Grab your gladrags and get your sequins at the ready, because Party Dress Day is making a return for 2025.
The charity event was established in 2021, to raise funds for The Good Grief Trust, a national bereavement support charity.
The glamorous occasion, which see’s participants snap pictures in their best party gear, will take place on Friday 31 January, with full details here.
More than £10,000 has already been raised for The Good Grief Trust through people putting on their glad rags, sharing a photo, and donating to the official Just Giving page.
York journalist Alex Lloyd came up with the idea four years ago.
A former colleague of hers started dressing her toddler daughter in party dresses during the January 2021 lockdown, as she was going to grow out of them before restrictions would allow parties.
Alex decided to designate a day for everyone to dress up and wear their party clothes, from the comfort of their own homes.
The mum-of-two set up social media pages, a designated Spotify playlist, and began to spread the word.
A week later the first official Party Dress Day took place, attracting not only locals, but participants from Edinburgh to Poole.
The initial target was £100, but their expectations were blown away with a whopping £1,700 raised.
Alex said: “We had just hit the horrible milestone of 100,000 Covid deaths in the UK and a close friend’s dad had died, which is why I picked The Good Grief Trust to raise money for.”
The Good Grief Trust is a national charity that provides bereavement support services, signposts people in need to suitable organisations, and works to remove myths and stigma around the subjects of loss and grief.
Alex held the following event during Easter weekend in 2021, before deciding on the annual date to be the last Friday of January.
She said, “I love how the event has changed each time. Our first one was very much about getting out of the leisurewear and looking forward to being together in person again.
“In 2022, we were enjoying putting on the special outfits that had been gathering dust. Last year, there were quite a few supporters who shared clothes connected with a lost loved one, or even photos of someone who had died in their party outfits.
Alex hopes that this year will be about not saving certain items of clothing for ‘best’, and bringing people together during what she describes as, “a difficult few months all round”.
“I can’t wait to see all the photos and videos on the day. It creates a real sense of community and the creativity is fantastic. We’ve had people sea swimming, play tennis, walk the dog and vacuum in their dresses!” She added.
The special day welcomes anyone to join, and Alex is particularly keen to expand to wider communities.
She hopes to work alongside schools, nurseries, colleges, workplaces, and residential homes.
Community groups and clubs, such as choirs and exercise classes are also encouraged to get involved.
For more information about Party Dress Day, and information on how to donate, click here.
You can also follow the event on social media channels @partydressday and through using the hashtag #partydressday.