballet were just acknowledging that the work exists as an opera, ballet and poem.

My, allegedly snarky, post was pointing out that "Onegin" at ROH in January is a ballet.

"Eugene Onegin" the opera was performed at ROH in Sept/Oct. There are no more performances scheduled.

www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/eugene-onegin-details

Anyone seeing "Onegin" at ROH in January will be watching the Royal Ballet.

https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/onegin-details

I think the fake Chanel dress look is a bit “cosplaying as a rich person” and will mark you out as being someone from out of town who doesn’t normally stay at the Ritz. If you love it, wear it, but it is a bit try-hard imo. Also agree what the others say in that I think it could be quite ageing.

It sounds like a lovely day that you have planned, and I’m sure no matter what you wear you’ll have a great time. But that’s my view, as a stranger on the internet.

😂

IDK how old you are OP but I'm guessing under 50.

I have my doubts about the Chanel style dress for someone your age - I think it's a little formal and could look matronly/MOB on someone between 35 & 70. A skinny youngster could rock it and it would suit someone over 70 with the right body shape but you are the middle ground and could end up looking a bit frumpy. I'd be more inclined to go with a really lovely jumpsuit (maybe velvet?) which would look great with your loafers and have the added advantage of being warmer.

Your daughter's outfit is stunning. I've seen a lot of similar cut in the shops recently (whilst shopping for my non matronly MOB outfit). I couldn't wear anything like that in a million years but I love to see other people wearing them out. Nicola Coughlan has worn similar styles and looked amazing.

Have a lovely afternoon. I love afternoon tea but I've never had the pleasure of the Ritz. Hopefully my day will come.

Please go for the ivory. It’s gorgeous and classic and I’m sure you can manage not to rub a cream bun down yourself.

OP, your dress is nice but a bit 'prim'. Might you feel a bit overdressed if, as the poster here says, people typically dress down in jeans? It depends if you can carry it off I suppose so if you do wear it, stride in with confidence, smiles and head held high.

The colour of your dd's dress is stunning!

She went to buy some pearl earrings first.

What a bizarre comment. I lots of children love going to the opera or ballet.
Enjoying that does t preclude other sorts of fun too.

I loved opera/classical music concerts as a teen and I also loved clubbing and big house parties and adrenaline sports.

I love the green dress and would have snapped it up pre-breastfeeding.

Last time i went to ROH I was ROASTING so maybe consider whether you might risk being too warm in what you're wearing.

I agree not loafers with it in any case, you need ballet pumps/Mary Janes

The fact you genuinely seem to believe the opera can't be fun says a lot more about you than OP's dd.

Your daughter's is fun and pretty. I echo the pp wondering if you might be a little warm in that outfit. I'd go for something a bit looser and softer if it was me.

If it's Onegin the ballet then ballet does tend to attract a more 'fashion' crowd than opera.

But I think the key thing for OP is tea at the Ritz which has a dress code, not ROH which pushes heavily that it does not.

It was Eugene Onegin the opera I was at in October. I go to far more operas than ballet.