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?

I'm sure Minty's advice is better than mine, since she lives in England and is more au fait with English dress codes.

Personally I would never wear black to any kind of dinner or cocktail party unless I wanted to be invisible. But I suppose if every other woman in the room is in black you might want to be too.

Don't wear navy or red though...

I went to a party with MPs and lobbyists the other week. It was in town though in a club. It was a real mixture of outfits - some political types dressed down and quite funky, others in bad suits.
I'd wear something that makes you feel confident, fits well, probably isn't brand new - maybe your funkiest work outfit? What sort of industry are you in?

Welshmum - I am a sahm - my normal work outfit has regurgitated, mashed banana on the the right shoulder.

Minty - if it is a fundraising do can I send a proxy?

Anna - my LBD would have to be replaced with a BBD

There are loads of great dresses in the shops this year - I might wear a long-sleeved dress with maybe a little fur bolero and some tight boots. Not much jewellery - decent watch, gold bracelet and diamond and/or pearl earrings would be fine.

oh god a political fundraiser
my idea of hell
they won't care if you are there or not as long as someone has paid for the ticket!

honestly wear whatever makes you feel confident. I personally would try not to look like a someone released from their children and up from the country on a big night out (even if I was!) so would not dress up too spectacularly, but it is ENTIRELY up to you

the other important thing to remember is that pretty much everyone involved in politics even peripherally has such a well developed ego and sense of self that they won't notice what anyone else is wearing

hahahahaha
Anna would wear a fur bolero
because she would WANT to be killed by an animal rights activist
(would you really Anna? even to a labour do? stay in paris, dear )

The mother of a little boy in my daughter's class has a different full length fur coat for every morning of the week... a fur bolero is v v modest in these parts

oh and if it is a fundraiser DEFINITELY do not bring a gift, that would be an enormous faux pas.

but you must empty your wallet in the direction of whoever is selling raffle tickets

Dress and boots good. I went to something similar recently and wore a wrap dress and felt (for once!) I had got it right. You don't want to look as if it's too much of a special occasion for you as there are always those 'busy, busy, busy' people who are just flying here, there and everywhere and have just dashed from work, just dashing back to work, just dashing to somewhere better, blah blah blah.

I used to work in political lobbying and I'd say that many MPs go to things with the express purpose of downing copious amounts of free drink. Be prepared to fight off leering backbenchers.

fur in moscow - check
fur in new york - check
fur in paris - check (evidently)
fur in london - are you NUTS? (unless you are going to the house of a russian, american or frenchwoman and the taxi is depositing you directly at the door)

I really must do some work, much as I've loved this thread

swede - wear whatever it is that, when you look in the mirror, you think "hey! not bad

go, have a good time, don't stand too close to a political lobbyist while talking to them, and remember the red wine is always less shite than the white

Well obviously you're not going to wear fur on public transport... not in London, nor in Paris or NY or Moscow.

Plenty of fur coats at Glyndebourne on young and glamorous English women.

It is not a fundraiser - it is a proper Christmas party.

And are you driving (being driven)? Makes quite a difference to what you can wear.

Take chocolates... always safe, always right. Small box of very good ones.

Young and glamourous and Glyndebourne is an oxymoron. Young, Russian and Glyndebourne, yes. Young, social-climber extraordinaire and Glyndebourne, yes. Old, hilarious and Glyndebourne, yes. Old, fat and Glyndebourne, yes.

Anna - We are driving. Will buy some Leonidas chocs.

I still need help. I bought a grey marl sweater/tunic with batwing sleeves from Whistles yesterday - I thought I would wear it over a plain black velvet skirt and some nice long Hobbs boots (both these items I already own). Came home tried on the full outfit hoping to look trendy and lovely and not trying too hard. The reflection in the mirror was worthy of Hampstead Bazaar shop window. Help.

hahaha
poor you
why was reflection no good? sounds nice?
I think before we go any further yuo need to come clean and tell us whether we are talking labour or tory.

ooooh! OR liberal

It is a Tory bash.

he he he he

well I think leopard skin kitten heel shoes are probably obligatory so ditch the boots for starters

I don't know what to suggest short of me coming round and peering in your wardrobe

why don't you come up with three potential outfits, describe, and then we can all -tear- -them- -to- -shreds- comment helpfully?
Have you got a fur bolero?

fuck
we can all tear them to shreds comment helpfully?

that's better!

Fur bolero. Thong. You're sorted.