to expect host to let her party guests know that she has a no shoes policy?

Very good point re dogs!

Please tell me there wasn't a bucket of communal slippers?! I'm shoes off, but I would never expect anyone to take shoes off, particularly at a formal event. What if I wasn't wearing tights / socks and had a verruca / athletes foot etc?

Shoes are important, men in socks would look daft, women who have adjusted their trousers to deal with heel height etc.

Fine for a casual get together IMO which I know it isnt for others, but not for a formal event.

Came to say the same thing. I think it's strange to have a party and make people stand around in bare feet / socks.

I think providing wipes is very odd to be honest. Just have the carpet cleaned, honestly it’s no big deal.

I would never make someone take their shoes off in my house, no one has ever offered to take their shoes off in my house and I have never been asked to take my shoes off in anyone else's house. Why would you want loads of smelly scabby feet on show. Smells and feet skin everywhere! 🤮🤮

We are strict shoes off household (because eww gross) but never for parties for this reason - people plan outfits with shoes in mind!

What happens if somebody drops a glass and everyone's milling about in their stockinged feet?

Same here. Absolutely not.

It was in someone's home so there is a fair chance that shoes would be required to be removed.

Yup really. I have been wracking my brains and genuinely can’t think of another household I know with a shoes off rule. Growing up a couple of friends houses did but generally just for us kids as we’d have been out getting them dirty in the park or fields.

Do none of the people you know have dogs? Absolutely pointless having a shoes off rule is you do.

And what do people do if you’re having a bbq or other gathering where people go in and out? Do they have to carry their shoes around with them taking them on and off?

I think it's horrific. An outfit includes shoes.

I can't bear all this "no shoes indoors" stuff. I don't understand why people do it.

I never wear shoes at home, but don’t expect any guests to do the same. I’ve never been asked to remove shoes in someone’s house, but would do quite happily.
But in all my many decades on this planet I’ve NEVER been asked to tale my shoes off for a party where you’re expected to dress up, totally ridiculous! No stiletto’s ( if anyone still wears the God awful things ) is fair enough on hard floors, but no shoes at all?
Who is she, Amanda from Motherland?

I would have left, no chance no way I'm risking verruca or foot fungus, it's vile to expect anyone to take shoes off. Utterly vile.

Even in a shoes off house though I'd never expect this to apply to a formal party!

Going round a close mates for a takeaway and chat, usually already wearing comfy clothes - yes I'd take my shoes off (but wouldn't care either way if they did or did not at my house).

Hosting a formal party with lots of people who don't know each other, otherwise all dressed up I'd think it incredibly rude to expect them to remove part of their outfit!

Apart from anything else usually when there are lots of people in a house party dont people spill out into the garden for extra room/but of breathing space/cheeky fag? Also a bigger party - more potential for spillages. Nothing says "fun party" like wandering around in slightly wet socks after stepping in the overspill from someone's wine glass. Even worse if someone smashes something -it's impossible to do a proper clean up when you have a full room of guests.

assume shoes off people think soles of shoes are disgustingly dirty but I'd personally prefer a bit of mud than people's bare sweaty feet on my floor!

I wouldn't say no shoes when inviting, but would have no problem if I found out when I got there. Not sure this is so outrageous that it warrants a post!

Do people have cubby holes in their halls for everyone's shoes at parties like at bowling, what happens at a party if you are popping in and out of the garden in the summer. If no cubby holes are you expected to carry your shoes around or just leave in a massive shoe pile.

It’s also very strange to ask guests to wipe their shoes

I did go to one party where it said ‘bring your own slippers’ but I thought that was a bit odd.

I would not have been pleased!
I prefer shoes off in a house, but not if I'd dressed up.

I find it so weird that you have to take your shoes off for a formal event. An informal, just hanging out get together I can see it. But what's the point of wearing something dressy then flopping around in your bare/socked feet? So odd.

I plan on getting new carpet in my living room soon, and if I do have a formal event I'm going to either buy a rug I can use to lay over the carpet or provide some wipes that people can use to clean the bottom of their shoes off before they walk on the carpet.

If the host is kind enough to open their home you should respect their floors.

Honestly not an issue for me

Yes, me too.

We are a shoes off house, but I do warn people of this in advance if they've not been to my house before, to avoid situations like this. I also keep a stock of hotel-style slippers and always offer them to guests, most people decline but some people do accept, especially in winter.

(and yuck to bare feet, with all the flaky skin, bits of nails and verruccas).

I agree with this!

No.

I don't know any house that make visitors take shoes off. And it's really rude to expect guests to at a party.