Ladies: When do you start getting ready for an event, and what is your ritual?

By event I mean basically any party, wedding, shower, barmitzvah, etc. Anything where you will be putting effort into what you are going to wear and how you will be presenting yourself.

For me it is about a week in advance:

- I file my fingernails back about a week ahead, to cut the chances they could break, but still be the legnth I want for the event.
– A week in advance I also try on the outfit I plan to wear, and for some reason if I am not finding anything in my closet I go on a shopping trip (If I have gained weight I might do this a month in advance, and try to lose a couple of pounds to make sure something in my closet will fit).
– Get a haircut if necessary and dye my hair also a week in advance, sometimes two weeks.
– 4 or 5 days before exfoliate well.
– 3 days before use Jergens lotion to add a little touch of color/tan to any showing parts of my body, depending on my outfit. Repeat again the day before.
– The night before I paint my nails, unless I will have time the day of the event.
– The night before I also put on my certain dri antipersperant, which you cannot put on right after shaving, so no shaving the day before generally.
– The day of the event shave early enough that I don’t have to worry about putting lotion on my legs, usually means showering three hours before I am going to leave. Half style my hair after showering. I might paint my nails now if I have not already. About an hour before leaving I start my make-up and curlers, and finally get dressed.

Seems like a ridiculous process. Men seem to just get up and go like any other day.