Can men attend a tea party?
Tea parties are often stereotyped as women's events, but there is no reason men can't attend or host a tea party. However, if you do host a mixed-company tea party, it is probably wise to avoid overdosing on frills like lace doilies, chintz chair cushions and finger sandwiches cut in the shape of fluffy bunnies.
Historically, afternoon tea was considered to be a ladies' social occasion, and it is more often enjoyed by women than men to this day.
Nevertheless, Afternoon Tea, ( not to be confused with " High Tea" , which includes hot savouries or sometimes an entire hot meal eaten by the working classes in the early evening) is enjoyed by men as well as women.
Tea Party Attire For Men
Usually, a collared shirt is a good choice for this type of attire, but a tie is unnecessary. Try pairing a sport coat with a patterned button-down or classic white shirt. A nice pair of dress slacks will do great with some more casual types of footwear like loafers.
It's customary for the person doing the hosting to pour the tea out, and for the teapot to be left on the table with the spout facing the person who poured. If sat at a table, the proper manner to drink tea is to raise the tea cup, leaving the saucer on the table, and to place the cup back on the saucer between sips.
Tea Attire
The customary attire for men and women attending a tea is semi-formal. Often ladies sport hats, gloves and brightly colored suits and dresses. Black is never appropriate for a tea party. It is okay for a lady to wear her hat at the table; however, gloves should be removed before the tea service begins.
Generally, the attire requested for guests to adhere to for afternoon tea is “smart casual,” which falls somewhere between business casual and casual. This will usually mean no trainers, t-shirts, shorts or sportswear.
A hostess gift isn't generally expected for a tea party, but if you choose to bring one, keep it simple. The hostess will appreciate some flavored loose tea, a new tea ball, or a candle. Wrap it or place it in a gift bag and hand it to her as soon as you arrive.
Delectable scones, tea sandwiches, and cakes are the hallmark of an afternoon tea, which is served in midafternoon. A high tea, however, includes much more substantive fare, such as meat, fish, and egg dishes, as well as breads and desserts, and is offered in the early evening.
Hats are usually optional at a tea party, but it's a good idea to check the invitation for a specific dress code.
Can I wear pants to a high tea?
Yes, pants are definitely an option, although your hosts love to see guests dress for the occasion, so choose a chic pant suit or even a floral jumpsuit over the denim.
While it might not be your typical outfit for afternoon tea, pants suits are an excellent option for those wanting to look polished. Choose a well-fitting pair of pants and match them with a tailored blazer.
Women tend to drink a wider array of tea as a whole. Herbal tea reaches 35% of women, compared with 25% of men. Similarly, 19% of women drink decaf tea, a figure that falls to 15% of men. And female respondents are also slightly more likely to drink iced tea.
One theory behind the American gendering of tea lies in the early-20th-century proliferation of tea rooms, which were run by and largely for women, often sported doilies and pink decor, and served the kind of dainty, sugary foods that were likewise coded as feminine.
The Gentleman's afternoon tea includes Gala pie with homemade piccalilli, Crispy egg with tartar, sausage roll, pickled baby beetroots, finger sandwiches, chips, cheese scone and tomato chutney and tea of coffee.
Many teas are perfect for supporting men's health, and many men are missing out on necessary nutrients that they could be getting from herbal teas in their daily diet. Herbal teas also offer various benefits related to pain management and other kinds of supportive care that many people are not aware of.
