Party On.

This Summer, Let Your Style Choices Hang Out.

Of all of the Dallas parties to look forward to attending each year, Warren Nash’s Memorial Day “Croquet Party” is near the top of the list — and it ain’t because of the croquet, although tools of the sport are readily available and used by many that attend.

No, this party’s always been more about the crazy attire worn by the diverse conglomerate of attendees that show up year after year. It’s always a strange collection, which kinda makes sense, given Nash’s position as the senior account executive of the Dallas Observer‘s classifieds section.

Off-the-wall as it may be, the event always starts out fairly classy. Each year, the invite asks guests to wear “Old South/English Garden Party apparel.” But the result is usually just a wardrobe free-for-all — so much so that, if the clothes you wore don’t appeal to you after you’ve see everyone else’s looks, there’s even a rack of costumes to pick from, with options ranging from an old wedding dress to a furry Fred Flintstone frock.

For some, the party even delves into a clothing optional event– as is perhaps to be expected after having a margarita mixed directly in your mouth while trying your luck at chicken shit bingo (oh, just Google it).

But it’s always an open-armed affair. Seems nearly every social group in town has at least one representative at Nash’s Memorial Day party each year, and they all come together to celebrate on Memorial Day. And, sometimes very literally, they come to let their fashion choices hang out.

It’s inspiring, really.