Know all the ABC’s of BYOB’s, blacklights, stoplights, Togas and more
So you’ve been invited to your first university party. There’s just one problem: your new friends already assume you know the college lingo, and will show up adorned with the appropriate attire.
The first thing to know about college parties is that they happen for no reason. University is the time of your life when Halloween, Christmas, even Father’s Day, are excuses to drink yourself silly. Whether at the bar home, theme parties are where it’s at. Here are the top themes you may find yourself attending and how to prepare.
ABC Party
The Anything But Clothes party is at the top of popular. Guests must show up sporting a costume made of — you guessed it — anything but clothes. Costumes are commonly made from bubble wrap, tape and garbage bags. Expect fellow guests to get creative, and discover how to cover your naughty bits with weird materials, five-dollar bills or maybe even cotton candy.
BYOB
A Bring Your Own Beer/Booze party is the most common party you will attend, during or after university — after all, students can’t afford to fund each other’s bad behaviour or drinking games. BYOB parties are a good way to party on the cheap and avoid any drunken fights over who drank the last of your favourite import.
Blacklight
The key thing to remember in a Blacklight party is that white is a MUST. All light bulbs at this party are replaced with blacklights and guests wear white or florescent clothing that will glow under the lights. Remember your highlighters to write on fellow guests, and don’t forget the anti-dandruff shampoo.
Stoplight
This is the perfect party for singles and those looking to hook up. Guests wear green, yellow, or red to show their relationship status. Green means single, yellow means complicated or casually dating, while red means taken.
Toga
Always the stereotypical college movie party, Toga parties are both fun and common. Expect to see bed sheets wrapped around your friends, and lots of red wine.
Rubix Cube Party
At this party, the classic ’70s toy becomes your colour palette for outfit ideas. Each guest must arrive wearing six items of clothing that represent a colour of the cube. Once there, guests must trade articles of clothing until everyone is one solid colour. Get ready for a complicated good time.
Reality TV
Whether your crowd likes celebrating Jerseyday every Thursday or secretly loves The Real Housewives series, these parties are a fun way to mock choice TV tastes. Each guest must arrive dressed as his or her favourite reality star. The night will end in laughs if you can keep the attitude and expressions of your character going throughout the night.
Nights not to be missed
Social butterflies will want to plan ahead for key nights during the school year.
Halloween: Don’t make Cady’s gory mistake in Mean Girls and show up to the party as something scary or bloody. Halloween in university is all about sex appeal and the hotter the costume the better.
St. Patrick’s Day: The world wide day of drinking is a favourite of the university student. St. Paddy’s just gives the excuse to wear crazy amounts of green while simultaneously doing Jell-O shots and beer.
Cinco De Mayo: Originally a holiday for the people of Mexico to commemorate their defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1863, Cinco De Mayo is now a day of tequila shots and Coronas amongst university kids.
New Year’s Eve: You have managed to survive a semester full of late nights, long essays and stressful tests. It’s time to dance, sing and give sparkling cheers all around. M
Prefer to have fun without the pressure of alcohol? Check out "How to party without a drop to drink."