GLAMOUR Garden Party Guide
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Open toed vintage sandals and a cute, floral frock are all you'll
need to fit into this summer's garden party vibe: never has chintz
been so cute!
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Whether you're watching the pennies or simply channelling that
Great Gatsby vibe, it's time to take advantage of the balmy summer
evenings, dig out your Grandma's antique, iron chair set and those
flea-market candle holders and transform your garden into an Alice
in Wonderland fantasy filled with chatter and the clinking of
vintage glasses.
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We have the tried and tested guide to hosting your own tea party
and the perfect floral fashions to fawn over to make sure you're
anything but the Mad-Hatter at your tea-party.
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Truly scrumptious…
Whether you're watching the pennies or simply channelling that Great Gatsby vibe, it's time to take advantage of the balmy summer evenings, dig out your Grandma's antique, iron chair set and those flea-market candle holders and transform your garden into THE place to be - think plenty of chatter and the clinking of glasses as the sun goes down! Read on for GLAMOUR's guide to hosting your very own super-stylish tea party...
Rex FeaturesVintage Chic
Think Mad Hatters tea party crossed with a Cath Kidston sales room and you see the look we’re striving for. Lots of pastel pinks and duck egg blues mixed with liberty prints and scatter cushions and you will make your party look pretty and inviting. Vintage, tin watering cans filled with peonies and hydrangeas will add colour while fairy lights and mis-matched candle holders will make sure you have twinkling lights through till dusk.
iStockThe Look
They’re called tea-dresses for a reason and they are perfect for a hot-summer’s afternoon - all loose and flowing to keep your cool. Cute summer sandals or ballet pumps (if you think your feet won’t cope with a heel) will fit perfectly with your girly look and will be comfy enough to make sure you can move between your guests without getting a blister the size of mount Vesuvius.
Team with loosely pinned up hair and a smidgeon of cheek-stain and lip-gloss and you’re the epitome of summer chic.
iStockOn The Menu
Cup-cakes, macaroons, cucumber sandwiches (with the crusts cut off, of course), Tiffin, scones and clotted cream and that’s even before we get to the tea.
Think dainty, finger food, where ladies can be ladies and men can look kind of awkward.
Gorgeously chilled, fruity Jacques is a perfect accompaniment. Posh string tea bags will do, but for aficionados, loose tea is the way forward. English breakfast, Earl Grey maybe a hint of Green or Jasmine – the flavours are bountiful.
Shell out on some brown sugar lumps, organic honey and fresh lemons and your guests will be in tea heaven.
Rex FeaturesTea In China
Scour charity shops and car boots to find a mis-match of crockery. Ask your neighbours for cake stands and tea-pots and you can make a focal point with crockery ranging throughout the last century. If you’re not on ‘borrowing cups of sugar’ terms with your neighbours, check out various websites who do vintage crockery hire and tableware. (Cheeky tip - hire an electric powered urn to have enough water on tap for up to 200 cups and you won’t be a Polly, forever putting the kettle on).
iStockMiscellaneous, Tea Games And Music
After you’ve daintily eaten the summer fayre what better way to burn it off than a jolly game of Croquet or boules. Arrange various garden games on the lawn, or if you’re tight for space, a few board games and some playing cards.
Heavy Metal is clearly not the most conducive genre of background music behind the clinking of glasses and hum of chatter so make a playlist for your soiree with a few of your more subdued faves (Parisian music and film instrumentals go down well).
iStockAnd For Something A Bit Fruitier
Tea is all well and good but when the sun dips and the chatter gets rowdier, the pop of a cork or the fizz of cider poured over ice cubes is just that little bit cooler.
Jacques cider is light and fruity and makes a perfect, refreshing treat for those balmy summer evenings.
There are few hours in life more agreeable than afternoon tea…or Jacques, so step into the world of Jacques this summer!
