Going to a party the week after next - lots of MPs and political lobbyists going.

[Swedes2Turnips1]

The party is supper and drinks at an MP's London home.
What shall I wear?

french maid's outfit

southeastastra - Who said it was a Tory MP?

dress conservatively

political lobbyists will all be in suits that should have been drycleaned a lot more recently than they have
MPs will all be dressed badly, mainly in M&S, unless you are going to Daves house, in which case his lot will be in navy blue bespoke suits
the women will all be fashion free zones, but will think they are looking quite good because they have on a chunky necklace and some "fun" LK Bennett shoes circa 2004.

Wear what you like, you'll look better than all of them

Madame Sin

doh, Southeastastra beat me to it!

Echoing MDC's whatever you like/feel comfy in.
Arf at Fun LK Bennett shoes from 2004.

What you should wear is entirely dependent on which Party they will all be from.

If Tory - either wear a blouse and alice band, or if its New Tory, wear a nice simple Jigsaw suit with LK Bennett heals and a pashmina.

If its Labour - wither wear a cheap suit that doesn't fit well, or if New Labour wear torn jeans and Converse.

If Liberal Democrat - make sure its all unbleached, fair traded cotton with sandels. Whatever you do, do not look stylish or like you have any idea what is going on in the fashion world.

also all political lobbyists have appalling halitosis so you might want to bring a Gold Spot spray and offer it about freely

I don't know why that is, probably because they talk CONSTANTLY but it is true true true

(probably leopardskin with a kitten heel Olivia. Or pink )

It was a serious question.
Fuck. What about a gift for the hostess? Should I forget a bunch of Hydrangeas and a bottle of decent grog and go for notes in a plain brown envelope? If yes, Euros or Sterling?

Pashmina and Theresa May shoes? Methinks I will look a bit last season?

Go last decade, then they will think you are bein retro.

What about going down the Katherine Hamnett route with a slogan t-shirt. 95% of MNs think that...all polical lobbyists have appalling halitosis. That sort of thing.

actually Monkeytrousers I think if you go last decade then she'll be bang on trend for the average politico
last season? noooo, will frighten the horses

no gift
or if you must a green and blacks selection pack
anything else will look like you've tried too hard/been too extravagant

Wanna come shopping in Paris? Pop on the Eurostar and I'll get you kitted out

swedes! you are a mystery wrapped inside an enigma!

obviously if you are going to Dave's house the appropriate retro-chic politically amusing nod-to-the-past gift would be a bottle of Thresher's own label champagne

hahahahahaha

mind you what do I know, I started a thread entitled "what shall I wear to no 11" a few months ago, to my shame

minty taking any form of alcohol-in-a-bottle as a present is a complete no-no. Cut flowers or proper chocolates only

It was a JOKE Anna

Or have you forgotten about Norman Lamont and the thresher's champagne?

Or the fact that Dave worked as his advisor at the time?

...never mind

I can do retro without even trying, but not in a good way.

Thanks Anna for the offer.

Hijacking my own thread here, is that a Mumsnet first? The presents thing is really odd isn't it? Everyone has a different idea of what is expected, polite etc. I always take a bottle of wine and also some flowers - normally a very nice bunch or some nice coffee or some nice biscuits (not Somerfield rich tea). Quite often I recycle wine, especially Chardonnay by graciously receiving it from my guests and then taking it to the next place I go. The same bottle of Chardonnay has been doing the rounds in North London and Herts for about 3 years now.

Now about my clothes for this party. Seriously, what can I wear?

If you are going to Dave's house then all you need for inspiration is to type "Samantha Cameron" into Google images.

Here is one party outfit that he probably chose for her
images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/10_01/SamCameronG_468x698.jp g&imgrefurl=www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html%3Fin_article_id%3D486349%26in_ page_id%3D1&h=698&w=468&sz=77&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=OzXpCnM4BzynOM:&tbnh=139&tbnw=93&prev=

What do you look like? How much do you want to spend?

If you want to splash out, I saw a gorgeous pink dress and matching coat in Prada last weekend...

swede, seriously, wear what you feel comfortable in

if it is dinner at someone's house who happens to be an MP, wear what you normally wear to a dinner party

if it is a fund-raising supper then it will probably be a little less smart and a little more work-wearish, since people will have come from work and may be going on somewhere else

basically the men will be in suits and the women will be in black (apart from the fun shoes ), either work black or dinnerparty black or cocktail black.

If it helps when I went to no 11 in the end I wore a black armani trouser suit (lovely cut, wideish trousers) with a sort of draped claret-coloured silk top underneath and good makeup and good but fairly discreet jewellery. I felt spot on. There were a few in sort of DVF wrap dresses and they were spot on too - wear what you feel good in.

I certainly wouldn't spend money unless I wanted to...