A Tea Party for One

Have you ever found a restaurant you love so much, that you want to dress up just to make the dining experience more special? That’s exactly how I feel about Mad Hatter Bistro in Birmingham, Michigan. Rob discovered this gem of a restaurant and we stopped by for brunch a few months back. So, when I received word that HSN was launching an exclusive clothing line inspired by Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass, I knew Mad Hatter Bistro would be the perfect destination for afternoon tea.

This post is sponsored by HSN in partnership with CJ Affiliate’s VIP Content Service. All opinions are my own and I only share brands and products that I personally use and love. Affiliate links are also contained in this post. We receive a small commission from any links purchased through our links.

There is no better way to describe Mad Hatter Bistro than otherworldly. It blends traditional dining with a modern, eclectic quality and every single corner of the space is true to the Alice in Wonderland theme. The upstairs dining area is a nod to the Queen of Hearts: the oversized accent seating, the abundance of clocks, the plush red velvet -- even the black and white argyle accent wall. It truly feels as though you are stepping into the mad Queen’s lair.

The Mad Hatter boasts of a full menu, complete with themed cocktails.

For my visit, however, I only had eyes for one item on the menu: a kettle of tea for one.

So how does one dress for afternoon tea? Well, my preference is to wear a crisp, cotton dress.

The Madcap Cottage Floral Printed A-Line Dress from the HSN exclusive collection for Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass has absolutely everything I could ask for in a dress. I love wearing clothes that have a lot of structure and body. This dress does just that. It’s also made to leave extra space around the body so it isn’t tight or clingy. (I ordered a size 6 and probably could have fit into a 4.)

I prefer to dress modestly and the fact that this dress actually reached my knees was heavenly. It’s perfect for social events or even school events (like my students’ annual Mother’s Day Tea Party). The skirt’s lining had an extra mesh layer stitched in, which gave the skirt a fullness I could not have imagined. The skirt seemed to have a personality all its own, which completely added to the charm of the dress.

As if all of those details weren’t enough, there was one more amazing feature: pockets.

The most frustrating aspect of dressing up is usually a lack of pockets. The Madcap Cottage floral printed a-line dress has nice deep pockets that are perfect for storing a cell phone, keys, lip gloss, or any anything else you may need. Best of all, the full skirt perfectly conceals an added bulk from those items.

And the print? Gorgeous.

Perhaps the most surprising detail of this dress was the price. It’s currently priced at $99.90 on HSN and I can’t quite believe it. This dress has so many construction details that typically result in a higher price: pleating, fully-lined skirt with extra body, pockets, ribbon trim, natural cotton fabric.

And if you’ve never shopped on HSN before, you’re really in luck.
New customers get $20 off their next order of $40 or more (exclusions apply). Which means that you could get this fabulous dress for only $80. Just be sure to use the code 169087.

Seriously, grab it now. You won’t regret it.

Of course, every dress needs the perfect pair of shoes. My sandals are also part of HSN’s exclusive Alice Through the Looking Glass collection. The “Mikinal” clockwork design sandals from Vince Camuto are made from genuine leather. They look gorgeous and the design details are reminiscent of a clock’s internal gears and mechanics.

If you can believe it, these photos were actually taken “down the rabbit hole” in the basement of Mad Hatter Bistro. I’m telling you, it is a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Shop the Look from HSN

If you want to recreate this look, act fast! The Alice Through the Looking Glass Collection is only available on HSN for a limited time. The Mad Cottage floral a-line dress and “Mikinal” shoes from Vince Camuto are both HSN exclusive designs for this collection and they will soon disappear down a own rabbit hole of their own.

If you’re a new customer, don’t forget your exclusive discount to save $20 off your purchase of $40 or more (exclusions apply). Use the code 169087 when you check out.

Visit Mad Hatter Bistro

Special thanks to Mad Hatter Bistro for their hospitality. You can stop by for lunch, dinner, “Mad Hour” drinks, or weekend brunch. Mad Hatter Bistro also offers afternoon tea by reservation only from 11am-4pm. For reservations, call (248) 540-0000 and select option 2. Menus and complete information about their hours of operation are available on the Mad Hatter Bistro website.

Photos shot by BTW Photography