SITTING PRETTY

Mother’s day has come and gone and once again my sister Genevieve and I failed to treat my mother to a real high tea. Mother, a French speaking Canadian born beauty always hints at one gift. It is simply to have time with her girls sipping tea, wearing dresses and talking. Florence, craves a traditional high tea and every year my sister and I diligently plot and plan, researching any new restaurant or old staples that boast about their high tea. Sadly, we are almost always disappointed. Mother, being the lady that she is rarely complains, however, we as her children know the truth. It's the simple traditional pleasures she seeks.

Clotted cream, scones, lemon curd, cucumber sandwiches and a plethora of classic teas with names like Earl Gray, and English Breakfast, presented delicately and sweetly on china upon a beautiful floral linen. Perhaps some real flowers as a centerpiece is what she seeks.



Living in Southwestern Arizona, and being able to secure an artful high tea experience has become a real challenge. Although we appreciate the clever take on traditional tea, and have often enjoyed the alternative Southwestern touches, on Mother's day we do not desire chile corn bread infused scones, nor do we require Southwestern egg dishes splattered with salsa. Not on this day! On Mother's day our request seem simple, traditional and customary. The last three years have been one tea mishap after another. Last year at a beautiful botanical garden, which advertised traditional high tea, we were served stale turkey sandwiches, processed cheese and the butter was presented in "to go" plastic containers. The year before we settled on a luxury resort, in which years past we had found good memories of holiday high tea. To our dismay, the linens on the table were stained; the teas arrived in bags. Oh yes!! They served a single tea bag in a cup!! It wasn't loose leaves steeped in its own pot! Oh God!! It was just a tea bag!! They had a limited menu of unsatisfying sweets and smoked salmon sandwiches (mother does not like smoked salmon). No egg salad, tuna or cucumber sandwiches were to be found. Shall I mention the male resort guest traipsing through the lobby in flip-flops and a robe? When we complained to the 16-year-old hostess, wearing a micro mini skirt and tank top, she simply replied, "They really don’t do high tea anymore."



This year four weeks ago my very detailed and organized big sister made our reservation at a new tea house requesting the high tea of course. Upon arrival we were informed they had no record of our reservation and it was impossible to get high tea without 24 hours notice. We give up! Next Sunday Genevieve and I will host our own high tea for mother and father. I will make the sandwiches; steep the selection of teas and Genevieve will focus on desserts and scones. What to wear to this event is already the big topic of conversation as the temperatures in Arizona are hitting the 90's already.

Obviously, we are woman who were taught to dress for lunch, not as a symbol of status or class, but as a nod toward ritual and family custom. As we’ve grown older, it has become more and more difficult to spend time together and continue our traditions. Growing up in Michigan we played high tea weekly and mother would help orchestrate this elaborate affair, supplying us with ribbons, flowers, dishes and china. I can say with confidence both my sister and I have inherited an innate pride in making space in our lives for our traditions. Whenever and wherever we do so, it is special and beautiful. Maybe this is part of what I love about fashion and how even when the trends are so far from what one might find as traditional, the classics always are available to ground us. A simple black dress, a fine fitted suit, a good hat or a well-placed scarf are traditional, timeless and will always be so. It can be seen in films like the current re-make of the Great Gatsby, or in retail at Brooks Brother's new spring collection, which was inspired by the movie. Staple stores like JCrew and Target keep a well stocked inventory of black dresses, cardigan and sweaters. Even thrifting and vintage stores provide a wide variety of classics. Yes, it may seem silly for grown woman and men to get all dressed up for a late afternoon meal sipping tea, nibbling on sandwiches and gracefully consuming the decadent sweets. I however, find it invigorating and refreshing. I'm tired of hipster coffee, flannel shirts and faddish food.

One day a year I want to put on a pretty dress, sip tea with my mom and sister with no intention of uploading any of it to Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest. Tradition, custom and the classics have their place in life and in fashion.

 

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Paula Taylor is the Creative Director and President of Paula Taylor Productions, an international fashion events company. She is the author of How To Produce A Fashion Show From A-Z by Pearson Press educator/product/How-to-Produce-a-Fashion-Show-from-A-to-Z/9780132560368.page A fashion stylist, fashion educator, collector, dealer and lover of designer vintage clothing.

Paula Taylor Website
twitter:@Paula TaylorLLC

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