Weather is supposed to be in the 40's both Sunday and Monday.

Here's the itinerary, we'll be staying at Park Tower Sheraton and focused almost entirely around Knightsbridge given that we are only there for a day and a half:

Sunday AM - breakfast and Catholic mass

Sunday afternoon - shopping in Knightsbridge (Harrods, etc)

Tea at a fancy hotel like the Dorchester(we can change before tea if necessary - or just get at Harrods if we want to save some time)

Evening - pub for beers and dinner

Monday AM - basically just more shopping, then a flight home.

If I were in Chicago, I'd follow my jeans-and-nice-blazer uniform for both myself and husband, but will I want to dress up a bit more, esp. for tea?

Thanks for your fashion savvy.

Gina

>If I were in Chicago, I'd follow my jeans-and-nice-blazer uniform ... <

Switch jeans to a pair of nice dark coloured trousers (a wool blend is nice for this time of the year) and you'll be fine.

Have fun!

Afternoon teas at fancy hotels are often booked up so you need to look at finding somewhere now. That is the only part I would dress up a bit for ...the man needs shirt, tie and jacket, and lady, well, whatever you want but I don't think they allow jeans.
Ther est of the time, just be comfortable and wear sensible walking shoes! Pub - no need to dress up.

There is no dress code in Britain for shopping or going to a Catholic service.

Ever. Except as a member of the family party at a Requiem or Nuptial Mass, when the family's wishes on this should be respected by invited guests, but need be of no concern to other worshippers.

If you're intending to go to the main Sunday High Mass at a "society" church like Brompton Oratory or Farm St, you won't look very overdressed - though many, if not most, of the congregation will be dressed less formally. At any other church, or at any other Mass, your blazer will make you look slightly overly studied. Jeans are fine at all Masses - though personally I'd never wear them for walking round a city as rain-prone as London because they get very uncomfortable when wet.

The point is important. Dressing up for church is absolutely not part of the British Catholic way of life.

Some of the sillier tea places will expect your husband to wear a tie (!!!!), though they will lend him one. Because this is so utterly at odds with our culture, you'll find a number of people wearing scruffs with an utterly ill-matching tie.

That's UTTERLY acceptable here. Except for tea in the most inane hotels, in the posh seats at Covent Garden and in the stands at the Derby or Royal Ascot (though not when Ascot isn't "Royal&quot there simply aren't any dress codes in this country that will affect tourists.

Anyone who tells you different is making it up - and you should be wary of accepting any other advice they might proffer.

if you do decide to dress up and you want to fit in, make sure you find the most ill fitting suit, sleep in it, wear a frayed shirt (never professionally laundered or even home pressed). the jacket should be covered with dandruff. you will fit in perfectly with the morning commuters in london and you may even be mistaken for an MP.

I'd stick with our old friend "smart casual".
I'd leave the jeans at home. 40F may not seem very cold but jeans are not warm enough for damp cold.
A nice pair of wool-blend trousers will be much better.

For mass - go to Brompton Oratory - it's britain's finest catholic church. It's also near your hotel. They have lots of services (including the Tridentine service - which is very rare in Britain)

Farm St is in mayfair and is the headquarters of the Jesuits - and the mere memory of those rotters brings me out in a cold sweat.

I agree w/ most everything siad before. I'd leave the jeans home -- not because of any perceived fashion faux pas, but because they are not warm and are killers when they get wet. I'd wear warm slacks, good shoes/warm socks, gloves, possibly a hat but a wool scarf/pashmina for sure.

As for tea in one of the Posh hotels - my guess is it is too late to get a booking. You often have to book ahead anyway, but on a Sunday diring the Christmas season - it is a must.

Brompton Oratory for sure.

Agree with what's been said about church, dress codes. Personally, I wouldn't waste time on afternoon tea if you only have a day and a half in London. Have tea at Harrods, or Patisserie Valerie (just outside Harrods, corner of Basil Street).
I've stayed at the Park Tower several times; good location, good size rooms.
You're right next to Harvey Nichols. Dinner there is nice, or Boxwood Cafe in the Berkeley Hotel.