AIBU to go to a hen party but not dress up for the theme?

[ncob]

It's a theme I own nothing for already and not keen to splurge on fast fashion for an outfit and accessories that I will never use again. Keen to attend the event though and paid for it already. WWYD?

As most people above have said you really do need to tell us the theme.

Providing it's not to ridiculous/embarrassing I thing you should have a go at joining in.

Presumably there's a group chat for the hens you could see if someone has something you can borrow or as suggested above but something cheap from a charity shop and re-donate after.

Please tell us the theme though!

Maybe it says more about the people I know. I went to a Disney theme hen OK I dressed as minnie. But there were a bunch of dalmatians. Some Lions. And then yes a fair few who had little kid tiara's etc. The bride wore a very nice white dress and we had princess accessories for her.

Themed hen weekends are my idea of hell. However, I have been on them before for very good friends and despite hating it, have still worn something in line with the theme. I think if everyone else is dressing up, if you want to go, you should at least try and include some nod to the theme otherwise.

I can't abide dress up, I usually buy a tshirt I can wear again. E.g. a band I liked from the era or a film relating to the theme. You can find tshirts for anything on Amazon

Borrow. There are always requests like this on my friends' social media, people are more than happy to lend things. Or charity shops.

Buying cheap, disposable clothing/accessories is never the solution,

You’ll just feel out of place and awkward if you don’t join in. Something small will
do, you don’t have to buy a full outfit.

You'll just look a right party pooper if you aren't dressing up. So buy some cheap tat or don't go.

Buy 2nd hand and sell on later. You're just using fast fashion as an excuse to be difficult.

Wow so many responses! Sorry got caught up.

Not averse to joining in at all and def don't want to stand out- happy for people to give suggestions! I'm sure the bride just wants the company though (didn't choose theme and it was only recently announced).

The theme is: Cowgirl - I have nothing, so far no luck with charity shops. I can see Boohoo & PLT have stuff (but nothing I'd feel comfortable wearing). Love the idea of donating straight away to charity afterwards! I'm also not really mainstream sizing so can't just buy a hat etc online as very unlikely to fit.

Very happy for suggestions. Ideally for things I can use again (hate the idea of fast fashion or buying for 1 use only!). Thanks!

You can surely get a cheap cowboy hat online for a couple of quid and then hang it down your back if it doesn’t fit. Get a waistcoat and wear it with jeans and the hat = done.

Are you sure you just don’t want to go and are making excuses? Fair enough if that’s so but own it.

Buy a cowboy hat online, wear jeans (free if you own them) and either your own flannel shirt/boyfriend/husband/dad/brother and tie it round you waist with a white tshirt on.

You're only paying for the hat.

You only need a cowboy hat and a neckerchief and you'll be halfway there. A pair of denim shorts and white (or checked) shirt tied at the waist. Sorted.

I HATE fancy dress, but I'd go with it and just do those bits. You'll stick out otherwise.

Blue Jeans, Plaid / Check shirt, Sheriff badge, Large cowboy hat (cheapie) from Amazon

Just get a cheap stetson online and wear it with what you were going to wear anyway.

@ncob can you order a sheriff star badge?

That's the easiest theme in the world. If you don't own jeans and a checked shirt, the chazzer has millions. Cheap hat from any cheap shop or online. Yeehaw!

Id look on Facebook marketplace near you to see what you can find, or vinted?

Cowboy hat and whatever you would have worn. You could ask around your friends - someone may well have one in the back of the wardrobe from a hen party themselves.

you only need a hat, you can even just wear if for photos

I'd try eBay/Vinted - normally a lot of barely worn fancy dress type stuff around and that way you aren't supporting fast fashion. As pp said you might be able to sell it afterwards as well.

Personally I wouldn't go without at least making a token gesture at the theme.

Cowgirl! Must be the easiest thing ever. Denim shorts which you must own, tied shirt and cowboy hat.

Thought you were going to say something complicated like ABBA tributes with all the platforms, wigs and satin flares.

That's a really easy theme (it's naff, but it's really easy)

Denim jeans/shorts/skirt
Checked shirt
Optional neckerchief
Cheap hat

Or a denim dress with a neckerchief would work too.

You could probably get everything needed from a charity shop for £10-20 if on a budget

Thanks for the suggestions all! Maybe I'm just useless at fancy dress.
Live in a small town and already raided local charity shops- so needs to be bought online. Any suggestions for "glamorous" cowgirl options which I think is more the style?

This is a very simple theme and easy to join in

Jeans

Borrow a checked shirt

Sheriff badge for £1 (donate to charity afterwards) https://www.temu.com/ul/kuiper/un9.html?subj=coupon-un&_bg_fs=1&_p_jump_id=895&_x_vst_scene=adg&goods_id=601099532035705&sku_id=17592282844666&adg_ctx=a-2c05b78f~c-db8e7f18~f-6576fe8a&_x_ads_sub_channel=shopping&_p_rfs=1&_x_ns_prz_type=-1&_x_ns_sku_id=17592282844666&mrk_rec=1&_x_ads_channel=google&_x_gmc_account=710731536&_x_login_type=Google&_x_ads_account=6950480996&_x_ads_set=21176947627&_x_ads_id=160513836203&_x_ads_creative_id=696178442086&_x_ns_source=g&_x_ns_gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm5C8HXZqgZ0wN4BywPNaDwf0ACDNk4zeyMCLqUTdAk8UobCtuD6PKYaAkNVEALw_wcB&_x_ns_placement=&_x_ns_match_type=&_x_ns_ad_position=&_x_ns_product_id=710731536-17592282844666&_x_ns_target=&_x_ns_devicemodel=&_x_ns_wbraid=Cj4KCAjwj9-zBhB1Ei4AyC2wlLUngE9yXOotjLozThJYMYGo_buglW-fzx8EwmArxJ80G5LFp1SIJs1kGgLAcQ&_x_ns_gbraid=0AAAAAo4mICGBufxyjK9fmh3DtsDQMdjvZ&_x_ns_targetid=pla-2311923496277&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm5C8HXZqgZ0wN4BywPNaDwf0ACDNk4zeyMCLqUTdAk8UobCtuD6PKYaAkNVEALw_wcB

Cowboy hat for £3.78 (donate to charity afterwards) https://www.temu.com/ul/kuiper/un9.html?subj=coupon-un&_bg_fs=1&_p_jump_id=895&_x_vst_scene=adg&goods_id=601099549612549&sku_id=17592356299808&adg_ctx=a-716479f1~c-2e1c7227~f-6576fe8a&_x_ads_sub_channel=shopping&_p_rfs=1&_x_ns_prz_type=-1&_x_ns_sku_id=17592356299808&mrk_rec=1&_x_ads_channel=google&_x_gmc_account=710731536&_x_login_type=Google&_x_ads_account=6950480996&_x_ads_set=21196995019&_x_ads_id=167961292224&_x_ads_creative_id=696742823415&_x_ns_source=g&_x_ns_gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm5C0r9EsLvtt-__Vcs2jKpWXtLu9NaJA48kfQQ4Se7Ee-oE3Ud6eF8aAqpzEALw_wcB&_x_ns_placement=&_x_ns_match_type=&_x_ns_ad_position=&_x_ns_product_id=710731536-17592356299808&_x_ns_target=&_x_ns_devicemodel=&_x_ns_wbraid=Cj4KCAjwj9-zBhB1Ei4AyC2wlFHDEGu86RSVquFY4dFC2N4W7VIUmle8ivlMX4IdCIXf5IuEwKuEtJTjGgK77g&_x_ns_gbraid=0AAAAAo4mICEujrM2Z45CIXMY5k8fbEL3M&_x_ns_targetid=pla-2295968350319&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsuSzBhCLARIsAIcdLm5C0r9EsLvtt-__Vcs2jKpWXtLu9NaJA48kfQQ4Se7Ee-oE3Ud6eF8aAqpzEALw_wcB