60th birthday party outfit help...please

[TrashPanda]

We are due to be going to a 60th birthday party in a couple of weeks. The dress code is below. I need to dress me, DP and DS's. I have very little budget and no ideas. I'm also rubbish at anything hair and makeup.

Hello everyone! Mother has finally decided on a theme! The party will be classic Hollywood. We're taking Audrey Hepburn, Carey Grant, Grace of Monaco etc etc but take from it whatever you want! Charlie Chaplin, Steve McQueen as an example, just have fun with it!

I am 28 and 5'2" about a very untoned size 8/10 with non existent boobs. I will also be about 12 weeks pregnant, probably why this party isn't top of my list to sort out, and showing very early as it's my 3rd. Not planning to have told people though

DP has a dark blue, not navy, 3 piece suit that he hates wearing can he just wear that?

The boys are 8 and 2 and usually live in shorts/jeans/joggers and tshirts so don't have anything smart really. They are invited from the start at 4pm until about 8 when they'll be going home with my Dad.

If anyone has any ideas for me and the boys in particular I will be immensely grateful. The birthday girl loves all the old films but I don't so haven't even got those to get inspiration from.

[Kochicoo]

Wizard of Oz? Dorothy (cheap costumes on eBay which would probably flare out and hide any bump) and 2 oompa loompas or mini scarecrow/lion/tinman??

Classic Hollywood without expense of glamour??

[TrashPanda]

I'm sorry, I lost this with the TIO weirdness and forgot to come back.

They have now added extra instructions, including no fancy dress preferred, which is helpful with less than 2 weeks to go.

I have ordered a couple of cheap dresses from Lady V as they are a sort of Audrey Hepburn shape. Will see how they are when they get here and see how they look. My sister has also said she has a white halterneck prom style dress that might fit me.

[Floisme]

Why don't you go as Rock Hudson and Doris Day in Pillow Talk? Just pyjamas and dressing gowns (and maybe a phone) required.

[ilovecherries]

No idea, but my total sympathy. I bloody hate theme parties with a passion.

[fabulousathome]

Your boys could be beach boys? Shorts, t-shirt and caps. String of beads around their necks?

[Floisme]

Or all 4 of you could go in macs, wellies, rain hats and brollies - 'Singing in the Rain'.

[StarHeartDiamond]

You - black dress and shoes, and loads and loads of pearls (cheap to buy online or borrow anyone you know who has pearls). Sometimes you can buy lengths of tree head decorations in pearl colour so you could just loop that round your neck and arms and ask someone to fasten with cotton for you. Black hat if you can borrow or buy (even a big black straw summer hat from a supermarket, cheap & loads in the sales right now). Black gloves - anything except fluffy/knitted (eg if you have or can borrow anyone's black leather gloves or ones which are thin like jersey type). Aim for an Audrey Hepburn type effect in breakfast at Tiffanys. Just black, hat, and pearls will do the job basically

Hubby - suit is fine, just give him a side parting which is firmly slicked down with brylcreem and draw on a pencil moustache. If he has any sort of trilby shaped hat that would be great. Again there are cheap summer hats in the sales which are trilby shaped.

Kids - school trousers and shoes (or the darkest shoes they have). white shirts (cheap school ones from supermarket), if you could make or borrow some braces that would be great. To make, some wide grosgrain ribbon in navy/grey/black, safety pinned to the front and back of trouser band would do. Side parting, and can draw on pencil moustache (optional but would look fun). Google pencil moustaches for reference. Again a cheap trilby summer hat for kids would be perfect if you can get them. Tesco had some in recently.

[StarHeartDiamond]

Ps it's "dress code" not "fancy dress" so going in pyjamas or as beach boys is not what I'd infer at all.

[StarHeartDiamond]

*tree bead

[StarHeartDiamond]

Ha, shoes I didn't read all the posts properly- you said it wasn't fancy dress upthread! I could see that it's not already though, basically she wants to look around a room of tuxedos and glamour, not pyjamas (would ruin the pics!)

[StarHeartDiamond]

*shows!

[StarHeartDiamond]

Just saw your youngest is 2. Can you get some sort of tuxedo onesie?! Failing that a shirt with a bow tie.

[inappropriateraspberry]

I wouldn't be too worried about you dc. Just put them in something smartish but comfy. For you and dh, I'd just wear a suit and nice dress. Either Audrey Hepburn style, or a fifties type. TBH, it's a pretty awkward dress code, Hollywood but not fancy dress? Why not just say black tie and cocktail dresses?

[Floisme]

I don't think we can infer anything. I love old films too and I don't really understand how an outfit from a classic movie would ruin the pics - I'd have a good laugh and be impressed at their knowledge.
The op wants something involving minimal fuss and expense, hence suggesting outfits they've probably already got. Plus they'd be good for disguising a bump.

Anyway it's up to the op.

[Floisme]

I see what you mean but I took 'no fancy dress' to mean she'd prefer something 'home made' rather than a random outfit from a fancy dress shop. Might be worth querying.

[MrsMoastyToasty]

Go for a generic 1950s look. Prom dress, heels, pearls, cardigan. Hair up in a french pleat if it's long enough.

[LottieDoubtie]

Dark blue suit and vaguely 50s style cocktail dress. Google a couple of lesser known actors/actresses if asked (which you might not be) you are X and Y at a premier.

Kids dressed in tailored shorts and shirts (available from Asda or similar for less than £10) don't be drawn on who they 'are'.

[StarHeartDiamond]

Flo - if it was fancy dress it would have said "fancy dress" on the invite. It said "dress code" and further clarified "no fancy dress" on top. Can't see how that translates to wearing pyjamas to a Hollywood glamour theme dress code. Also modern Spider-Man/Disney jersey pjs are not authentic to pillow talk or Hollywood era, so op would still have to buy four sets of cotton traditional button-up pyjamas and I can guarantee she would wish she'd worn a dress and her dh his suit

[Floisme]

One more thing - I realise I'm interpreting this differently to the rest of you but it's the references in the first message to Chaplin and Steve McQueen that make me think she meant classic Hollywood movie characters not generic tuxedo-glamour. To me, Chaplin = The Tramp and McQueen = leather jacket and Tshirt. Also a 50s cocktail dress would probably be pitiless of a baby bump which the op doesn't want to announce just yet.

The later 'no fancy dress' message is very ambiguous I think.

But the main thing is the other instruction to 'have fun'

[Floisme]

But yes I agree the pyjamas would have to be authentic

[TrashPanda]

Thanks all, I agree that the 'dress code' is not very helpful at all

Further instructions are It's not fancy dress and no jeans and tshirts please! Mum wants glamour as she is a very glamorous and classy lady

The birthday girl will be wearing white linen cigarette type trousers with a long line sleeveless white linen vest, which looked lovely and is very her, but I'm not sure how it fits with the dress code.

DP will be wearing his dark blue suit, maybe just the waistcoat not the jacket. It's at the birthday girls house and likely to be very warm with all the people there. His lack of hair means a side parting is a no go

Kids have both got shirts from Next that were bought for a wedding earlier in the summer, this for the 8yo and this for the 2yo so will do them with the smartest shorts they own.

I own a lovely pair of brushed cotton button up pjs, they would definitely hide the bump but I would be massively tempted to go and sleep, the tiredness is overwhelming!

Hopefully one of the super cheap dresses from Lady V will be acceptable and fit and that will do. Have loads of heels that I never wear that I can choose the best matching to whichever dress. I think I have a string of fake pearls from my 21st that I can try and dig out.

We'll get there with it, I think my lack of inspiration is hugely linked to my lack of excitement about the whole thing

[Floisme]

Hmm the instructions sound more and more prescriptive - I sympathise. Anyway it sounds like my interpretation was way off the mark so I will back away What you're proposing sounds fine. Have a good time.

[inappropriateraspberry]

Just thought, an undone bow tie with his suit could give DP rat pack vibes?

[TrashPanda]

I know DP doesn't own a bow tie. BIL or my Dad may have one but it's probably black. Won't that look a bit odd with a deep blue suit?

[PringlesInMyPants]

I think I'd be washing my hair that night - too much faff! Is it me or is it a bit of a narc thing to be so prescriptive?