Gransnet forums

Christmas

Where are my invites?

(64 Posts)
ferry23 Thu 19-Dec-24 18:17:37

Whilst downloading some library books onto my e-reader, I spent half an hour having a look through some women's magazines.

Who are these people that get invites to swanky, sophisticated parties over the holiday period, and swan off wearing a variety of ultra-expensive, sparkly gowns and shoes and bags - with one outfit alone costing over £1000?

Where are these joyful parties and upmarket soirees, full of cultured and interesting guests?

Next Monday evening my cousin and her husband are coming over for some drinks and a takeaway curry. I shall be wearing my classy M&S jogging pants and I might run to a jumper with a tiny bit of sparkle. On my feet will be my M&S slippers that have a hole in the sole that I'm clinging on to hoping a new pair will wing my way on 25th. That's about it for me.

I am happy to live vicariously through my fellow gransnetters exciting Christmas social calendars.

How many wonderful cocktail parties are you all attending and what will you be wearing?

V3ra Fri 20-Dec-24 01:52:13

My new-last-year (from the Edinburgh Wool Shop outlet at the garden centre) Christmas top, red with silver sparkly snowflakes, had its first outing to my friends' kitchen table bring-and-share last Friday.
It may come out again on Christmas Day, or it may go straight in my suitcase ready to jet off for New Year on the Costa del Sol 🥳
Decisions, decisions...

fiorentina51 Fri 20-Dec-24 05:58:18

Today I shall finish wrapping presents and delivering Christmas cards. My outfit of choice will be a pair of jeans, a warm fleecy top and my comfy walking shoes.
Tomorrow I shall be sat in a cold, damp air raid shelter for 4 hours, so my ensemble will be augmented by thermal socks, boots, scarf and a thick, padded jacket.

On Christmas day I'm really pushing the boat out. I shall wear my new Bon Marche jeans plus my first ever Christmas jumper, purchased from my local charity shop.
I will be spending the day with my DS and his partner. They live on a smallholding in the back of beyond with their 3 children, 2 dogs, 4 cats and 15 chickens.
There will be mud, so the boots will be coming out again.

My legs will finally see the light of day on the 28th, when I will wear a new dress for a friend's Twixmas party.

grandMattie Fri 20-Dec-24 06:32:19

Y rather posh grandparents used to have loads of cocktail parties on my native tropical island when I was a child.
All the grandchildren were rounded up to serve the canapés, with strict instructions not to eat any - they were for the grown ups! Either they ignored us or we (certainly I did) get creepy comments and often the odd fumble.
Posh clothes only although they were sometimes somewhat shabby in the post WW2, Third World island. Rather mixed feelings/emotiond.
I’ve never been to one in the UK.

Bonnybanko Fri 20-Dec-24 06:41:10

Christmas Day will be spent at home with my dd her husband my 2gs and my twin sister, I’ll be wearing my swanky glittery top which I bought in Sainsbury's, not quite £1000 as some have 🤣😂 but it does the job.

Macadia Fri 20-Dec-24 06:51:05

I will not be partaking in a cocktail party but will be home alone with a dogtail party with eight of my waggy tailed friends. I will be wearing nothing but cotton jogging pants and jumpers, most likely with mud and paw prints all over them. Add a lot of dog hair. I have a fairly nice Christmas tree because a 120 foot tree just fell in a windstorm, missed my roof, but after returning from a mad dash so it didn't kill me, I found the five foot top of the tree and brought it in my home, put it in a pot of dirt and decorated it with Christmas stockings. Some of the dogs have removed the stockings and are trying to chew them up but I am managing alright. So glad my guests dislike sparkly gowns.

DanniRae Fri 20-Dec-24 07:05:39

I have a delightful red/pink, stripey Christmas jumper from Sainsburys which I am thinking of wearing on Christmas Day with my comfortable, black, pull on trousers.
On Boxing Day, at my DS and d-in-laws, I think I will wear my navy blue blue jumper (with large star on the front) and navy pull on trousers.
It's comfort before glamour for me now!

Allsorts Fri 20-Dec-24 07:15:17

If you've family you love and see that's enough.

M0nica Fri 20-Dec-24 09:23:05

But parties aren't meant for the likes of us oldies, We are past the partying stage, we should be slopping round the house in old clothes and being everybodies welcoming granny dispensing tea and Quality Street biscuits.

All of us here are simply fulfilling our pre-ordained destiny and should not do anything other than we are doing.

Jaxjacky Fri 20-Dec-24 09:37:08

Christmas quiz in our local on Monday, black jeans and charity shop Christmas jumper, MrJ has a new one from eBay, I reckon he’s after the prize!

annodomini Fri 20-Dec-24 10:12:38

Christmas buffet tonight. Thinking about ironing my black jersey trousers. Then what? Red Christmas top with reindeer, if I can find where I put it after last year's festivities. Or beaded black jumper, bought from M&S sometime last century. Much the same on Boxing Day for family gathering .

Grammaretto Fri 20-Dec-24 10:21:52

DD went to a rather bijou restaurant last Saturday, while I babysat.
She ordered a cocktail 🍸 but when she found it cost £16 she stopped at one.
I can quite see how people can spend a lot of money on a night out.
She did look beautiful 😍 and festive.
I watched Strictly with her bairns.

JamesandJon33 Fri 20-Dec-24 10:40:29

No invitations to cocktail parties, although I have been invited, and partaken of, two very nice lunches. I don’t do sparkles, but I have a lovely dark green velvet dress.
Nadolig Llawen everyone

henetha Fri 20-Dec-24 10:45:41

I will wear my Christmas jumper when I go to my son on Christmas day, if I can find it. I've looked everywhere.
It's black with sparkling holly on the front.
Perhaps fate is trying to tell me it's time I bought a new one as I've worn this one for several years now.

Skydancer Fri 20-Dec-24 12:47:45

It’s great for the environment that so many of you will be wearing old clothes. You all sound great fun. For those of you doing Christmas Day swims I’ll think of you when I’m under my heated throw. How brave you are!

mabon1 Fri 20-Dec-24 12:54:45

I don't have anything sparkly, but I have beautifully embroidered jumpers.

poppysmum Fri 20-Dec-24 13:21:03

We always have an un-Christmas so spend a lot of time on the beach with the dogs. we always stop in a lovely chalet we go to for long weekends couple times a year including Christmas. Going on the beach Christmas day means warm jumpers and track bottoms plus trainers or boots so certainly not glam. I am past the age of parties really as I don't drink and cannot stand the noise now. I am going to Readers group soon have on a pretty floral jumper only have a Christmassy t-shirt so is a bit cold for that!

Flakesdayout Fri 20-Dec-24 13:33:41

I have just been to the Playgroup Christmas party with my DIL and two GD's (3 and 6 months) It was lovely as we started in the Church and sang Away in a Manger with the nativity story, then over to snack time in the hall where Santa arrived. All the children queued to see him in his red suit and every one said they were good as they got their little presents. I wore a long sleeved t-shirt with a decorated tree on the front with jeans. As for Christmas itself. On the day my sons and DIL's will arrive with the 2 GD. I shall wear comfy jeans and last years Next Christmas jumper in red. My Sons wear Xmas jumpers as do all the girls. One Son and DIL are staying over so next morning I will wear my sparkly Star top. Boxing day will then be a quiet affair as they all have DIL's parents to visit.

Usedtobeblonde Fri 20-Dec-24 13:34:03

My GD and I should be at a 30th birthday tonight.
It has had to be postponed as the birthday girl is stranded in Cape Verde where the fog is so dense that she says they can’t see out of the hotel windows.
I would have worn black trousers and a sequinned jumper from M&S.
I shall wear the same outfit when we have Christmas dinner out.
The Cape Verde couple have been warned it may be Tuesday before they can fly home.
A family party tomorrow for her has also been cancelled .

Babamaman Fri 20-Dec-24 13:45:29

Totally agree with you. I get good housekeeping (through my bank a/c) and yes the prices are incredible! Who does go to ‘cocktail’ parties? Wearing all those glamorous expensive outfits?
Not me -
And all this jollynous ? Nah not me!

heavenlyheath Fri 20-Dec-24 13:54:50

Pants as well

LovelyLady Fri 20-Dec-24 14:20:48

Parties - we don't get invites to many but Dinner Dances are regular occurrences I do like to be dressed up for formal occasions.
The charity shops offer a wide selection of formal and informal dressing up attire, throughout the year.
If you join clubs they may have gatherings. Failing that, hold your own parties. All you need is finger food, booze and a music background.
Valentines. Day party, Easter, St Patrick’s Day party - St George’s Day, Halloween, Birthday - Anniversary - Graduation. Burns Nights etc.
Any excuse for a party and dress up.
Go for it and you may just have fun.
Sometimes we just have to get off our backside and do it ourselves rather than sitting at home wondering why we’re not invited. Just dress up.
Hopefully you’ll get dressed up to go out to a formal fun event.

AGAA4 Fri 20-Dec-24 14:36:14

The invitations to cocktail parties are piling up. My maid will sort out my numerous dresses and diamonds for each one. Here comes James my butler with another invitation on a silver silver.

AGAA4 Fri 20-Dec-24 14:37:04

Salver*

Mojack26 Fri 20-Dec-24 15:25:41

Lol...none! I often wonder who these people are that go to lots of parties.....I know no one..... commercialism at it's best I think! Have a good Christmas..most people are like you...

Mojack26 Fri 20-Dec-24 15:27:58

My type of Christmas.....spent with doggies, much prefer them to people! Happy waggy Christmas