Continuing yesterday’s fancy dress theme on how far you go to impose/enforce a costume 
dress code. Obviously we have to declare a bit of a vested interest, but most would agree that if you have gone to the trouble of putting the event together, you would expect people to show a bit of effort themselves.
We have all heard the excuses ‘Too busy to get anything sorted’ or ‘Couldn’t get what I wanted from the Internet in time’ (did they come to us?). Sometimes the hosts have foreseen this eventuality and have a few spare costumes and accessory items to hand for the benefit of these busy and/or disorganised people. Then there are those who brazen it out with ‘I don’t do fancy dress’ (but seem quite happy to do the party thing). Non-participation is always a problem at fancy dress parties, but if enough people have entered into the spirit and made the effort, those who do not dress up will be the odd ones out and, hopefully, will be made to feel suitably shamed. On the other hand, we did hear of a medieval themed event, where forfeits were demanded from the plain clothes party people and a pair of stocks prop was put to good use.
When it comes down to it, in most cases, the invitees are your acquaintances, so you are in the best position to judge how you treat the dress code – strict rules to be enforced or just general guidelines?
What do you think? should guests honour the theme, or should they turn up at the event in ‘normal’ clothing? Please let us know your thoughts…