Originally Posted by
lightwalker
I totally agree, but I am also a fan of civilization. There are some standards of dress depending on occasion and venue. I don't want everyone dressed like me, but it's a matter of respect to at least adhere to the local customs.
I was guest on a wedding once where one rebel of a guest came dressed in t-shirt and jeans, while EVERYONE else was wearing a suit or dress. Now, this is just rude and shows no respect towards host or other guests.
I rarely wear a suit for a restaurant, but at least I am trying to look decent. No intention of me to feel better about myself - if I had, I would be happy if I was the best dressed among all of them
Haha, I think you've stretched civilization to the extremes there! Civilization means that everyone has to deal with some diversity. Being well dressed no longer means having to wear only a jacket and tie for a man. The standard always was less onerous and more flexible for the fairer sex, anyway. Obviously, no one is suggesting jeans and a t-shirt, either, for such fine dining venues. But there's quite a lot of nice dress for a man that doesn't require a jacket: nice shoes, nice pants, and a nice shirt and belt can do the trick nicely. After all, tailored pants and shirt always will look far better and be nicer than the dolt who wears the ill-fitting jacket every time but adheres to the nonsensical standard of "any jacket will do"!
It isn't a local custom to wear a suit or even a jacket in New York; it's a classist custom for
some people and informs on
their expectations, however. Despite the ill-fitting jackets I too often see and laugh about. Or the horrible shoes some men wear. (Kill me now.)
Trying to be decent is wonderful, and I applaud you for that! I do the same, despite my expectation to never again dine at a restaurant that requires a jacket. (I get too darn warm and uncomfortable.) I always wear very nice clothing, very nice shoes, and it all fits like a glove. Which makes me laugh at the ill-fitting suits and jackets for those who apparently don't know any better. But I am in no way offended by those. I just laugh that too many think they're better dressed.
The St Regis concierge recently got us our res for EMP...but in the meantime had worked with Le Bernardin to waive their jacket requirement for me. They would not waive it. They insisted that I had to enter with a jacket...or put one of their loaner jackets on after entry. But they were happy to tell me that I could remove the jacket after being seated. THAT is nonsensical and pompous. You have to wear it in but not wear it after that? What is the point? There is no point other than to assuage some classist nonsense.
Fortunately, EMP has no dress code. But I'll be very well dressed...without a darn jacket. Bring on the Zegna!