Occasions and ordering · 5 October 2026 · 4 min read

What to wear to a hi-tea or brunch

What to wear to a hi tea or brunch: light colours, prints and little shine for daytime, with sleeves and a dupatta that behave at a buffet table.

Inspiration

Daytime polish, without evening shine

To a hi-tea or brunch, wear a light daytime outfit: a suit, a kurta set or a dress in a pale or fresh colour or a print, with little or no shine. Aim for polished but relaxed, a clear step above everyday clothes and a clear step below evening wear.

Both are daylight occasions in restaurants, hotels and cafés, and daylight is the thing to dress for. For evening meals in someone’s home, our guide to dawat and dinner-party outfits covers a different level.

Hi-tea and brunch: what you are dressing for

In Pakistan a hi-tea is a late-afternoon spread of savoury snacks, sandwiches and sweets with tea, usually served as a buffet at a hotel or restaurant, and a favourite format for birthdays, reunions and family get-togethers. Brunch is the late-morning version, more often at a café and more relaxed.

At both you will queue at a buffet or share a crowded table, sit for a couple of hours, and be photographed in strong natural light. Some hotels publish a dress code for afternoon tea, so check when you book.

Colour, print and fabric in daylight

Pastels, whites, florals and fresh mid tones look their best by day. Heavy sparkle and metallic fabric look like evening wear that has stayed out too long. If you want a little lift, choose a fabric with a soft glow or one area of fine embroidery.

Summer: printed or embroidered lawn, cambric, or a light chiffon layer over a lining.
Cooler months: cotton silk, linen or a fine winter cloth in a lighter shade.
Dupatta: an organza or chiffon dupatta lifts a plain cotton suit. Our guide to organza in everyday outfits shows how to wear it without looking formal.
Embroidery level: delicate for a café, detailed for a hotel or a celebration. Statement work belongs to the evening.

Sleeves and dupattas at the buffet

A buffet is hard on clothes. You reach across serving dishes, carry a plate in one hand and a cup in the other, and have no hand left for anything that slips.

Sleeves: three-quarter sleeves or neat full sleeves with a close cuff. Bell sleeves and trailing cuffs end up in the chutney.
Dupatta: pinned at one shoulder, or a narrower one worn close to the neck. A dupatta balanced on both arms slides off the moment you pick up a plate.
Trims: skip long tassels at the dupatta ends and the cuffs.
Colour and spills: prints forgive a drop of tea; plain pastels do not. If you choose a pale plain suit, keep a napkin on your lap.
Bag: a small one on a strap leaves both hands free.

Ideas by setting

Where the table is laid changes the level slightly.

Hotel hi-tea: an embroidered lawn or cotton silk suit with a soft dupatta, slim trousers and low heels.
Café brunch with friends: a co-ord set, a kurta with straight trousers, or a long dress such as our tiered maxi dress.
Hi-tea at someone’s home: a printed suit with a light dupatta and flat shoes you can slip off at the door.
A celebration: for a birthday or a shower, go one step dressier. Our guide to baby shower and aqiqah guest outfits has ideas at that level.
Outdoors: on a lawn or terrace, see our summer garden party outfits.

What to ask for in your quote

A daytime occasion suit gets worn often: brunches, hi-teas, Eid visits and lunches all call for the same level. With Fabric + Stitching we supply the agreed fabric and make the outfit to your measurements; our weekend and gatherings page shows more looks.

In the quote form, give the fabric and colour family you want, the embroidery level, the kameez length (knee to calf suits most daytime events) and the sleeve style. If you have a date in mind, making takes 5 to 7 working days from approval and full payment, and shipping time is added to that.

Common questions

Is there a dress code for high tea at a hotel?

Many hotels ask for smart casual at afternoon tea and may not admit guests in sportswear or beachwear, while others set no code at all. Check the booking page or confirmation before you go.

Can I wear black to a hi-tea or brunch?

Yes. Lighten it for daytime with a printed or pale dupatta, a lighter fabric such as lawn or chiffon, and minimal shine. All-black with heavy embellishment reads as evening wear.

What is the difference between hi-tea and high tea?

In Pakistan, hi-tea is the common spelling for a late-afternoon buffet of snacks with tea. In Britain, the elegant tea with sandwiches, scones and cakes is called afternoon tea, and high tea traditionally meant a heartier early-evening meal. Hotels abroad often use high tea for afternoon tea.

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