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Mates 60th imminent. He's a good mate and it'll be a good do, except.... He's stipulated that it's fancy dress 🙄
His do, his rules but I effing hate fancy dress. I'm a self conscious, slightly socially awkward introvert. I have no imagination choosing it and I inevitably feel uncomfortable wearing it. But I don't want to be the party pooper! I know, I know I should chill, relax, it's just a bit of fun, yada, yada but that's not how my brain works.
Although I've known about it for yonks, I've done nothing about sorting anything out. It's now fairly imminent and I need some ideas. The 'theme' is pretty wide 'your favourite year of my life' i.e. the last 60 years.
Help.
Hitler always goes down well, though its stretching the time period a little.
I inevitably feel uncomfortable wearing it.
Best to go for something where your face is obscured then.
Hannibal Lector maybe, or MF Doom.
Well you could start by thinking what *WAS* your favourite year of your life and take it from there.
For example, it could be the year your first child was born (should you have one) and go dressed as a baby.
Or it could be the year you went on a few exciting holidays or big bike rides or something (then you could just go in your biking gear).
In fact, just think of something you already have that's comfortable and you won't mind wearing then invent the back-story to justify it.
Look in your wardrobe and see which of the cast of Seinfeld you would be dressed like if you just put on your own clothes.
or you could choose your friends party as the moment to celebrate - that time when you didn’t turn up in fancy dress.
it’s also worth having the measure of the other attendees enthusiasm. I have in the past reluctantly gone to a Halloween party in fancy dress only to find out nobody, not even the host whose bloody idea it was actually decided to dress up on the day 🙂
Well you could start by thinking what *WAS* your favourite year of your life and take it from there.
Thanks. This may sound odd, but do people have a favourite year? I don't! I'm fortunate to have had lots of good ones, but I'd be hard pushed to choose a single favourite! Just me I suspect.
Has your host got any particularly embarrassing memories he doesn't want to be reminded of? Dress as that, it's what a true mate would do.
"I’m a self conscious, slightly socially awkward introvert" Mos from IT Crowd?
or turn up just in your Y-fonts and say you're a premature ejaculation
Go as a mountain biker. You could even ride there, and get a ride in on the way. Bascially, just turn up after a ride (bonus if covered in mud), but without having to worry about looking out of place at a pub/club for once.
This may sound odd, but do people have a favourite year?
It doesn't have to be a definitive one, just pick a year/memory you like. For example, I could conceivably say the year Leeds United won the old Division One was my favourite year (nobody could or would argue it) – then I could go to a fancy dress party with a Leeds top on. Job jobbed.
The invisible man. You were defo there. 😉
it’s also worth having the measure of the other attendees enthusiasm. I have in the past reluctantly gone to a Halloween party in fancy dress only to find out nobody, not even the host whose bloody idea it was actually decided to dress up on the day 🙂
A similar experience, which might be the source of some of my angst. I went to my wife's work do years ago which supposedly had a 60s theme. I knew absolutely no one there and we were the only 2 people who went in fancy dress. I (in full Sgt Pepper get up) got collared by some bloke who spent the whole evening telling me about his model train set up, whilst my wife chatted to her mates.
Does your mate have a style? Dress as him.
Go as a ninja.
The clothing will be comfortable and your ninja mask will lend you both an air of mystery and a degree of anonymity.
Traffic light head.
You could say that 1983 was your best year because it was the first time you saw your favourite band of the time – Red Hot Chilli Peppers at the KitKat Club – and go dressed in the same way as they performed on stage. That's definitely one for an introvert.
Don't dress up, go to the party and sit in the corner. If anyone approaches and asks what you've come as you can loudly proclaim "I'M AN OGRE!"😀
Go all-in and hire a bearsuit or sports mascot costume?
Look in your wardrobe and see which of the cast of Seinfeld you would be dressed like if you just put on your own clothes.
I would have been Kramer BITD, now I'm probably more George 🙁
Go as a traffic warden on dress down Friday.
go as the caretaker that every ghost and monster on scoobie do was revealed to be
wear chromakey green leotard with ping pong balls on and be any character Andy serkis has ever played
You see, this is where being a full grown adult and having friends who are also full grown and functional adults works wonders for me.
"thanks for the invite, but not my thing, I'll take you for a beer/dinner/ride etc instead"
and don't go.
See also christenings.
Just wear your trousers backward and claim the release of the Kriss Kross single Jump was the highlight of the last sixty years.
For when you've forgotten that the party you're invited to is fancy dress and you don't have time to think up anything else, use what you've got: white shirt, white socks, white boxers, done...
Got my sisters 50th, 80's 90's fancy dress do soon. I'm going Miami vice stylee, wife is going Banarama stylee, son is going as Nigel Mansell, daughter as some 80s roller skating thing!
I love fancy dress! Have previously done Bjorn Borg, zombie chearleader, 80's skiing themed outfit, rugby player, belly dancer. Once went to a fancy dress party wearing normal clothes as I hadn't sorted anything out and was absolutely gutted.....
Edit: wish I'd thought of that above! Bus to Wetherby would have been fun!!!
Do as Trigger did and go as a Blues Brother
Paint yourself Yellow, get some Dungarees, find some old goggles.
Minion outfit Done...
You see, this is where being a full grown adult and having friends who are also full grown and functional adults works wonders for me.
“thanks for the invite, but not my thing, I’ll take you for a beer/dinner/ride etc instead”
and don’t go.
As a dysfunctional child I can only bask in your awesomeness! 😉 As I said, in the OP, it will be a good do. I DO want to go and celebrate with my mate, I just don't enjoy the FD bit.
Make him regret the idea: Go as a Sexy Nurse?
In the late 80s my Dad, famously a curmudgeon, went to a fancy dress party where the theme was 'something beginning with P'. He wore his normal clothes and went as a picket. 🙄
You could go as The Doppler Effect, as done on The Big Bang Theory. Some will get it, some won't.
Its really quite easy
A FANCY DRESS !!
I have a similar mindset to the OP, but damn, I can't wait for my next fancy dress invite!
just be yourself, something nondescript but a subtle nod to those in the know
I just don’t enjoy the FD bit.
There's plenty of time to do things you *do* enjoy with them. They're a good mate so will know its not your thing.
If a "good do" is your thing, go, if (like for me) the fancy dress will mean it stops being good, don't go.
It's fancy dress, everyone is going to look a prick the costume you wear won't change that so you're only going to stand out if you don't wear something.
DB. I see where you are coming from, but...
I will go, I will mostly enjoy it. I will wear FD so as not to put a dampener on my mates do and make it about me, instead of him on his birthday. My mild discomfort at this aspect will be outweighed by the fun bits.
Thanks everyone else for the suggestions, I think! 😂
When my daughter was at Primary school they'd arranged to go trick or treating with a load of other kids. One of the kids dads came as Jimmy Saville (after his abuses came to light) - that went down well! 😬
Surely everyone would love to dress up as a Ghostbuster?!?
My brother in law is going to my sister's do as a Ghostbuster and 3D printing his own proton pack!!
Blue boiler suit, iron on NASA patches, jobs a goodun for what ever space launches you enjoyed as a kid…
When my daughter was at Primary school they’d arranged to go trick or treating with a load of other kids. One of the kids dads came as Jimmy Saville (after his abuses came to light) – that went down well! 😬
My 2 BILs and me wanted to do Savile, Rolf Harris and Gary Glitter but there was a massive NO from my wife and my sisters!
I will wear FD
Absolutely, dear god don't go and not wear a silly outfit.
Any how, I'll share this (very old) joke:
A man with a bald head and a wooden leg is invited to a fancy dress party.
He doesn’t know what to wear to hide his head and his wooden leg, so he writes to a fancy dress company to explain his problem.
A few days later he receives a parcel with a note:
Dear Sir,
Please find enclosed a pirate’s outfit. The spotted handkerchief will cover your bald head and, with your wooden leg, you will be just right as a pirate’.
The man thinks this is terrible because the company has simply emphasised his disability. So he writes a letter of complaint.
A week passes and he receives another parcel and note:
‘Dear Sir,
Sorry about the previous parcel. Please find enclosed a monk’s habit. The long robe will cover your wooden leg and, with your bald head, you will really look the part of a monk’.
The man is utterly furious now because the company has gone from emphasising his wooden leg to drawing attention to his bald head. So he writes a really rude letter of complaint.
A few days later he gets a very small parcel from the company with another letter:
‘Dear Sir,
Please find enclosed a tin of Golden Syrup. Pour the tin of syrup over your bald head. Stick your wooden leg up your a.se – and go to the fancy dress party as a toffee apple!’.
Make him regret the idea: Go as a Sexy ….
Proctologist
One and only time fancy dress,I went to the BIL's 40th. Stereotypical Mexican on a donkey outfit( you can hire them) with massive sombrero and tash(me not the donkey) It went down a storm and we had a great night.
OP
It's only one night of your life and he's a mate,get it sorted.
😃
My 2 BILs and me wanted to do Savile, Rolf Harris and Gary Glitter but there was a massive NO from my wife and my sisters!
We once had a 'Rolf' night for one our Xmas parties (before he was outed!) - must have been at least 40 Rolfs. Wobble boards, paint brushes, armbands and all the usual Aussie sterotype accessories. I even bought a stylophone.
The photos are now destroyed!
Go as Steve Jobs. you can be 2007
Home made rosette, pair of tights or stockings, brylcreemed hair, suit jacket, bit of orange peel. Sorted.
Make him regret the idea: Go as a Sexy ….
Proctologist
Still talking about Seinfeld?
I tend to go as the host.
A bald cap, big beard, sunglasses, fake barb wire wrapped around me (the host often crashed into things) exactly the same brooks jersey as the host… beardy Martin thought he was looking in a mirror.
I even added a miniature door to my forehead and invited him to open it. “Open the door to martins mind”… and inside he saw a lovely sprig of broccoli with big tits photoshopped on. I danced around his garden singing “broccoli and tits, broccoli and tits”
“Who are you”…
“I am Martin, welcome to my party”
“Yes I know you are me, but who are you?”
Ah just rock up as Borat in a mankini and be the talk of the party.
Go as Arthur Dent. Easy costume that leaves you ready for bed when you get home
Introvert? Don the sweatshirt and hat, grab yourself a chair, close your eyes and wait for the end of the party. Seen me through 20 years of Christmas dos this outfit.
Go as a serial killer or a body snatcher, because they look just like you or me. Take along a (fake plastic) knife if you're going as a serial killer and want to go the extra mile.
Get a cheap judo costume and a lightsabre and you can go as Luke Skylwalker from the original Star Wars movie.
Go as Arthur Dent. Easy costume that leaves you ready for bed when you get home
This and make sure to spend the entire evening trying to get a cup of something that is almost but not quite exactly unlike tea.
Black shoes. Black trousers. Black poloneck. Box of Milk Tray for the lady.
Job done.
Or blue jeans.
Jobs done.
relapsed_mandalorian
Full MemberThe invisible man. You were defo there
Actually the invisible man isn't a bad one, as a fellow hater of fancy dress.
Wrap head in bandages. Wear a big coat, sunglasses, hat and gloves.
Job done.
Mate of mine once went to a fancy dress party wearing grey shorts, grey knee length socks, white shirt and red tie.
When anyone asked what he was dressed as he said himself on his first holy communion and produced a picture of himself aged 7 from his top pocket. Weird.
Two friends and I were going to go to one as Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy from Monkey Magic. None of us wanted to be Sandy so we didn’t go ahead unfortunately.
Actually the invisible man isn’t a bad one, as a fellow hater of fancy dress.
Wrap head in bandages. Wear a big coat, sunglasses, hat and gloves.
Job done.
That might be the solution! Ta!
There's only one answer to the favourite year thing. Blow-up doll. Inflated. Tape it to you, facing, but head down your (shorts, probably) and its legs up in the air.
Best year of my life. The summer of '69.
Good luck. And photos, lots of photos.
^^ 😂