BS: Fancy Dress???

Subject: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: GUEST,Bev and Jerry
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 12:00 AM

We are going to a function in Cornwall, England and the invitation says "PM B.B.Q. (Fancy Dress Optional). Since we live in the U.S., we're not clear on what this means.

Can anyone in the UK clarify this for us?

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 12:22 AM

You know we all love a puzzle, even if we aren't in the country in question!*bg* So...checking with an online acronym list I found only one meaning for BBQ - you've guessed it! Put with the PM I figured maybe it would be a post-mortem for the roastee, but then I found this listed for PM, which might actually make sense: Post Meridiem (period from Noon to Midnight)?

How about it, UKers? Have I sussed it out?**BG**

Sounds like fun, anyway!

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 12:27 AM

No, No, Kat. We know what PM and BBQ mean. It's "Fancy Dress Optional" that's puzzling us.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 12:38 AM

Oh!? Sorry! I guess that should have been obvious to me, esp. the PM! Duh!**BG** Actually BOTH of them!

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 12:54 AM

To quote anudder Mudder, I had one brain cell, but it got lonely and left.!

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: poetlady
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 01:24 AM

I think fancy dress means in costume, but I have no idea why, so don't take my word for it. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 02:26 AM

I would guess that you have been invited to some kind of Christmas party, fancy dress just means that you can dress as a character if you like, perhaps something seasonal, like Santa or a Snowman etc.You can either make your own costume or you can hire it from a fancy dress hire shop, look in the phone book or do a google search for "fancy dress hire" for ideas.Though it says optional, so if you can't be bothered with the effort, then just go as you are.

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: mouldy
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 02:44 AM

I always get concerned about the (usually dinner/dance) invitations that state, "dress optional". I know what it means - formal attire optional - but one day I'd love to see someone take it literally!

The pub across the road from our house is having a fancy dress evening on 24th December, but I'll be occupied up at church for the latter half of the evening. I might slip over early on, but I don't think the Rector'd be too happy if his churchwarden turned up in a Star Trek uniform! Pity, 'cos I love fancy dress. It's a good job these informal ones are usually "optional".

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 03:02 AM

Why not Mouldy? My previous Rector would be there, but he'd be the one pretending to be a tart!

Fancy dress = just like Hallowe'en. Dress up as a Christmas character or some other costume.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: brid widder
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 02:12 PM

I'm going to Whitby for New Year The Tap & Spile party is always a hoot & always fancy dress... with a theme... this year it's historical characters... any ideas I reckon we'll be knee deep in Queens Elizabeth & Victoria & Florence Nightingales & Nell Gwynns ... I think I might be Boadicea.... any other ideas?... I suppose I could be Eve!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: JudeL
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 05:34 PM

Fancy dress does mean a costumed party but if in doubt ask the hosts to clarify - they can also give you an idea if there is a theme and how seriously the idea is likely/meant to be taken ie are we talking about dressing in green and hanging a couple of baubles from your ears and saying you've come as a xmas tree or are we talking about hiring a costume from a shop.

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 11:24 PM

Thanks for the input. In addition to the postings here, we inquired of a British couple who are also attending and they seem to think "fancy dress" means costumes as well.

What makes our question (and the replies) all the more interesting is that this dinner is not at Christmas time but rather in May. It is part of the Tenth World Town Crier Competition which lasts a week. Most of the time there will be more than 200 of us dressed in eighteenth century fancy clothes and generally making fools of ourselves. At the dinner in question, the instructions explicitly state that our Town Crier uniforms need not be worn but "fancy dress" is optional. That is, the clothes seen here are not considered "fancy dress"!

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: GUEST,JennyO
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 11:36 PM

THAT'S not fancy dress??????!!!!!!!!

Sounds like you need SERIOUS costumes. I don't know why you don't just contact your hosts and ask them!

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 16 Dec 02 - 11:40 PM

Jenny O:

We have no e-mail address for our hosts and snail mail is such a drag, especially from the U.S.

Besides, we thought the catters would have some fun with this.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Fancy Dress???
From: mouldy
Date: 17 Dec 02 - 01:59 AM

Liz - The Rector's already called me a daft git once this week.

The Jug used to sometimes have a fancy dress night at New Year. One time the theme was beers and I won it - as "Poacher's Swag". I turned up in a sack (with arm and leg holes for mobility) with my head (as a rabbit) sticking out, and a load of pheasant feathers as well. The prize was a polypin of ale, which Ian and I promptly took with us to Ireland the next day in the boot of the car!

Bev and Jerry - I did hear recently that the "facilities" at 18th century dinners were a bit, shall we say, "basic". If they are really going for authenticity, then you'll find the chamber pots in the sideboard! (Sorry to lower the tone).

Andrea