Fancy tea sets surge in popularity, credit Netflix and quarantine

Fancy tea sets are trending due to Bridgerton and quarantine

 

Have both Bridgerton and the pandemic contributed to the spike in upscale tea time? 

That's the claim of a Vogue article from last week (Thanks to Bridgerton, Fancy Tea Sets Have Become the New Must-Have) by Elise Taylor. Citing recent boosts in Google, Etsy and Pinterest searches for "tea", "tea sets" and "elegant tea sets" respectively, Taylor makes the case that nine months of quarantine-induced slovenly living combined with binge-watching the Regency-period series that focuses on the lifestyles of British aristocrats who indulge in every social repast, including tea time, has produced a pent-up need for fine living -  even if we don't leave the house.

Quarantine attire, sweat pants, no shoes

Sweat pants zone to end!

After months in sweatpants with few occasions that require footwear beyond slippers, along comes Bridgerton which, according to Stephanie Synclair, founder of the La Rue 1680 tea company, serves as a "pleasant reminder that we can be fabulous in our own homes, dressed in beautiful garments, sipping tea with our pinky up."  (All good except for "pinky up", but that's just the Tea Etiquette Consultant in me).

Time to make "every day moments more special & sophisticated"

Etsy trend expert, Danya  Isom Johnson is also quoted in the Vogue article as to why stylish tea times are on the upswing.  Per Johnson, "we're looking for ways to make everyday moments - like our morning or evening routines - feel a little more special and sophisticated. What better way to do that than with a beautiful tea set?"

Inspired to polish the silver tea set

We at BTS agree wholeheartedly and have embraced the trend. Spurred by the recent excitement of bringing luxury events to home confinement,  we recently brought out the silver (coffee and) tea set for a polish and put it to use - if only for two. We replaced the half bag of chips with an elegant three-tired tray filled with mini quiches, cookies and biscuits and, last but not least, swapped the sweat pants for more formal attire. (Is there ever a good reason not to wear a tiara on weekend afternoon?)

This is how one spends a Saturday afternoon at home:  fancy tea and shoes!

We fully support Bridgerton's influence to bring  new fans to fancy tea time. It gave us a reason to bring the silver out of the cabinet, treat ourselves to a bit of elegance and even put on shoes.

Luxury  tea and dress, ready for more Netflix

Elegant tea accoutrements were also part of a recent Frick Museum lecture, featuring the fine porcelain tea pots from their start in Europe. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog that continues on the topic of  fancy tea ware. 

In the meantime, pour another serving of Earl Grey into your prettiest bone china tea cup, take a break from the sweat pants zone and fire up the Netflix. Treat yourself to some gracious living in the company of Daphne Bridgerton.