what to wear for afternoon tea

As promised, I've decided to do a guide on what to where for afternoon tea at The Ritz, or any other venue that is as lovely and posh. Before I went I really struggled to know what to wear. I didn't want to look over or under dressed. Obviously it needed to be smart but appropriate for the day-time. As well as this, most people will be travelling around the city during the day so it has to be practical as well as formal. Here are my suggestions! Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section!

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a dress. Whether it be short, long, fitted, floaty, black, white or printed, there will be a dress out there for you. The biggest problem is finding one that fits perfectly and suits your budget. Below are some examples of different types of dresses that are all £85 or cheaper (most around £40 and are off the high-street) and come in a variety of sizes. As well as dresses, I have also included an alternative if dresses aren't your thing...

 When I went to The Ritz, I decided to pick a bright statement red lip but keep my nails simple with a clear pearly polish. I wanted my look (see here) to be quite minimalist and chic as opposed to pretty or colourful or girly. I wore a black dress with an off-white crocheted collar, black tights, black heeled ankle boots, an off-white satchels and pearls as my jewellery. I made the statement in my red lipstick and all black ensemble (which is very unlike me!)

I think it's important that you make the decision as to which part of your look you want to be the statement. If you are wearing a bright quirky patterned silk swing dress, maybe pick a neutral shoe and bag, some simple jewellery with a nice statement lipstick and neutral nails. That way your outfit has a focus. If that isn't your style then obviously do your own thing. It's important you feel comfortable.

 In terms of heels vs. flats, it all depends on which you are used to and feel comfortable in. If you can wear heels for a brief period of time, wear flats up while travelling but take a pair of heels with you to change into. You can get flats that fold up and can be easily stored in your hand bag so really, it's your choice. Obviously, if you are used to roaming the city in a pair of heels you are already sorted and if, like some, you don't wear heels then there are plenty of fancy flats on the high-street.

All the images in this post (excluding the first two which were taken from my previous post) were sourced from Monsoon, ASOS and Boohoo. The dresses are a mix of straight and plus sizes, as all three brands do both.
 This post is to give some inspiration as to what is appropriate to wear for afternoon tea at a venue like The Ritz. Obviously fashion varies from place to place and what is acceptable may change depending on the city, venue and person. This post is based on my experience when I went to The Ritz in London last week. If you want to read more about my trip and see my outfit then click here.

Happy Wednesday!