WHEN TEA IS MORE THAN JUST TEA
MONIQUE BERRY keeps a calendar of “firsts” on her phone, complete with photos.
The first time she dropped a lamp on her foot, the first time she let her hair go fully grey, the first time she sipped a coffee brewed from a K-cup pod (flavour: chocolate chip).
And this week, Berry, 59, a writer, editor and publisher of the online literary magazine Halcyon Days, added “model” to her list of firsts, when she was asked by the staff at Meaningfulwear to strut the runway during the consignment store’s High Tea, a monthly event that is part afternoon tea, part fashion show, part personal shopping experience.
“It’s an aspect of learning,” says Berry, who modelled a floral Tradition blazer, green Coral Bay sweater with grommet detail and khaki B.U.M. Equipment cropped pants, of diving into new experiences. “Learning always keeps your spark. It’s the spark of life … it’s like looking at it through a child’s eyes.”
The High Tea is the brainchild of Meaningfulwear’s owner, Victoria Shaw, who opened her east Mountain shop in late 2016, with an eye to creating events that give back to the community. Afternoon or high teas are generally very expensive, she points out, and can cost anywhere between $30 and $50 per person locally, a price that can be financially prohibitive for many people. Shaw charges $5 per person to cover costs of the handbaked goods and tea they serve to the mostly 50-plus crowd by white-gloved volunteers.
“It brings women together,” says Shaw, 50, who sets several formal tables right in the middle of the store, complete with china cups and silver teapots. “I’m big on celebrating. And some women never get celebrated.”
And it’s become one of the hottest tickets in town. Meaningfulwear’s High Teas are held on the first Tuesday of the month, and the one taking place in June is already sold out. There are just a few spots remaining for the July event. Shaw says she’s already taking bookings into August.
So how does shopping and fashion fit into an event centred on tea and pastry? High Tea guests are invited to arrive at the store one hour before tea time, at which point the shop is closed to outside customers, explains Shaw. Meaningfulwear’s personal shopper, Marianne Mota, is on-hand to assist and to find a handful of volunteers willing to be “dressed” by her. Those
“I’m big on celebrating. And some women never get celebrated.” VICTORIA SHAW Owner, Meaningfulwear
Shaw explains that when dressing a guest for the runway, they will consider the person’s personality and style and help guide them.
volunteers then walk the store “runway” during the tea, at which point guests will vote on the outfits by raising paddles emblazoned with a princess tiara on one side, NAY on the other.
“I liked something and I tried it on and the next thing I know they’re going, ‘Will you model today?’ And I said yes,” laughs Lynda Gray, 71, a first-time attendee who travelled from Binbrook with three women from her book club.
The “something” was a punchy floral Joan Rivers collection blazer in lime green, periwinkle and turquoise she modelled with a turquoise cowl neck top and white denim capri pants. But after picking it up and trying it on, she was still on the fence about buying it.
“I’m afraid of (the jacket),” says Gray, who is trying to work bright colours into her wardrobe now that she’s letting her hair go fully grey. “It’s very bright. So, it’ll be one of those things I’m sure we all have in our closets. We put it on and then we take it off and then we put it on and then as you’re going out the door, no no.”
Shaw explains that when dressing a guest for the runway, they will consider the person’s personality and style and help guide them.
“You don’t want to put them in something that’s not their comfort zone,” she says. “But we also say, ‘Will you let us play with you?’ If you don’t like it, we don’t want you to buy it.”