AIBU to wonder what happened to party clothes?

[Beadoren]

If my DC (4 and 2) are going to a party, I always put them in their 'party clothes'. This usually means like a little patterned shirt and chinos for my DS and a dress or frock for DD. But I've noticed that loads of people these days tend not to dress their kids up. Even for their own parties? No judgement here whatsoever, I guess it's just what kids are comfortable in but my DS loves dressing up in his party clothes!

I'm not including soft play or fancy dress here, obviously.

[TheTurnOfTheScrew]

My elder DD loves party clothes, and will change into a sparkly frock at a minute's notice. My younger dad isn't one for dressing smartly, and I cannot be bothered with having a big fight over it, unless it's a formal occasion. But I'm not going to force her into stuff she doesn't like for a bouncy castle in a church hall.

[TheTurnOfTheScrew]

Younger dd, not dad. My younger dad loves a sparky dress .

[TheWitTank]

Most of the kids parties here these days are physical- football, karate, nerf guns, bouncy castles etc. None match up terribly well with a sequinned dress and ballet flats or a button down shirt and chinos. I always made/make sure my two looked clean and smart, but not necessarily done up to the nines in formal party wear which would get ripped or ruined or be uncomfortable. We do get dressed up for weddings and parties like that though obviously!

[nonameinspiration]

Mixed bag here. Lots of party clothes at my kids parties - my dds have a party dress and shoes bought every year for parties and xmas day.
I know what you mean though there are some kids who never have a party dress whatever the occasion. It's not related to income in my area it's just a thing.

Some parents are precious about clothes - I am! Some arnt

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

We had a little house party the other day for DS. By the time we'd got the house ready, we didn't really think about changing his clothes from what he'd put on that morning, but really with it being a nice day it was just a romp around the garden with other children. By the end, he was very happily partied out and rather grubby and dishevelled anyway!

DS1 is incredibly fussy over clothes. He lives in shorts. He will wear casual shirts like floral Hawaiian types, and that look seems to cover 90% of events. It's long time since we've been to a formal wedding.

Having two boys, there's not much distinction between everyday clothing and smarter clothing. For girls it's more obvious. I agree about parties often being physical, there's not many where the most vigorous activity is musical chairs any more, and fancy frocks get in the way for things like bouncy castles etc.

Not a party, but recently I was at a trampoline park, and a young girl was there wearing a very fancy dress to get tangled up in

[witsender]

Depends on the party. Bouncing around on a castle or up a tree? Hardly flouncy dress activities

[FinallyHere]

And surely it depends on the girl, too. I was never one for being dressed up, it meant i had to 'sit still and keep clean' which lacked any appeal to me. Now I get to choose my own clothes, I still prioritise practicality over sequins.

[blubberball]

I remember my family getting all dressed up to go out to dinner at a Beefeater restaurant. I don't think that would happen any more, and I don't even know if any other families did it back then.

[Dulra]

If the party is at a house my kids (3 girls) always like to wear a nice party dress but most of the parties are at playcentres etc so its leggings and a top most of the time

[BeyondThePage]

We get dressed up to go out and eat (Ask/Beefeater/country pub) - 2 teenage daughters who love a dress-up occasion.

[Photograph]

I might buy something smart for a wedding, but I don't see the point of "party clothes" for kids at all. I mean for my kids, I really don't have an opinion about other people, I don't really notice to be honest. I do cringe when I see a toddler wearing a bow tie, I can't help it.

My boys wear jeans or chinos as standard. I dislike all the over-patterned tshirts (super heroes or garish colour), so they hardly have any.

Sport clothes are for PE only, so they wear perfectly suitable shoes during the day.

It slightly different for my daughter who sometimes likes a big dress, but doesn't really wear them when playing outside. If she wants to wear a dress for a party, she's more than welcome to do so.

I don't believe in keeping clothes for "best", not even for me, and my kids grow so fast that it would be a waste. No judgement either! The only one I do laugh about is the local woman who is constantly looking for second-hand clothes for her kids, but Ralph Lauren only. (ideally free, and she gets irate if anyone else gets them)

[megletthesecond]

Because parties are either crafty or physical so there isn't much point in putting them in fancy or restrictive clothes.

It's an awful lot of extra expense for items that might only be worn a handful of times too.

Mine have nice t-shirts or tops for parties and wear with clean jeans or jeggings.

[sailorcherries]

For a party my DS 6 will normally wear joggie bottoms and a polo shirt as it is the most practical but slightly done up (most tend to be soft play or bouncy castles).

Depending on the meal out or event he will wear jeans and a poloshirt, occasionally a shirt if I can coerce him in to it. He wore a shirt off his own back for school picture day and a New Years Day lunch. It's slow progress.

For weddings he wears a kilt.

[leccybill]

Party clothes here too, I also buy Christmas clothes and Easter clothes!

[MatildaTheCat]

What's the difference between a dress and a frock, please?

It's nice for anyone to get dressed up for an occasion but some people, even from a very early age hate doing so which is fine.

[minipie]

DD is 4 and most parties seem to be softplay so a delicate dress isn't suitable. I try to find something that's in between, practical but pretty but will err on the side of practical. She likes dresses however, I know several girls who don't and not sure why they should be shoehorned into a dress just because it's a party!

[TheRealPooTroll]

If it's a hired hall with some party food and a disco then my dd will always go for a party dress. Not for a playcentre though as playcentre plus party dress = friction burns from the slide

[Starlighter]

My dd4 would wear a party dress every day if she could! We've just about managed to limit it to parties! I love to dress up as well tbh. My husband and ds2 could take it or leave it!

[Lukeandlorelai4Ever]

I've also noticed this! I loved dressing in my party dress as a child going to parties.
My dd loves dresses so she looks like she's going to a party every day 🙄
If she's going to a play center party I always put on a short dress with leggings.

[Bear2014]

Our DD has some lovely clothes, mostly given as presents, and most we struggle to ever put them on her as she is either at nursery, at the park or doing some other physical activity. She spends most of Saturday in her football kit. Parties at the moment are largely soft play or similar. It would be nice to have the chance to put her in nice stuff! She's 3 so that should change I imagine.

[saracrewe2]

I think it is down to your own personal culture and how you view the event. When I was young (nearly 40) a birthday party was a big deal and it was 'Sunday best' clothing. They seem much more common now, there seems to be a party at least every month so I suppose to me it isn't such a big deal.

Others make everything into a 'do' and we have all seen the 'airport outfitters' on here and they usually get slagged off. On non uniform days in my dc primary schools the majority of children wear very every day clothes but there are always the same children who are in what i would deem party wear; long, flouncy, floaty, sequiny dresses that for me are not suitable dress for running around in. Horses for courses my BIL put on a tie for going to KFC once.

[PurpleMinionMummy]

I think people don't see the point in spending money on something that will only get worn a few times before they out grow it. That and it will probably end up with chocolate cake or something equally as annoying to wash out.

[TheFirstMrsDV]

My older kids always had party clothes and new outfits at Christmas and Easter etc.

I admit I have become pretty slack with DCs 4 & 5.
Well part of it is my slackness but part is that others don't seem to bother and (as a pp said) parties tend to be activity or craft based now.
I usually nod towards it though. A short sleeve shirt and chinos rather than joggers and teeshirt.
And they have a wash

[Photograph]

I didn't even buy an outfit for my kids for the wedding we went to last Saturday! Pretty sure most of the clothes they were wearing had been used to play in the garden at some point, but as long as they still look pristine, they looked perfect.

(I have read the thread about adult new outfits )

[hels71]

When I was younger every girl had her party dress. It was always a long dress. I loved mine as it was about the only pretty thing I had! But when i was a child parties were at your friend's house, with games and a sit down party tea. Now they seem to involve so much more that dresses are less suitable,