What to Wear to a Tea Party

Tea parties have a lovely way of combining tradition with an opportunity to dress up a little. From afternoon tea at a beautiful hotel to a relaxed cream tea in the garden, they're occasions where you can have some fun with what you wear without necessarily needing a formal dress.

The difficulty is knowing quite how dressed up to be. An afternoon tea party for a birthday can be very different from a bridal shower, while garden parties bring their own considerations – particularly when it comes to shoes and the wonderfully unpredictable British weather!

At Covet, we always think the best outfit is one that feels appropriate for the occasion while still feeling like you. There's little point wearing an elaborate tea dress and uncomfortable heels if you're going to spend the afternoon worrying about your clothes. Instead, look for beautiful fabrics, flattering shapes and accessories that make an outfit feel special without making it feel like fancy dress.

In this guide, we're looking at what to wear to a tea party, the different dress codes you might encounter and some tea party outfit ideas that can take you from a relaxed afternoon with friends to a much more elegant celebration.

What to Wear to a Tea Party

For most tea parties, think elegant rather than extremely formal. A midi dress, pretty blouse with tailored trousers, flowing skirt or stylish matching set can all work beautifully. Add comfortable shoes, a lovely bag and a little jewellery and you'll have an outfit that feels special without being overdone.

The venue should always be your starting point. Afternoon tea at a five-star hotel might call for a polished midi dress and elegant shoes, while a friend's garden tea party could be much more relaxed. A vintage inspired event, meanwhile, gives you an opportunity to have a little more fun with a fit and flare silhouette or a traditional tea length dress.

Fabric matters too. Linen and cotton are wonderful for summer tea parties, while silk, viscose and beautifully draped fabrics work particularly well when you want something smarter. Florals are an obvious choice, but don't feel that you have to dress in flowers simply because you're going to afternoon tea. Block colours, soft prints and even beautifully cut trousers can work just as well.

And then there are the accessories. A delicate necklace, small handbag, scarf or pair of statement earrings can bring the whole outfit together. If you'd like a little more inspiration, our guide to how to style jewellery with outfits has plenty of ideas.

A beautiful dress, comfortable shoes and simple accessories are often all you need for an elegant afternoon tea outfit.

What Is The Dress Code For A Tea Party?

There isn't one universal tea party dress code. The appropriate level of formality depends on where the event is being held, what you're celebrating and, occasionally, whether the host has specified a particular theme.

As a general guide:

• Traditional afternoon tea: Smart casual or semi formal is usually perfect. Think midi dresses, elegant separates, tailored trousers or a skirt and blouse.
• Luxury hotel afternoon tea: Err slightly towards the smarter end. Some hotels have their own dress codes, so it's worth checking before you go.
• Garden tea party: Pretty but practical. Dresses, skirts and relaxed tailoring all work, but choose shoes that can cope with grass.
• Bridal shower or celebration: This is an opportunity to dress up a little more. A colourful midi or tea length dress can be lovely.
• Informal cream tea: There's usually no need for formal dress. A linen outfit, summer dress or stylish trousers and blouse should be more than enough.
• Themed or vintage tea party: Take inspiration from the theme without feeling you have to wear a costume. One or two vintage inspired touches are often more stylish than recreating an entire period outfit.

If the invitation specifies a dress code, follow it. Otherwise, it's difficult to go far wrong with something polished, comfortable and slightly smarter than you'd wear on an ordinary day.

Different Types Of Tea Parties

Not all tea parties are the same. In fact, knowing what kind of event you're attending is one of the easiest ways to decide what to wear.

Afternoon Tea

Traditional afternoon tea is probably what most of us imagine when somebody mentions a tea party: pots of tea accompanied by finger sandwiches, scones and little cakes, usually served during the afternoon.

An elegant midi dress works beautifully, but you certainly don't have to wear a dress. Tailored wide-leg trousers with a silk blouse or a skirt with a lightweight knit can look equally appropriate.

A relaxed midi dress makes a lovely choice for traditional afternoon tea – elegant without feeling overdressed.

High Tea

Interestingly, afternoon tea and high tea aren't historically the same thing. Afternoon tea developed as a light afternoon meal, whereas high tea was traditionally a more substantial early-evening meal served at a dining table. Today, however, the terms are often used interchangeably by hotels and restaurants.

If you've been invited for "high tea", therefore, look at the venue and invitation rather than relying on the name to determine what you should wear.

Garden Tea Parties

Garden parties give you plenty of freedom. Floral dresses naturally work beautifully outdoors, particularly during spring and summer, but flowing skirts, linen trousers and lightweight blouses are equally lovely.

Footwear deserves special consideration. Fine stilettos and soft lawns aren't natural friends! Block heels, wedges, smart flats or sandals will generally be much more practical.

If you love florals, you can find more ideas in our guide to how to style floral dresses.

Florals feel completely at home at a summer garden tea party – just remember to choose shoes that work on grass.

Bridal Shower Tea Parties

Tea parties are a popular choice for bridal showers because they feel celebratory without needing to become a formal evening event. A feminine midi dress, elegant matching set or softly tailored outfit works particularly well.

Unless the invitation says otherwise, we'd generally leave white, ivory and bridal-looking cream shades to the bride. Instead, this is a lovely opportunity to wear colour, florals or a beautiful print.

Birthday Tea Parties

A birthday afternoon tea can be as relaxed or elaborate as the person celebrating it. For afternoon tea in a hotel or restaurant, a midi dress or smart separates are an easy option. For something at home, you can afford to be considerably more relaxed.

The important thing is that your outfit still feels like you. Dressing for an occasion doesn't mean becoming a different person for the afternoon.

Cream Tea

A traditional cream tea is generally a more relaxed affair, centred around tea, scones, jam and cream rather than the full selection of savouries and cakes associated with afternoon tea.

If you're stopping for a cream tea during a day out, there's absolutely no need to arrive in a formal tea party dress. A summer dress, linen trousers, blouse or even smart jeans can be perfectly appropriate.

What Do You Wear To A Tea Party?

There are far more possibilities than simply reaching for a traditional tea dress. Here are some of our favourite outfit formulas.

1. The Floral Midi Dress

A floral midi is perhaps the quintessential tea party outfit, and there's a reason it works so well. It feels feminine and celebratory without necessarily being formal.

Add a small shoulder bag, simple jewellery and block heels or elegant flats. If the dress already has a strong print, there's no need to add lots of accessories.

A floral midi dress is a timeless choice for afternoon tea, birthdays and summer garden parties.

2. The Tea-Length Dress

The traditional tea length falls somewhere between the knee and ankle, usually around mid-calf. It creates an elegant silhouette that feels particularly appropriate for smarter tea parties.

A fit and flare tea length dress has a slightly vintage inspired quality, especially when worn with a neat handbag and low heel. Keep the styling contemporary to prevent the outfit feeling like a costume.

3. Wide-Leg Trousers and a Beautiful Blouse

You absolutely don't need to wear a dress to a tea party. Tailored wide-leg trousers with a beautiful blouse can look every bit as elegant.

Choose trousers with movement and pair them with a silk, linen or softly printed blouse. A small bag, delicate jewellery and loafers or block heels complete the outfit.

This is a particularly good choice if tea party dresses simply aren't your style. The best outfit is always one you actually feel comfortable wearing.

Wide-leg trousers and a beautiful blouse offer a stylish alternative to the traditional tea party dress.

4. The Matching Set

A matching skirt and top or trouser set makes getting dressed wonderfully straightforward. The coordination gives the outfit polish, while relaxed fabrics prevent it from looking too formal.

Matching linen is particularly lovely for a summer afternoon tea party. Add sandals and a woven bag for a relaxed event, or smarter shoes and jewellery if the venue calls for something more polished.

Trousers and a beautiful blouse offer a stylish alternative to the traditional tea party dress.

5. The Linen Dress

For warm-weather tea parties, linen is difficult to beat. It's breathable, comfortable and has that slightly undone quality that can make an outfit look effortlessly stylish.

A simple linen midi with leather sandals, a colourful scarf and understated jewellery would be perfect for a cream tea, garden gathering or relaxed birthday celebration.

6. A Skirt and Lightweight Knit

When the weather is cooler, try a flowing midi skirt with a fine knit. Tuck the knit slightly at the waist to give the outfit some shape, then add ankle boots, loafers or flats.

This formula works particularly well for autumn tea parties when a summer dress might feel out of season but a formal dress would be too much.

7. A Simple Dress with Statement Accessories

Sometimes the best approach is to start with the simplest dress in your wardrobe. A plain navy, black or neutral midi can be transformed with a colourful scarf, interesting necklace, beautiful handbag or fabulous pair of shoes.

We love this approach at Covet because it encourages you to wear your clothes in different ways rather than feeling that every invitation requires another new outfit.

How To Choose Tea Party Outfits

If you're still unsure what to wear, these simple style tips should help:

• Check the invitation. If there's a stated dress code or theme, use that as your starting point.
• Consider the venue. A luxury hotel and someone's back garden call for different levels of formality.
• Think about the weather. For outdoor tea parties, bring a lightweight jacket, cardigan or wrap if necessary.
• Choose comfortable shoes. Particularly important for garden parties, where block heels, wedges or flats are generally easier than stilettos.
• Don't feel obliged to wear a dress. Tailored trousers, matching sets and skirts can all make beautiful tea party outfits.
• Pay attention to length. A midi or tea length dress is wonderfully versatile, but knee-length and maxi styles can work too.
• Choose breathable fabrics in summer. Linen, cotton and other lightweight fabrics will help you remain comfortable during a warm afternoon.
• Use accessories to change the mood. Jewellery, bags, scarves and shoes can make a simple outfit considerably more special.
• Avoid overdoing the theme. A vintage inspired accessory can be lovely; dressing as though you've stepped out of a period drama may be unnecessary unless that's specifically the theme!
• Wear something you'll wear again. A versatile piece from your dresses collection is far more useful than an outfit bought for a single afternoon.

What About Hats?

Hats aren't normally required for afternoon tea, although they can be great fun for a garden party, bridal shower or more traditional celebration. If the event has a particularly formal dress code, a hat or fascinator may feel entirely appropriate.

For an ordinary hotel afternoon tea, however, there's no expectation that you arrive wearing one. If you love hats, wear one. If you don't, you can happily concentrate on your jewellery, shoes and bag instead.

Tea, Cake and a Little Personal Style

Perhaps that's what we like most about tea parties: there's tradition, but there's also plenty of room for personality. The ritual itself might involve different types of tea, beautiful china, finger sandwiches and tiny cakes, but your outfit doesn't have to follow a rigid formula.

A floral tea dress can be perfect. So can linen trousers and a beautiful blouse. You might love a vintage inspired fit and flare dress, while somebody else feels far more comfortable in contemporary tailoring. Neither is more correct than the other.

The most successful tea party outfits balance the occasion with your own style. Think about where you're going, how formal it is and what you'll actually be doing. Then choose clothes that make you feel comfortable, confident and just a little bit special.

And if there's one rule we'd always follow at Covet, it's this: don't buy something simply because you think it's what you're supposed to wear. Choose something you'll enjoy wearing again – perhaps styled completely differently the next time.

Find Your Tea Party Style at Covet

Whether you're heading to an elegant afternoon tea, a summer garden party, a birthday celebration or simply meeting friends for tea and cake, we hope these ideas have given you a little inspiration.

At Covet, we love pieces that can become part of your real wardrobe rather than being worn once and forgotten. From beautiful dresses and relaxed tailoring to jewellery, scarves, bags and other finishing touches, look for pieces that work for the tea party – and for plenty of occasions afterwards.

Because ultimately, the best answer to what to wear to a tea party is something that's appropriate for the occasion, feels genuinely comfortable and still feels unmistakably like you.