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!

Also, Thatcher was the quintessential out-of-towner

Yes, so you, unlike The Ritz staff, have 3 opportunities to sneer at the " out of towner"

What point are you trying to make by the "out of town comments"? That attitude is something I've never come across in London. If you think it makes sound sophisticated, it really doesn't- quite the opposite.

A trip to Mikimoto for pearl earrings. Lucky DD! Both outfits are perfect. Enjoy your day OP!

What point are you trying to make by the "out of town comments"? That attitude is something I've never come across in London. If you think it makes sound sophisticated, it really doesn't- quite the opposite.

This^^

I live in the outskirts of London and don't recognise the comments on MN being all sneery about someone cos playing as someone rich. I've only seen that on MN or in old Jilly Cooper books tbh. Most londoners would be more sneery about someone being a crashing, try hard snob tbh 🤷‍♀️

I can’t speak for the ballet, but I went to most opera productions at the ROH at least once over the decade I lived in London, by queueing early for cheap day tickets, going to work, and going to the opera on my way home. Pretty much everyone who got day tickets, and a significant minority of other people, were thus wearing whatever they had done a day’s work in. Some people will have glammed up their work attire somewhat, and some men would have been in suits anyway, but because I had been up at dawn to queue and then spent the day in the BL, I can assure you I was often wearing jeans and Birkenstocks without feeling in any way conspicuous.

It probably depends on where you sit, too. I always sat in the D seats at the back of the Grand Tier.

But as the OP wants to dress as for a special occasion, she should, obviously. My point is only that not everyone will be.

Being one of these dreadful "out of towners" that poster Betty Draper is recoiling in horror from I stay at the Radisson Blu in Mercer Street- so 5 minutes walk.

@DieDreiHexen has bigger problems, she’s booked the ballet not the opera….

You are being ridiculous. And no, it's not a fake Chanel dress, nor does it look like a cosplaying outfit for someone trying to look rich.

The Ritz is a hotel, is it not? The majority of people visiting for afternoon tea, not mention staying there will be from out of town.

I think you were being called out on being rather unkind, rightly

OMG, some of the comments on this thread 🤦🏻‍♀️😬

You’re sounding a bit bridge and tunnel dear.

That's very harsh on Theresa May who is a devotee of age appropriate high fashion. I'd be flattered to say that any outfit of mine looks like something she would wear.

@IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle I am also a terrible out of towner. But even when I wasn't, I had to get back on the tube to Zone 4 and then walk home in the rain for 20 minutes.

In January, London's most popular clothing choice is a North Face coat.

I love the white dress for a cocktail
party but personally I'd struggle sitting through an opera/ballet in a mini skirt - I'd be more comfortable in something longer and fuller. Definitely do a lot of sitting down when you try it on.

Erm, yes. I got it.

It's unreal isn't it.....

I went to the Ritz for tea in the summer and absolutely everyone was dressed up. I'd definitely wear that M+M ivory dress there, you'll look stunning I'm sure

As for the bitchy comments about why would a 16 year old go, I'm 59 and I went to the Ritz as a 17 yr old and managed to go to dodgy clubs too. Who knew you could have fun doing both ...

That occurred to me too. Definitely sit down when trying on.

There is both an opera and ballet of Onegin. The current ROH is the opera. There is - I believe - a major dance element in the opera. For a listen, I think Radio 3 recently did a live broadcast so it’s on BBC Sounds praps.

It was admittedly a tad sarcastic, but it’s quite hard to read tone on the internet. I find there’s a lot of boasting about money on Mumsnet, it read that way to me.

My original point was that overdressing for going to these places can mark you out a bit. That’s all. The OP seemed concerned about dressing appropriately and not standing out too much and I think she would stand out a bit in that dress. It’s not a bad dress though I do agree with PP that it could be ageing.

@Printedword - the Royal Opera's performances of "Eugene Onegin" finished last month. In January the Royal Ballet begin their (ballet) production of "Onegin".

I suppose what I mean is that it looks a bit try-hard, and I do think it’s a style that’s broadly associated with “old money” so in wearing it you’re definitely going for a certain look and to make a certain impression. It’s just my opinion, ultimately taste is a personal thing. Fashion is a language and a way of communicating, all I’m saying is that what it communicates to me!

Oh yes, looks like it did. Anyhoo, I’m familiar with both. I didn’t esp warm to the ballet.

Quite. Like you, I managed to go to both afternoon tea at The Connaught (my parents far preferred it to The Ritz) AND Subterania, Legends and numerous other clubs in my A-level years. During my formative years, I loved being taken out for fancy meals at posh restaurants and hotels in London. (Btw, am a decade younger than you!)

I am London born and bred too, still live in Zone 1. However, it seems I'm doing January wrong as according to another poster, I don't have a North Face coat.

If you think OP will "stand out" in that dress perhaps you're not as sophisticated as you seem to think you are Betty.