To say no to this hen party request?

[HenPartyHelp]

I’m due to go on a hen party next month, it’s DPs family member although we’re fairly close

The whole thing is a surprise for the hen so all of my info is coming via text from one of the bridesmaids who I’ve never met

I’ve recently been told that I’m to wear a specific colour, it’s a colour I don’t wear at all and I would have to go out and buy a whole new outfit for it, which I hadn’t originally planned to do plus it would literally be worn once so it feels like such a waste of money

The whole wedding plus stags and hens is already costing us a lot of money and this is yet another expense that we really can’t afford

WIBU to just say no, I’m not wearing that colour, but I’ll avoid being in pictures so as not to ruin them (which I’m fairly sure is the reason for the colour scheme?)

I’ve never met any of these people before, if I say no will they all hate me before I even get there??
Should I just suck it up and buy a new outfit?
I don’t want to be the awkward one who refused to join in

[PotterHead1985]

That should have read Penneys Primark!!!

[OccidentalPurist]

I tend to live in monochrome blank, white and grey outfits, but the one time I make exceptions is when I see a particular pink item, as it can be really flattering.

Also, whenever I'm invited to a do that requires a new purchase, I always buy something that can be dressed down too, so I get more wear out of it. I've done this a few times with linen dresses from Whistles, which I wore with heels for the occasion, but which went on to be great summer dresses I could wear with Birkenstocks etc to the beach or the school run.

The Next one I've attached is particularly casual, but just so you get the idea. I think this is easily doable.

[Rockbird]

Baby pink? Bollocks to that. I haven't worn that colour since I was in a pram and I wouldn't start now for anyone. I'd look shit and I wouldn't be making a fool of myself just cos someone else loves the colour. What the hell happened to going out for a meal and some drinks?

[Catsinthecupboard]

I love pink. It's flattering to many. While I wear mostly dark colors, i am surprised.at the animosity directed at a color.

[KingLooieCatz]

If I wore baby pink people would start trying to resuscitate me.

[Littlenic73]

I dont wear baby pink either, it makes me feel like I look like Piglet! would go with something from a charity shop if i could. On the plus side, at least it is a colour that if you find something comfortable, there's a chance you could run it through the wash with Dylon in a darker colour you prefer afterwards. I do have experience of using Dylon on a whole load of pink and other pastel coloured kids clothes of my DDs so that DS could wear them afterwards.

[CasanovaFrankenstein]

Wrote a considered post about why people respond to baby pink negatively, and the inconvenience of these type of requests and the internet has eaten it!

Anyway, my practical suggestion is something with a pattern that will photograph as pink even when it isn’t like red stripes:

[floribunda18]

Baby pink looks amazing on a redhead.

People do go a bit mad with hen dos and go to all manner of exotic locations costing hundred of pounds which can exclude lots of people, but I think, as long as I could do it reasonably inexpensively, I wouldn't consider dressing in a certain colour an unreasonable request. I have been to two hen dos which were fancy dress - not otherwise expensive in terms of activities of venue, and it was brilliant fun. Either go along with it or don't go - it doesn't sound like you want to much anyway.

[floribunda18]

See?

[BlackCatSleeping]

How about something like this, OP?

[MadameDD]

charity shop or get accessories to match and yes sadly you do have to suck it up for this hen do.

God knows why but a few years ago I had a pale pink (almost baby pink) suit I wore for a friend's wedding. It's a colour I wouldn't wear ever again now!

[SparrowNest]

T-shirt from [[https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0718278004.html H&M]] for £3.99

Even just that and jeans would be getting into the spirit of it, I think.

If you happen to be a 33 waist they also have jeans for £4

If you have a look on the website they've got quite a few more cheap tops and bits in the sale.

[doIreallyneedto]

@BlackCatSleeping - that is hideous! Where on earth did you find it?

[Dutch1e]

Baby pink looks amazing on a redhead

On a brown-eyed auburn-haired redhead, sure.

On a blue-eyed ginger like me? Makes me look like an embolism.

[Pinkruler]

Agree Sparrownest - going for a cheap T shirt to get into the spirit of things is a good way to go, although that one is more rose pink, but sod it rose pink is more flattering than baby pink.

I certainly wouldn't buy a cheap dress - v likely to look shite unless you have no bulges whatsoever.

Am v pleased i don't have to do hen dos - poor sods

[burnoutbabe]

Is the request actually a full baby pink outfit?
Jeans plus a pink top/pink cardigan seems easy to achieve. But where are all these charity shops that have baby pink nice dresses in your exact size?

[doIreallyneedto]

@floribunda18 - Baby pink looks amazing on a redhead

I don't think that pink suits her at all. It kind of blends into her skin tone.

[DarlingNikita]

I think they can all fuck off, personally, especially your DP – he's 'having none of you not going'?? He doesn't get to dictate that.

[SteppinOutwithMyBaby]

@BlackCatSleeping I've never seen "Pretty in Pink." Is that Molly Ringwald's actual pink dress? Or is it just something she threw on to remind her of when she was a muse for John Hughes?

Either way, it's an interesting look. I thought the 90s were the decade that good taste forgot.

[DameFanny]

More reasons not to buy cheap clothes - Revealed: women making clothes for west face sexual abuse

www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/07/violence-sexual-abuse-vietnam-garment-factory

The ridiculous culture we've got into of the last 20 years where clothes are cheap enough to consider disposable is driving further exploitation in a predominantly female-staffed industry - as well as filling the oceans with plastic microfibres from your £5 polyester dresses.

Fuck's sake, stop it

[Cornettoninja]

Have a look on eBay, it’s much easier to find a specific colour on there.

For the sake of a hen do I would definitely suck up the colour instruction if I could get a cheap outfit to cover it.

[CherryCheezcake]

I hope the hens are all slim and young with beautiful figures. In baby pink, I would look like an uncooked Tesco Value sausage. I wouldn't get any thanks for complying with that colour scheme

[BlackCatSleeping]

@SteppinOutwithMyBaby

Yeah, it's from the movie Pretty in Pink. Molly Ringwald's character is poor so can't afford a posh prom dress, so takes a cheap dress her dad buys her and a beautiful dress her friend used for her prom and creates this monstrosity, which I think is supposed to be creative and quirky.

[RageAgainstTheVendingMachine]

...And the whole cinema went WTF

[Bemusedagain]

Ive just searched on amazon prime for pink scarf. You can get all sorts and pretty cheap. Wear your black dress with a pink scarf. Then charity shop for a pink bag and shoes to match. This one will only cost you £4!

www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Weight-Chiffon-Luxurious-Finishing/dp/B00ZO1EWIQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?s=gateway&crid=3MFA01KGDAO87&keywords=pink%20scarfs%20for%20women&sprefix=pink%20scarf&qid=1554695297&sr=8-4&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21