Dress Codes For Restaurants? No, They Have Not Completely Disappeared

As you become accustomed to the ins and outs of formal wear over time, you'll likely understand that suits, tuxedos, and dress shirts have a wide variety of applications across a broad spectrum of settings that range from the everyday and routine to the special and exceptional. Whether your office dress code requires a jacket and tie throughout any given work week or you end up having to jet off to a wedding every so often, it's easy to come to the conclusion that having at least some assortment of formal wear in your wardrobe is a net positive.

            Although formal attire has retained its dominance in certain workplace settings and special occasions, it has slowly fallen by the wayside in terms of its practical use when it comes to so-called third places, and we're referring to social gathering spots outside the realm of the workplace and the home. Not long ago, standards of dress were commonplace in restaurants, private clubs, and even some music venues. While you're much less likely to encounter any sort of dress code when you show up to a restaurant in any given city these days, dress codes haven't completely disappeared. Depending on the type of establishment and the region in which it is located, you might be surprised to find out that your patronage could be refused for showing up in denim or even wearing the wrong type of shoes.

            Some would argue that rigid dress codes outside of special occasions and the workplace are fussy, unnecessary, and anachronistic. Others say that it allows business owners to control the overall atmosphere inside their restaurant or establishment in order to heighten the dining experience. No matter how you feel about dress codes when it comes to restaurants, it's true that they haven't completely faded into obscurity. In this piece, we'll go over the finer points of when and where you might have to pay attention to what you're wearing before you decide to head out for a night on the town.

--Where--

            It's no surprise that standards of dress can vary greatly by region, and this definitely carries over into whether restaurants in any given locale are more likely to take your business with open arms or send you home so you can put on slacks and a sport coat before returning. In practice, the majority of restaurant dress codes these days are treated more as guidelines rather than rules set in stone in all but the most upscale establishments, so bear in mind that you'll likely encounter a little bit of flexibility when it comes to standards of dress no matter where you are. However, our combined experience would tell us that certain regions are more likely to be a little more concerned with adhering to dress codes than others.

            Breaking it down by regions in the United States, you're significantly more likely to encounter dress codes in restaurants if you happen to be in a major metropolitan area in the northeast and certain portions of the south. Conversely, enforcement of any dress codes in the southwest is practically nonexistent, as this largely has to do with the temperature extremes the region experiences during the summer months. The same could be said for most of the mountain west and the Pacific coastal regions, with Los Angeles and San Francisco being notable exceptions, where older, more established restaurants still retain their dress codes that many others have abandoned. The general rule of thumb is that if you find yourself in a city with a vibrant solidified food culture such as Chicago, New Orleans, or New York, you're more likely to encounter a higher number of restaurants that will take their dress codes more seriously.

            Perhaps even more important than the locale you find yourself in is the type of establishment you're planning on visiting. Going above and beyond the ubiquitous "no shirt, no shoes, no service" standard, upscale eateries and top-rated restaurants may require something a little more formal from their patrons. Higher-end steakhouses, seafood restaurants that charge market price, and any establishment that's been able to build up a decades-long reputation of consistent high-quality service all are more likely to skew toward a more formal way of dress if they encourage or mandate a dress code. In practice, while most places with dress codes won't require you to show up in a full suit and tie, they might frown upon or have set rules against running shoes, denim, or shirts without a collar, for example.

            Aside from high-end restaurants that are open to the general public, dress codes are a frequent feature of private establishments and country clubs, with varying degrees of standards and enforcement. When it comes to country clubs and golf courses, their dress codes outlined in the fine print tend to cover way more potential infractions than what is enforced in practice. What seems to be more or less universal in this context, however, is the prohibition on denim and T-shirts, even when you're not actively using their facilities. Taking it a step further, some private clubs might have different standards of dress depending on whether you plan on playing golf or eating there, so if there are any doubts, your best bet in this situation is to call ahead. The good news is that private establishments such as golf courses skew their dress codes toward the informal, so eating there generally won't require anything more than a polo shirt and a pair of slacks under normal circumstances.

            Less commonly, you might still encounter dress codes in select locales when it comes to nightclubs and after-hours establishments, although in practice the dress codes implemented in these places tend to focus more on shoes than anything else, as a way to ensure the safety of their patrons rather than enforce a particular atmosphere or vibe. So long as you don't show up in flip-flops and pay the cover charge, you'll in all likelihood be granted entry. But there are a few holdouts in some cities that do still to this day encourage more formal mode of dress, so before you venture out for a given evening, it's best to do some preliminary research so you don't end up having to go home and end the night early.

--When--

            Restaurants these days that still implement some sort of dress code tend to overwhelmingly do so during evening dining hours as opposed to during the day. Historically this makes sense, since events held during the evening and nighttime hours have always had more formal expectations across the board than daytime gatherings. Depending on where you are, you may find that restaurants that open briefly for lunch and then close before they reopen for dinner implement a more formal dress code during the evening and have fewer, if any, requirements for the lunch crowd. As office dress codes have skewed more informal over the years, stumbling upon a restaurant during the day packed with nothing but people in suits and ties is certainly a rare sight these days. As a result, third places have accommodated this change by loosening their dress codes during normal working hours while retaining a higher standard of dress during the evening, when more people are willing to spruce up their attire.

            Just as time of day will have an effect on the dress codes of some establishments, time of year can also be of equal importance. As more people are encouraged to dress more formally when the weather outside is more conducive to wearing multiple layers, dress code enforcement tends to be followed more closely in the winter. In the summer months, the opposite is true. Showing up in only a dress shirt to a restaurant that requires a jacket on paper, for example, when the daytime temperature is unseasonably hot likely won't be enough for the establishment to turn you away. Of course these unspoken guidelines of etiquette and practicality aren't universal, so it's always best to exercise some judgment on your part. As a general rule, the more upscale or top-rated an establishment is, the more likely they will rigidly enforce a dress code, if there is one.

--Planning Ahead--

            Of the remaining restaurants that still enforce a dress code, the vast majority of them expect a standard of dress that is somewhere between semi-formal and the nicer side of casual in lieu of a coat and tie. While some gentlemen lament the disappearance of the more formal standards associated with the past, the benefit of less rigid dress codes in the present is that you have much greater leeway in terms of accentuating and elevating your own sense of personal style than you would otherwise have under a more stringent rule set. These days, it's much easier to forego a tie or wear something a little more colorful than it was even 20 years ago, so long as you keep your attire within a reasonable range of the level of formality expected by an establishment. If you have any doubts about whether or not a particular place requires its patrons to adhere to a dress code, it's best to call ahead and make sure or check the restaurant's website if they have one. So long as you do some research beforehand and exercise a little common sense, you probably won't run into any issues with any dress code discrepancies.

            No matter what your specific needs are in the realm of formal attire, Enzo Custom has you covered. Don't hesitate to make an appointment with us, as our expert clothiers will help you along in every step of the fitting process. If you feel more comfortable at home, you can also schedule a meeting with us via videoconference.