What to wear for afternoon tea

[ThistleDown]

Just the cardboard tartan ones, Friday. In Scotland we usually wear tied garters, but there are elastic and velcro ones out there, too, and they're acceptable. Toss the tartan ones in the nearest bin.

RWM, think of what you will be wearing as a business suit. No silver buttons and no sporran with silver -- no bling. For your wife she should think elegantly casual. Preferably a dress or skirt and blouse, perhaps with a jacket. Played down accessories, too. No carryall for a handbag, no tartan sash and big broochie. You haven't said when this will be, but if there is a risk of coolness for her, the jacket may serve or even a woolen wrap.

[Standard]

Sounds like you are getting good advise here. As always make sure your shoes are polished. On another note, from their menu it looks like they have a very nice tea, and at a reasonable price. I'm sure you will enjoy the afternoon with your lady.

[Dale Seago]

I have an appointment to try on brogues Tuesday at a kilt shop that also does hire and I will find out if I can rent a tweed.

If you're talking about "ghillie brogues", those. . .things. . .that lace up the ankles, by all means try them on if you like. But do yourself and your lass a favor and don't wear them to tea.

[Jock Scot]

You have had some good advice, but a little detail may assist you.

Your jacket could be of any colour, but try to avoid greys or blacks if you can, or "flash" greens, blues, etc.. Lovat green/blue would be a good thought. A waist coat would be nice, but not really necessary.

Yes try to avoid tartan flashes and almost more important, avoid having them blowing about like wind socks on an airfield. An inch to an inch and a half poking out would be perfect.

Plain leather sporran please, with leather strap, black or brown would be just the ticket,

I know ladies can get away with most things dress(attire) wise and these days things are rather more relaxed than they used to be, but jeans, trainers, or shorts are best avoided.

Most of all, have fun!

[Phil]

You may be under a misapprehension as to the level of formality expected for "afternoon tea". It is normally a relaxed affair where casual dress is quite appropriate, more formal attire being reserved for a later formal dinner.
Few, if any, hotels in Scotland expect their guests to dress up nowadays although jeans and t-shirts are not usually welcomed at dinner at the more up-market establishments.
And, of course, unless there is a wedding function taking place in the hotel when you are there, you will most likely be the only individual wearing a kilt. Don't worry about looking out of place, however, as no-one will regard it as in the slightest bit unusual.
If you do choose to wear a kilt my suggestion would be simply a shirt and tie if you want to be a bit formal or a sweater, both of which will be perfectly acceptable. A plain sporan, self-coloured hose and brown or black shoes (wingtips I believe they are called in your country). A jacket is quite unnecessary.

[RunTheWorldOnMac]

Amazing information! Thanks for explaining with detail. We will be headed mid-September so it could be a little cool.

[McClef]

I remember the Scotsman when it housed the newspaper of the same name.

Now it's a hotel it still doesn't make it Holyrood which one might expect from some the answers...

[John_Carrick]

I hope the gentleman has a super time in Edinburgh with his lady. It might be cold wet and wintery or you may get a pleasant surprise!

As a kilt wearer of 26 years standing, I have always worn matching tartan flashes, made presumably with scraps from the same length of material as the kilt, supplied and advised by reputable Scottish kilt makers .

Have I been getting it wrong or would it just not be done in a 5* hotel?

John

[Mike_Oettle]

While I take the advice of Jock Scot et al pretty seriously, I have perforce been wearing tartan flashes of late because of the temporary unavailability of my plain-coloured flashes (my neighbour’s wife is using the red pair as a guide for making a yellow pair).
And a picture Mael Coluim posted of himself recently at WalMart showed him in tartan flashes.
What struck me about them was that they provided a definite tartan context with rather drab hose and a single-colour kilt (khaki?).
My moss green hose are also rather drab, and are considerably brightened by my Mighty Men tartan flashes.
Granted, I am not going for tea at a five-star Edinburgh hotel, but I do like to look smart when kilted.
Regards,
Mike

[Jock Scot]

If that is what you like John , then you are not doing it wrong. However there are those , of which I am one, that do not like the look of tartan flashes for mainly aesthetic reasons, also I possess one less explainable reason which is, "its just not done" and that is the way I was taught as a youngster. No doubt others will have their own reasons.