I have been invited out for afternoon tea...

[lovecat]

A friend is having afternoon tea for his birthday, followed by champagne, gin and a full-on party. The invite says 'dress appropriately'... it's from 3pm going on until late.

I've never been for afternoon tea... but I have purchased a dress in New Look which I cannot link to as it's not on their website (grr), it's sleeveless, v-neck, nipped in at the waist then flared out on the skirt (not massively full but a wee bit swishy), on the knee, in a splashy red/white floral print with a red ribbon belt.

I have a white 3/4 length sleeve cardi and a gorgeous pair of whitish cream pointy stilettos (my mum's that she got married in in 1963, that I also got married in) that I thought I could wear with it, but am not sure how to accessorise otherwise - or indeed if I should... the drama queen in me wants a hat and some gloves, but this is probably a bit OTT...(the birthday boy is a fellow luvvie so I'm not sure if by 'dress appropriately' this is the sort of thing he means)??

And should I take something less ladylike/more comfortable to change into for the gin-soaked frolicking to follow?

Advice, please, style queens!

Hi lovecat, I'm no style queen but fwiw:

(i) don't think it is particularly helpful on host's part to say "dress appropriately" without giving you some pointers as to what (in their view) appropriate IS. Rather poor form in my view ...

(ii) having said that, your outfit sounds perfect to me as it falls between floral (gd for afternoon tea) + cocktail dress (gd for later on).

I wouldn't bother taking anything to change in to - once these things get under way - and gin is swigged - it's a faff and a bother having to change ... and I've attended 2 weddings where everyone was instructed to take something to change in to for later, and VERY few people did ...(and those that did looked as if they were trying a bit too hard to be honest) ...

Hope you have a lovely time ...a proper afternoon tea/leading on to party sounds like a really good way of celebrating a birthday ... can almost sniff the roses right now .... might steal that idea .....

cant you ask a couple of other woman who you know that are going too, what they are wearing just to get an idea of how other people interpret "dress appropriately"? you may find they may be struggling on what kind of attire to wear too!

I think you're dress sounds perfect.

You must wear some white gloves and hat when you arrive,it'll add to the theatrics !

Your dress sounds great.

Thank you!

I may take some flat shoes for later (it's been a while since I've been in stilettos all day!), but otherwise will bow to the collective wisdom re. changing (and try not to spill strawberry jam down me - mind you, it'll be camouflaged, won't it?!).

ggirl, I think I will have a wee scout around Debenhams hat department (only millinery for miles round here!) before the weekend to see what they have....