Tim Burton’s long-awaited Alice In Wonderland was released just yesterday and if you managed to get a ticket, then well done! Back in October, I was invited to a preview of the film at The May Fair Hotel, with an impressive pop-up Wonderland and a delicious Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. The Wonderland was a replica of that in the film and all of the incredible costumes worn by The Mad Hatter and The Queen of Hearts were on display.
London’s gone mad as a hatter for Alice with afternoon teas, jewellery, make-up and treats inspired by her adventures. Everyday is like a Mad Hatter’s tea party at Ladurée (although a much more civilised one), so it’s fitting that the divine temple of macaroons would create a limited edition Alice box.
The gorgeous music box is covered with illustrations from Alice in Wonderland and Ladurée’s signature cakes and in packed with 12 green apple macaroons (Ladurée’s new Spring flavour).
The Ladurée tea salon at Printemps in Paris has been turned into an ephemeral Wonderland, with giant tea pots and long communal tables, so you can have your own Parisian Mad Hatter’s Tea Party! Printemps have also installed their own Alice-inspired creations by designers such as Haider Ackermann, Manish Arora, Chloé, Ann Demeulemeester, Christopher Kane, Nicholas Kirkwood, Maison Martin Margiela, Bernhard Willhelm, and the late Alexander McQueen.
The limited edition Alice macaroon box is available until 18 March at all Ladurée stores.
If you’re after more of an English Eccentric kind of tea, The Sanderson invite you to fall down the rabbit hole for a Mad Hatter’s tea party. The afternoon tea consists of rainbow-coloured sandwiches, Heston Blumenthal-style molecular cakes and some very traditional scones with clotted cream and jam.
Curious desserts include a Queen of Hearts teacake, which melts in the mouth when you bite through the white chocolate and strawberry shell; a hazelnut and passion fruit tart topped with the White Rabbit’s pocket watch; a chocolate crackle cupcake; pineapple lollipops that turn your mouth from cold to hot and mint chocolate chip ice cream lollipops that explode with a single bite.
The tea is served in the hotel’s Courtyard Garden and is presented on the prettiest vintage tea set by ClaraBows.
The Mad Hatter’s afternoon tea at The Sanderson is available daily from 2.30pm – 5.30pm throughout March 2010. The standard tea costs £20.00 per person, and is also available with a glass of Veuve Cliquot Champagne for £26.00. To make a reservation, call 0207 300 1444
Selfridges have also given their appropriately named Wonder Room an Alice make-over. They are displaying costumes from the film, including Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter suit and hat (sadly, that’s as far as most of us will get to him).
Stella McCartney, Tom Binns and Anna Lou of London have teamed up with Disney Couture to produce a range of Alice in Wonderland jewellery, all available at Selfridges. Expect a multitude of charms such as playing cards, pocket watches, broken hearts, white rabbits and tea pots.
Make-up junkies will find it hard to resist the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows by Urban Decay, OPI’s collection of Alice glittery nail polishes and Paul & Joe’s adorable Disney range.
Warning: As lovely as these Alice-inspired events and goodies are, don’t get too distracted and forget to go and see the film!