Dress Code at The Shard

For goodness sake!!! Most people dress in business attire Monday to Friday and at the weekend they wear casual clothes. It's time the management at The Shard take a step into the 21st century.

Last month we had afternoon tea at Chatsworth House. I wore a dress and DH wore trousers and a shirt. Everyone else in there having afternoon tea was in jeans, fleeces and trainers. I felt a bit daft although it was only a plainish 'day' dress but I was also surprised at how little effort people had made.

I wouldn't have dressed up for the Shard though!

We passed a church the other day where a wedding party was just bursting out. Amongst the posh frocks and decent shirts and trousers there was a handful of men wearing jeans, trainers and sweatshirts. No, none of them designer, unless you count Primarni, and none of them even remotely smart. Turning up to a wedding looking as if you've just rolled out of bed is an insult to the couple and their family, IMHO, as well as to your own partner (all the women had made a real effort).

Having to dress up for a tourist attraction is a step too far, though!

Tip - if you're going to walk through "mucky" areas in London in trainers , just pop a pair of court shoes in your bag to go into restaurants, theatres etc.
Perhaps NotTooOld's SIL might find walking in court shoes a bit difficult if he's not used to them.

DS's best man thought that they were hiring shoes as part of their wedding outfits but they hadn't made that arrangement. He turned up with only his trainers which were, fortunately, black and didn't show up in the photographs.

I'm not sure of the reasons but a wedding we attended a couple of years ago the groom, best man and ushers wore black and lime green trainers with their morning suits. The bride's father refused to join in and wore black leather shoes.

I was shocked at DDs' wedding here in Brussels, even the designer who made her dress was in jeans, trainers and a really tatty jumper.
One guest was almost refused as she looked like she had stuck some clothes over her nightie, the ushers came to ask who she was.
Even at the quite formal evening dinner the Belgian and some of the French guests were very, very casual. the Brits were dressed to kill.
Made for some interesting photographs
I wear trainers most of the time as I am disabled and they are the most comfortable to walk in, I wonder if I would have been refused entry to the Shard ?

Jalima . I had the same thought!

Personally, I am against any sort of dress code for any sort of event, even especially weddings (love the idea of the green and white trainers, by the way). What's wrong with a bit of individualism? Cleanliness is more important than convention.

The scruffy old jeans, trainers and sweatshirt you wear every day don't really shout individualism, though, do they? More can't be a****d.

Using you in the sense of one, of course. I would never cast aspersions on fellow Gransnetters' sartorial elegance!

I was having very posh afternoon tea in the hotel whilst visiting the Shard so we had to make a bit of an effort and look nice.
You don't need to wear trainers as you are mainly in lifts its only the last 3 floors you walk up if you want to.

Maggie - it's ok, one did not take offence.

Re individualism, I suppose I just don't like being told what I should and shouldn't wear. I used to hate having to send my kids to school in a horrible polyester school uniform that someone else (not me) thought was suitable. I've been like this since I threw away my school hat at age 12.

Jeans are the least individualistic of clothing.
Someone asked DH why he never wore jeans and he replied that he had spent years in a uniform.

Yes, ninathenana I went to a wedding where the groom and best man were in morning suit and wore black and white striped canvas shoes (not trainers, more daps!).

Quite frankly the Shard isn't all that. Went up there last summer and encountered this pretentiousness. I occasionally frequent much more classy venues worthy of such standards, but the Shard isn't in the same league.
However, 'across the road' is the Walkie Talkie tower (or whatever it's proper name is), and has the Sky Garden - absolutely fabulous, free (which the Shard isn't) and the best views (you can see the Shard from there!). The balcony gives you a fantastic sensation of 'feeling' London from up on high also.