If you’re like me, you’re at least somewhat new to high tea and may not have a great plan when it comes to high tea outfits. It’s mostly about personal taste, of course, but there are some easy ways to put together the perfect outfit, even when you’re traveling. When you’re planning what to wear to high tea, it’s a good idea to mix practicality and comfort with fancier silhouettes. I’ve got creative ways to meet any dress code standard without dedicating half your suitcase to just one outfit. Read on for what I wore to high tea in London and how to dress for anything from garden parties to a day at the Ritz.
The Traveler’s Guide to High Tea Attire
If you’re attending a high tea event in London, as I did, stick with smart casual clothes that work throughout your trip. Two of my favorite travel dresses are the Roma Reversible Dress from Wayre and the Merino Travel Dress from Unbound Merino. They are lightweight, performance fabric dresses that don’t wrinkle and can be dressed up or down. Either one is a good choice for even a traditional afternoon tea because the solid colors are easy to accessorize and the longer length make them more formal than other travel dress options.
If you’re shopping your own closet, go for wrinkle-resistant materials like ponte or performance fabrics. Either solids or floral prints work well, with jewelry and scarves as big-impact accessories that don’t take up almost any space in your luggage. If you’re working with a travel capsule wardrobe, stick with a solid color that will be versatile throughout your trip.
As a general rule, you will want to dress up for high tea. If you don’t have room for a dress, or it’s not your personal style, dress pants will also work fine. Even some styles of jeans will work in a pinch, but only if they are a dark wash, tailored style, and with no holes, rips, or other embellishment and paired with a dressy shirt. Some of the more formal venues in London, like the Ritz, will not allow you to be seated with jeans or sneakers, so be sure to check the restaurant’s specific dress code first.
High Tea Dress Ideas
In addition to the travel dresses I have and love, here are other dresses that would be perfect for your next tea party or afternoon tea date. These all follow proper etiquette of staying fairly conservative in terms of length and cut. Remember – high tea is a mid-day, all-ages activity, so you want to pick the right dress…something not too low cut and not too short. That doesn’t mean it needs to be boring though – even floral dresses can be cute when done right. Here are some of my favorites.
This sleeveless midi ponte dress from Loft is one of my favorites. I have it in this navy floral print, but it’s only available in a solid color black right now. It’s a gorgeous dress and worked beautifully while traveling, with the material resisting wrinkles. The super flattering design and stretchy fabric worked for everything from the Vatican to the theater to a Michelin-starred dinner (all places I actually wore it!)
This tea dress is perfect with ballet flats or heels in any tea room. It has a demure neckline, half sleeves, a flattering fabric belt, and a midi length appropriate for any high tea party or afternoon in London. It’s available in a ton of colors and patterns, making it easy to style for just about anyone.
If you need a dress to wear to tea in winter, check out this long sleeved dress with a free-flowing maxi skirt. I have it in the “blue watercolor” print and while the neckline is low, it sits such that it doesn’t expose too much cleavage. I love the long sleeve and long skirt, but I will say that it gets very wrinkly, so I probably wouldn’t pack this one if I didn’t have a travel steamer (I travel with this one) or if I wasn’t attending a local event.
What to Wear to High Tea that Isn’t a Dress
If a dress isn’t in the cards for you, choose a pair of tailored pants. This cigarette style is easily dressed up with a pair of dressy flats or kitten heels, and the ponte fabric will resist wrinkles in your suitcase even as it stretches to accommodate all those finger sandwiches on offer.
You could choose repurpose beach coverup pants with fun prints by pairing them with high heels and a solid top for a pulled-together look that maximizes comfort.
You could also go for a jumpsuit with some vintage jewelry or other high-impact accessories.
What not to Wear to Afternoon Tea
Don’t get caught wearing the wrong thing to afternoon tea. With a little planning and creativity, you can look put together without packing an outfit just for high tea.
Anything against the dress code
Wherever you’re going, play close attention to the dress code. There’s nothing worse than showing up and being politely turned away because you aren’t dressed appropriately. If you have any doubts about if your options will be acceptable, call the restaurant and confirm.
Revealing clothing
The name of the game for afternoon tea is “demure.” Save the short skirts, two-piece outfits with exposed midriff, and strapless dresses for another time. If that’s what you’ve got packed for other activities, an easy solve is to throw a cardigan sweater on top.
A super casual look
Smart casual is sufficient in all but the most formal locations, but as we’ve shared, stay away from jeans, sneakers, and athletic wear. If you must wear jeans, pair them with leather shoes or heels rather than sneakers or sandals.
A hat
Tea hats are not the thing, unless you are attending a garden party in the summer months. Don’t overdo it in London, where you won’t see women in fascinators inside.
Why is High Tea so Formal?
​There’s nothing overly fancy about a cup of tea, so how did high tea today become such a formal affair? Afternoon tea actually began as the evening meal of working class people throughout England. In the mid-1800s, the Duchess of Bedford began requesting tea and a light meal around 4 pm to hold her over until dinner was served. She began inviting friends over and it snowballed into a regular event. In the next few decades, afternoon tea was cemented as a social event. Women wore the dress of the time, with long skirts, hats, and gloves a la Downton Abbey. Even as styles changed, high tea retained its tradition as an elegant affair.
High Tea Outfits for Men
The name of the game for men’s outfits at high tea is “dress for the country club.” Men will do well with a pair of dress pants, a collared shirt, and a jacket. It can be hard to make room for a blazer, but we find that the jackets from State and Liberty are comfortable enough to be worn on the plane (they are stretchy!) and hold their shape really well without wrinkling. Their collared dress shirts are also made with performance fabric, which makes them stretchy, wrinkle-resistant, and perfect for travel. My husband’s other favorite brand for formal occasions is Bugatchi, which also offers performance fabrics in traditional cuts. Either of these brands is an excellent choice for more upscale men’s clothes that hold up well in travel.
If it’s not possible to pack a blazer, men will be welcome in most establishments with a pair of tailored, dressy jeans or dress pants with a collared shirt. A tie is not necessary for afternoon tea in some spots (it is required at the Ritz), but dress shoes are. Men will not be allowed in many of the fancier high tea spots in London in sneakers – even fancy ones. My husband was turned away from the cigar bar at the Ritz due to his Jordans, and they won’t hesitate to do the same at high tea.
High Tea Outfits for Kids
Afternoon tea etiquette doesn’t require as much in the way of formal dress for kids as it does for adults. We tried several of the best afternoon tea spots for kids in London and my kids were perfectly acceptable in their normal casual clothes. If you are going anywhere but the most formal options like the Ritz, the Dorchester, the Connaught, or the Savoy, you won’t need to worry about kids dressing up.
If you do pick one of the fancier spots, kids will need an overall look that is as formal as the adults – loafers and dress pants for boys and a special occasion dress for girls. Even at the most formal locations, though, boys are not required to wear jackets. A polo or henley shirt with khaki or other formal pants will do just fine. Even kids are not permitted in shorts or athletic wear for tea in formal dining rooms throughout London.
Wrap Up
High tea is worth experiencing when you travel, especially in London. Even if you only pack clothes that work for the rest of your casual adventures, it is still possible to have the perfect afternoon tea outfit with a few easy accessories. Women should choose midi or maxi dresses or skirts, or tailored pants (not jeans). Men should wear dress pants, dress shoes, and a collared, button down shirt, with an optional jacket and tie depending on the dress code of your venue. Kids get a lot more leeway, and casual clothes will be fine in most locations. Top-tier fancy teas will still need kids to be dressed their best.
For smart packing, choose a solid color outfit in wrinkle-resistant fabric and accessorize with a scarf and/or jewelry. A statement handbag is also the perfect opportunity to elevate your style if you’ve got room to pack it, but if not, stick with practicality and leave it out of photos.
