Tea Parties, me, the Prime Minister’s residence and a very good cause
In addition to all the stuff I am doing like teaching and sewing, I have a very exciting event coming up. On Monday the 11th of June I am donating my time as the featured speaker at Save the Children’s annual fundraiser – an afternoon tea at Premier House. Yes, Premier House! That’s the Prime Minister’s residence! It’s like speaking at the White House or 10 Downing Street! (well, the White House or 10 Downing St in a country with 4 million people, but still!) I am, needless to say, looking forward to it. As it is an afternoon tea, I’m going to speak on the fashions related to tea: the links between the tea trade and the trade in Eastern textiles, the introduction ‘afternoon tea’, and of course, tea gowns! The official invite says: Join textile historian Leimomi Oakes for afternoon tea and an informative and amusing history of tea and the fashions that tea inspired. The talk will cover the introduction of tea into Europe in the 17th century, the invention of ‘afternoon …