ira wrote: "I will make rude remarks about how the Ritz is letting all sorts of trash in if I see you there."

Now, there's an incentive to dress down.

Ira, what do you mean a sports jacket takes up no room? It's a fairly bulky, heavy item, especially if it's just for a single occasion.

Is Oxfam open on Sunday? I will be arriving Sunday morning, and the tea will be the following day.>>>

Some are, some aren't.

BTW "oxfam shop" just means a charity shop selling second hand stuff. All charity shops are called Oxfam shops - no matter what the charity is.

Where are you staying?

Ira, many of us travel light, you know , carry our own single small bag ourselves, and we stay serveral weeks or more at a time, a sports jacket does indeed consume way too much space in that sort of situation.
A sports coat is important if one is travelling for business I suppose, and as most business travellers don't hop public transport but can taxi here and there then they can pack larger bags .

A sports jacket takes up no room in your luggage because you don't put it in your luggage, you carry it onto the plane folded over your arm, or wear it. You lay it in an overhead bin on top of bulkier items, so it stays nice and unwrinkled.

My husband never checks a bag and always (unless we're doing something very casual indeed, like camping) brings a sports jacket.

Hi M and B,

>Ira, what do you mean a sports jacket takes up no room? It's a fairly bulky, heavy item, especially if it's just for a single occasion.<

You don't pack it, you wear it.

Mine just did 3 weeks in Europe.

I even brought a tie to wear at Taillevent.

You aren't going to tell me that that takes up a lot of room? :)

However, I am beginning to understand you young whippersnappers - Barack Obama, soon to be the Dem candidate for POTUS, appears on TV without a tie and his shirt collar open.

I look forward to seeing torn jeans, tee shirts with vulgar remarks on them and bare feet when having afternoon tea at the Ritz.

((I))

I have spent plenty of time poking around in Oxfam shops on my travels in the UK - when I'm in the neighborhood and in the mood. I would not, however, want to be in the position of HAVING to find the Oxfam shop, get there, hope to find the acceptable jacket, etc., on my first day in London after (presumably) a long haul flight. My vote: wear the sports jacket on the plane, put the tie in the pocket, you are good to go.

37 quid a person for tea seems a bit steep (excuse the pun) to me...I think I will just wander over to the pub and have a pint!

I agree -

if you want to go to the Ritz then bring the proper clothing. If you don;t want to bother with a jacket, have tea in one of a million other places.

I don;t get it when people think rules don;t apply to them - just because they find carrying a jacket (and what will you wear at night if it's chilly?) is SO much trouble.

When we go to europe the beau always brings a blazer that's good enough for most places - and also useful if it's a chilly night. (If it's a business trip, naturally he has proper suits and ties.)

Good to giggle again. Ira, Janis and especially Flanneruk! How about tea at the Savoy or the Dorchester instead?

what about women? i panned on wearing white ankle lengthed pants with matching blazer and a tiny heel sandal.?
now i am unsure about this?
thanks
tmc1289

Dress up the blazer with some jewelry and you should be just fine.

On the other hand, if you have a lightweight dress that's packable, that would also be nice.