High tea in the afternoon is a classy affair to celebrate those impending nuptials. If you’re a guest or the bride to be, the look to crave is downright chic darling! There is one hard and fast rule however: do not wear white, unless the bride has requested you to do so. With the nitty gritty out of the way, here’s how to dress for the occasion. Let the pre-wedding celebrations commence!

Brides are under a lot of pressure to maintain style perfection in the lead up to the big day, not just the ‘I do’ part. For the bridal shower, nothing says femininity like a lace dress. Go for a neutral hued lace like cream or white to have you turning heads before you hit the aisle. If you’re saving white for the big day, prints and statement embroidery are equally appealing. ‘Mini, maxi or midi?’ is the question though. While a mini is a fun and playful choice to celebrate the occasion, make it a midi for your sophisticated high tea setting, it will impress your mother-in-law to be. Our top pick? The delicate and dreamy Swan Lake Dress.

Something borrowed…something blue. While powder blue is big news this season, navy is one of the most flattering colours around and deserves a place in your wardrobe: it’s elegant, timeless and softer than black. When it comes to the silhouette, choose a cropped sleeve and a hemline which wafts somewhere before the knee and above the ankle.

Feminine florals, pretty pastels and bold colours are the way forward. Instead of party dresses, look to modern jumpsuits and separates that will take you from high tea to cocktail hour. A flyaway skirt is here to stay, so pair yours with a billowy top – plain or print. Experiment with belts for a nipped in waist. Not only is a belt flattering, it’s the perfect party accessory and this season it’s all about bow embellishments on your waist. The more dramatic the detailing, the better.

Reach for a contrasting clutch or a chained shoulder bag to complete your look. Accessories are key and a bag is an easy way to inject colour to your outfit.