h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Now, this style is preferable when you have a party where most of the guests don't know the others... like in a large shared flat. There you usually end up with several small groups each of which belongs to on of the invitors. In order to get these groups to mix and have some fun have a swap-a-gear party.
The start is to get all the guests to wear stuff which they'd be willing to swap away. Like last year's fashion which you never likey anyway, the suff you got from your (grand)parents last christmas, the stuff that shrunk in the washing machine and similar. Make sure that the invitation says that one is encouraged (but not forced to) swap the gear at the party. This also makes the guests wear silly stuff, which lightens the atmosphere.
Now, supply a sufficient amount of booze and people will start swapping gear. At first this will involve jumpers but then things move on to trousers and t-shirts.
The huge advantage of these parties is that people have little inhibitions in starting to talk to someone they don't know.
"Hey, cool shirt! Wanna swap?" comes easily.

You'll end up with the most bizzarre combinations and people wil ahve a great time.

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PS: Make sure you lock up your personal stuff when the party happens at your place

been to such a party then Tube?

Yes and I even organised and hosted one.

So did it work? And what age range was it? (I'm expecting students, but you never know... )

Sure it worked ... went off like a frog in a sock
They drank all the beer (160+ liters) and the party went till after 4 am, with the cops turning up at least once (can't be too sure there )

The age range was something like 18-30. Mostly students (law, medicine, languistics), punks, violin makers, ... a wild mixture.

Make sure to tell everyone to wear gear which they would swap away happily. That provids for both a willingness to swap and a certain level of dress-ups.


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