I think dressing up legitimately allows you to act the fool. But I understand how you feel, it takes a lot of effort. Theme parties that don't take a lot of imagination and work and are easily accomplished by all, are those such as "Red or Dead" where everyone attending has to wear something red. I remember many years ago at a Christmas party, one of our Corporate lawyers turned up and it was obvious he wasn't wearing anything red. When I asked him why he wasn't joining in, he said he was. I said red underpants didn't count as it had to be on show, to which he replied that it was and produced from under his arm an edition of the Times newspaper! (Read - get it!). Yes I groaned as well LOL.
