Not in a party mood.

Well, I love 'does' and miss not having many to go to these days

My father was in the army, which is very social, and sometimes formal. As a child, my sister and I hated with an all consuming hate the mandatory children's parties, but when I got older, I rather enjoyed all the entertaining and does. All those young subalterns!! I had my first date with a subaltern I met at a buffet supper party.

Later DH's best man was in the navy and over the years we went to quite a number of really gorgeous naval does.

In our working days, some of our various employers used to have Christmas dinner dances for their staff, to which we went, but that was back in the 1980s. DH loves opera so over the last 10 years we have been to Glynebourne during the summer season a few times - and that is formal.

I have three does coming up; we are off to Glynebourne, to see the touring opera before it goes on tour. Not formal, no picnic break (too dark and too cold) but 'smart casual' and then for our golden wedding anniversary someone gave us a very generous Royal Opera House token, enough for us to go to 2 performances. We haven't been there since the 1980s. No strict dress code, but I like to dress up for it.

So, I was out hunting for party wear last week, and I can tell you that at present there is nothing in the shops, whatever the adverts may say. I ended up buying some bottle green velvet skinny leg trousers from M&S (£ 30) and a pretty silky looking floral ruffled top from H&M (£12). I also bought a necklace at M&S(£20). To be worn with gold earrings I have had for years and some rose gold shoes I bought for a wedding this summer.

The top will eventually become a summer top and I will probably wear the trousers with a different top and shoes when we go to the panto at Christmas - ah, a Christmas 'do', or doesn't it count?

I am not a party person, but I love a dressing up 'do'

No parties for me and another who doesn’t do more than a few lunches with friends so no party dresses
I didn’t go to works parties as I was one of the few without a husband to take and from what I heard afterwards I m rather glad I didn’t go especially the year they started throwing food at each other
Christmas Day, Boxing Day nice meal with the only childand grandkids in UK then roll on January

I used to enjoy parties, especially around Christmas time, but I can’t stand about the place for long now, need a sit down.
We will see friends and family for a few meals I expect, and There are a few village group things to go to, but no need to be dressy really.
Having said that......I wouldn't mind something new to wear.

Nothing beyond good friends getting together, and they won't mind what I wear. No 'office' party or clubs' or organisations' Christmas dinners.. not our scene! We may host a gathering but I am sue I have a suitable outfit somewhere! We are going to a lovely Michelin Star restaurant on New Years Eve but I have LBD that I can wear!

No sparkly (but hideous and tacky) Christmas jumper ethel?
I noticed a pop-up the other day, could have been on here or on FB, for Christmas dresses - no, not tasteful black or teal or even red cocktail dresses, they were swirly dresses with bright Christmas patterns all over them.
Might as well wrap yourself in Christmas paper.

And I've no need to buy new clothes either

I thought that I was the only one who hates going to Christmas dos or any dos. We don't have work dos as we all live in different areas and most of my friends are older and or disabled. So apart from dinner with the family I will be curled up with a good book

We don't really have any dos to go to. We have a family meet up each year for a meal at a pub/restaurant, which I organise, but that's about it. I hated works dos. I worked for a government department and you were 'expected' to attend the annual meal, which you had to pay for yourself and was always expensive. The higher up staff used to be patronising to us lowly ones, almost patting us on the head and implying how grateful we must be that we were mixing with them. Everyone sat around like stuffed shirts. After a few of these I just said no.

I hate dressing up, I have a "do" to go to very soon at a nice hotel, and have been struggling to find something to wear. I am overweight, I always wear wide leg trousers, and a top. I just can't find anything I like, I've been through various web sites for days now. Bon Marche have failed me. I found a soft paisley ethnic look jacket I loved in Wallis, but not my size anywhere.

I have a colourful flowery chiffon blouse, and cami with sparkly bits, that is at least 15 years old. I can see me reduced to wearing that!! I don't suppose anyone will notice.

I don't mind ordinary parties with food, drink and music. I really hate anything where I have to wear fancy dress or murder mystery type functions.

I don’t miss works “do’s” and neither does DH. Mostly family get togethers now. I have never been a party person, but when DH was in the services, it was expected that you would both host and be hosted, so we just got on with it, but didn’t miss it when he retired. As for Christmas ads, I agree with Maw - they seem to put a weight of unrealistic expectation on people to emulate those groaning tables. Too much food is wasted at Christmas. There should merely be ‘an elegant sufficiency’! Anyone for a packet of Twiglets and a bottle of brown ale?

I don't mind dressing up and sometimes when I listen to my DD about all the activities she has on at Xmas it takes me back to my younger days when Xmas/New Year were busy times. My friend and I used to swap xmas pressies but last year since we both admitted we don't need anything really we decided on having a nice Xmas lunch out together. It was lovely and gave us the chance to pretty ourselves up for an afternoon, lunch and a glass of wine or perhaps 2. However apart from our Scottish meet up (Elegran) and Xmas Day that's it for me this year. Still very enjoyable though.

Give me a little lunch or small evening meal out any day...no parties for me thanks .I have been invited to xmas "do" from work at a posh place I politely said I would think about it but have no intention of accepting the offer.I would have to buy

New complete outfit/pay for ticket/taxi/drinks etc etc .As I don't socialise that much apart from family meals lunch out with friends etc then I know it would stress me out trying to find a complete outfit.

I don't like the kind of parties where people stand around with a drink in their hand, chatting and nibbling on canapes.
I do like a good lunch though

No, I haven't got parties to go to. I'll ARRANGE a party for the old dears at the day centre I run, so that will be nice. I buy them all a present each, and "Santa" gives them out. We have a Christmas lunch one day, a buffet on another day, and the local schoolchildren come and sing for us. We'll also have a tombola with lovely prizes. I rig it so that everyone wins something.

Apart from that, it'll be time with the family, which I love

I have one top that I've worn to weddings, funerals, and obligatory 'dos' for the last few years.
I got it from the hospital charity shop.

We have a 'works' party and this year a social group I attend is having a party. I'm looking forward to the latter but not the former. As for clothes, I'm likely to wear something simple - either a dress or trousers [that I already have] and top - with sparkly jewellery. It certainly won't be expensive and I will be wearing the same to both events - and any other that we might get invited to!!!

One of the upsides of retiring, no more work dos to have to go to. Other than that avoid like the plague, just the odd informal get together and don't dress up. Shops and supermarkets rammed with seasonal landfill.

I’d love a Christmas party to go to. I always enjoyed the office parties when I was working, though in the latter years they were reduced to a lunch (not the same at all). I love an opportunity to get dressed up!

I certainly wouldn't buy a new item for any do. I would wear what I have got.

Nothing so far, thank goodness, but there might be a few informal gatherings nearer the time. Smart clothes but not dressy. Another party pooper here!

That reminds me, I must plan a Christmas party for our Redbridge meet up. And we will get dressed up!

I don't mind the 'Christmas lunch' with friends or people from DH's club(s)
It does mean I don't have to cook that day.

Long since stopped attending any office Christmas "do's". I absolutely hated seeing colleagues staggering around, much the worse for wear from drinking too much and, as I don't drink alcohol at all, being stone cold sober and having the memory of their antics for months after. And like MissA, I avoid all occassions where dressing up in any capacity is required.

Merry Christmas to you all!

I'm going to no parties at all, just Christmas dinner at home with family and lunch with Scottish grans in December (booked for Wed 12th Dec, if regulars at Scottish meetups have missed the thread) I shan't be buying new outfits for either.