Preferred Attire For A Nice Night Out?

Depends on location and time of year (temp). A nice night out for me usually means I'll bust out the slacks as opposed to nice jeans. Shirt preference is one of my A list polo style shirts, not the golf variety. Or possibly one of the trendy button downs the wife brings home for me on occasion.
If dinner is the not the primary objective, then the dress code is dictated by the event. As I get older I enjoy breaking out a blazer for events, but almost never for just dinner.

As for the other diners, I really could care less as long as I don't smell them, not hearing them is higher on my priority list.

Well...as a slave to fashion, ( ) I will respond soon, Winetarelli.

Walking out the door soon.

For me it's dress slacks and a button down shirt. Never jeans. In the winter I will wear a jacket or a very nice sweater. I'm more into sweaters now than dress jackets.

In the summer time, I will wear my Tommy Bahama shirts (non tuck-in style). I only wear shorts out to eat at very casual locations.

In the past couple of weeks, on my travels, I have been to two different upscale restaurants in different towns, that seat customers in areas based on dress. It got to be a game watching people coming in the door and guessing which area they would be seated in . Some where no brainers!

I think it varies by city. In Southern California pretty much every upscale restaurant is “resort casual” so dress jeans with a nice button down is fine. I would not feel comfortable in jeans at a similar caliber of restaurant in NY or London.

I do think it’s funny that someone in dress jeans, a nice fitting shirt and a jacket might get turned away at some restaurants, but some fat slob in a poorly fitting men’s warehouse suit can gain entrance just because he has the “uniform” on.

I also thought it was interesting that most of the locals were in jeans at 2 and 3 Michelin starred restaurants in Spain and Italy. I think what they consider "dressed up" has evolved into stylish. The US, UK and parts of France seem to be stuck on a suit and tie being dressed up and that's it.

Down below: dress jeans or slacks.
Up above: pressed button down shirt (never short sleeve) - sports coat if it is cooler weather
I'll wear a suit from time to time if the restaurant and/or the occasion sees fit!

One of the things that saddens me is the fact that the dressing down of America has reached near epidemic proportions.

I absolutely love wearing a bespoke suit, so when going out to a nice dinner, I like to look my best. I don't do it for anyone else but myself, and it is what I feel comfortable in, so that makes a huge difference. But if you don't feel comfortable wearing a jacket, as a fellow diner, I certainly wouldn't be offended if someone came into a nice restaurant I was eating in, wearing a well-pressed shirt sans jacket and tie. But double check with the restaurant because sometimes they have their own attire standards.

On the other hand, when I was at the park hyatt hotel in Milan, and two guests came down to the restaurant for breakfast wearing literally their pajamas bottoms and socks without slippers, and the guy had on a wife-beater, I was very offended, and let management know. Simply no excuse for that... If you want to eat in your pajamas, order room service.

Agree with others, depends on the where. Here in Indianapolis, I'd feel perfectly at home in nice jeans, quality shoes and a good button-down shirt at all but perhaps the ten nicest places in town. At those, some will go denim, but I'd go with nice non-denim pants, a nice shirt, and some sort of modern jacket, not a grandpa "sport coat." There is no place here in Indiana I'd even think about breaking out a full suit for.

I guess some of you missed the classic "Dress Code" thread that unfortunately isn't on the site anymore.

It turned into the original "Ignore this Thread".

quote:

Originally posted by GlennK:
on a suit and tie being dressed up and that's it.

Nothing wrong with that

In Las Vegas they dress for shows and dinners like they just got back from mowing the lawn. It's a little depressing.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Cabernet:
In Las Vegas they dress for shows and dinners like they just got back from mowing the lawn. It's a little depressing.

One of the things we certainly agree on, which is why I think Las Vegas is one of the most overrated cities in the world.

When my husband & I go out for dinner (unless it's really casual) I wear dress slacks or pantsuit, sometimes a dress (unless it's freezing cold), a nice blouse & jacket/sweater and for him nice shirt & slacks. Since Napa has become a travel destination it's amazing that people go out to really nice restaurants in shorts, tanks, thongs (on their feet). I've been known to go out in nice denims but NEVER shorts for dinner. Then again I was brought up in the day that ladies wore gloves & hats to go shopping and they were always decked out for dinner.

I generally do my best to wear clean underwear.

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:
I generally do my best to wear clean underwear.

Well, than you already have a leg up on 60% of the population.

quote:

Originally posted by CRB:
Since Napa has become a travel destination it's amazing that people go out to really nice restaurants in shorts, tanks, thongs (on their feet).

Hm...Seeing people dressed like this around me means it's simply not a fine dining experience. Nothing wrong with dressing like this at a beach resort, but at a nice restaurant?

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:
I generally do my best to wear clean underwear.

Phew! I feel so much better now

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:
I generally do my best to wear clean underwear.

You lying commando style diner...

I prefer to wear a gravy stained wife beater and a Union Jack thong. I call it a Dave Tong Thong....

You would definitely be a little out of place in San Diego wearing a full suit.

A sports coat without a tie is actually pretty dressed up in this neck of the woods.

quote:

Originally posted by shavez:

quote:

Originally posted by CRB:
Since Napa has become a travel destination it's amazing that people go out to really nice restaurants in shorts, tanks, thongs (on their feet).

Hm...Seeing people dressed like this around me means it's simply not a fine dining experience. Nothing wrong with dressing like this at a beach resort, but at a nice restaurant?

I'm not sure why some of the better restaurants allow it, when we go out & spend $200 or $300 for the two of us to dine I would expect there should be some kind of dress code, it makes little sense to me. You have a waiter dressed in black & white w/tie serving someone dressed for the beach.

quote:

Originally posted by Gigond Ass:
You would definitely be a little out of place in San Diego wearing a full suit.

A sports coat without a tie is actually pretty dressed up in this neck of the woods.

Definitely true that I would probably be out of place in a suit, but I would not feel uncomfortable in being so. Most times when I am the only one in a suit and my gf is dressed up, people go out of their way to say how refreshing it is to see that the jersey shore hasn't permeated the wardrobes of all Americans under 35.

quote:

Originally posted by Gigond Ass:

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:
I generally do my best to wear clean underwear.

You lying commando style diner...

I prefer to wear a gravy stained wife beater and a Union Jack thong. I call it a Dave Tong Thong....

Bravo!!!

Okay. I am at the point in my life where if you don't like what I am wearing, maybe I shouldn't be eating at your establishment. Part of the way that I look at it is that my money spends as well as anybody elses (although I readily admit that DnVsMom and I are at total opposite ends of the spectrum on restaurant attire).

I despise wearing a tie, a jacket is only slightly less loathesome, and I do what I can to wear jeans to school only from November to the end of February - the rest of the year I am wearing nice shorts and a golf shirt (although I readily admit that if I could get away with a t-shirt and athletic shorts, which I probably could at this stage of my career, I would).

That being said, I do have a bit of a social conscience and will "dress up" on the few occasions that DnVsMom and I get to go to a "nice restaurant", i.e. when we were at Morimoto Napa last year, I didn't wear shorts and a t-shirt, but very nice jeans, a nice button-up shirt and "stylish" shoes (meaning, not Nikes or flip-flops).

I am very "old school" in many of my practices, but this, for better or worse, is not one of them.

quote:

Originally posted by CRB:
Since Napa has become a travel destination it's amazing that people go out to really nice restaurants in shorts, tanks, thongs (on their feet). I've been known to go out in nice denims but NEVER shorts for dinner.

I think the attitude is they're lucky to have my business and the customer is always right. And while there may be some truth to this I think it shows a lack of respect for the effort a fine dining restaurant goes through night after night. I don't believe there's many things more difficult than the restaurant biz.

The only time I ever wear a coat and tie out is if I am going to dinner at one of the private clubs on Palm Beach. The rest of the time its either jeans or slacks and a button down in the winter. In summer its shorts and a polo or button down. I wear this to places like Ruth Chris and Capital Grille and I am never the worst dressed person. When its not season in South Fla, pretty much anything goes.

I'll also say this could become a generational thing. For many younger people jeans have totally replaced a nice pair of khakis.

I would never wear a suit to a dinner and very rarely would I wear a suit to a cocktail party. I would wear a suit to a wedding if not black tie. Blazer/sportcoat and slacks I think are much more appropriate for social attire if a tie/coat is required. Suits are for work IMO. My tie selection is even different for social settings.

As far as just going to a restaurant very, very rarely will I wear a tie. I think that would just be out of place. Nice club type place, I'm wearing slacks, blazer, nice tie, nice loafers. Fun/hip I'll dress a little more fun.

And I have absolutely worn jeans to a michelin starred place and felt perfectly dressed.

quote:

Originally posted by kingofcool:
I would never wear a suit to a dinner and very rarely would I wear a suit to a cocktail party. Blazer/sportcoat and slacks I think are much more appropriate for social attire if a tie/coat is Suits are for work IMO. required. Suits are for work IMO.

As far as just going to a restaurant very, very rarely will I wear a tie. I think that would just be out of place.

Sorry, but I STRONGLY disagree. The only reason this belief is so prevalent is because collectively, America got LAZY! Watch some classic Hollywood films- Do you think Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Lawrence Olivier, David Nevin and Rudolph Valentino felt out of place wearing a suit and tie to dinner?

I am not in any way telling anyone TO wear a suit and tie to dinner- plenty of times when I am not going to a fancy restaurant I keep it casual with merely a sportcoat, but I have NEVER felt uncomfortable wearing one in even a relaxed dinner setting, even when no one else is dressed similarly. I take satisfaction in being myself, and would much rather be the most overdressed than underdressed.

I am not critiquing anyone's choice of clothing at a nice restaurant if one is presentable, but I will never conform to the belief that suits are strictly for work. The fact that people believe that shows how far we have fallen aesthetically, and no longer reach even a minimum level of decorum.

quote:

Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:

quote:

Originally posted by kingofcool:
I would never wear a suit to a dinner and very rarely would I wear a suit to a cocktail party. Blazer/sportcoat and slacks I think are much more appropriate for social attire if a tie/coat is Suits are for work IMO. required. Suits are for work IMO.

As far as just going to a restaurant very, very rarely will I wear a tie. I think that would just be out of place.

Sorry, but I STRONGLY disagree. The only reason this belief is so prevalent is because collectively, America got LAZY! Watch some classic Hollywood films- Do you think Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Lawrence Olivier, David Nevin and Rudolph Valentino felt out of place wearing a suit and tie to dinner?

I am not in any way telling anyone TO wear a suit and tie to dinner- plenty of times when I am not going to a fancy restaurant I keep it casual with merely a sportcoat, but I have NEVER felt uncomfortable wearing one in even a relaxed dinner setting, even when no one else is dressed similarly. I take satisfaction in being myself, and would much rather be the most overdressed than underdressed.

I am not critiquing anyone's choice of clothing at a nice restaurant if one is presentable, but I will never conform to the belief that suits are strictly for work. The fact that people believe that shows how far we have fallen aesthetically, and no longer reach even a minimum level of decorum.

I completely understand the suit / work sentiment. I felt that way until I got my first very nice custom made suit. It just puts a smile on your face putting that sucker on. Always makes me think of the ZZ Top song "Sharp Dressed Man". I still hate ties and probably wouldn't wear a suit to dinner unless there was an event tied to the evening, but it does make you feel a bit like the cock of the walk.

quote:

Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:
Sorry, but I STRONGLY disagree. The only reason this belief is so prevalent is because collectively, America got LAZY! Watch some classic Hollywood films- Do you think Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Lawrence Olivier, David Nevin and Rudolph Valentino felt out of place wearing a suit and tie to dinner?

I am not in any way telling anyone TO wear a suit and tie to dinner- plenty of times when I am not going to a fancy restaurant I keep it casual with merely a sportcoat, but I have NEVER felt uncomfortable wearing one in even a relaxed dinner setting, even when no one else is dressed similarly. I take satisfaction in being myself, and would much rather be the most overdressed than underdressed.

I am not critiquing anyone's choice of clothing at a nice restaurant if one is presentable, but I will never conform to the belief that suits are strictly for work. The fact that people believe that shows how far we have fallen aesthetically, and no longer reach even a minimum level of decorum.

:shaking his walker: Hey you damn kids!! Get off my lawn!!

TPE, I certainly respect your opinion and honestly I usually err on the side of tradition but in this case I feel like that's outdated. "Out of place" might be strong but I very rarely think it's necessary. Maybe you're on to something. I certainly wouldn't mind the world returning to the "good ol days" in more way than one.

I prefer to stay away from white colors when red wine is involved.

I am eating at Les Nomades this week, and have been told that a jacket is required. Guess you can wear pretty well anything underneath though? Have to say that I cannot remember the last time that I was at a restaurant with a dress code. My Country Club has a dress code, and that I kinda like, but then I am of an age where I remember always wearing a suit to work.

quote:

Originally posted by kingofcool:
TPE, I certainly respect your opinion and honestly I usually err on the side of tradition but in this case I feel like that's outdated. "Out of place" might be strong but I very rarely think it's necessary. Maybe you're on to something. I certainly wouldn't mind the world returning to the "good ol days" in more way than one.

Completely agree that I very rarely think it's necessary... I hope my post didn't come off that way. I hope that my approach to dressing is a sign of things to come and not merely a relic of the past. Bill Cunningham thinks so, which I thought was pretty damn cool. I am the picture taken in Paris, outside of the Celine runway show: listen with the volume up- you will get a good laugh. http://www.nytimes.com/interac...t-feature/index.html

winetarelli, I like the question.

To me, the way a person dresses/carries themselves often tells me more about them than they can tell me verbally.

There are so many things to consider here. The city makes a major difference. As an example,the difference between Houston and Dallas is night and day.

The question of a nice meal still needs more clarity, imo. Is the restaurant more traditional or more of a stylish and trendy upscale restaurant? A well tailored suit and a nice Hermes tie is always appropriate, regardless. That said, more trendy/style driven restaurants it is more about the shoes ( Ferragamo, Bruno Magli, Tod's etc.) the shirt which may or may not be tucked ( Boss, Armani, Zagiri, etc.) and the right watch ( Panerai, IWC, Mont Blanc, etc) and a cheap pair of jeans would be viewed as restaurant appropriate, and this may be a very upscale restaurant.

Will write more soon, but I would ALWAYS prefer being overdressed than under, ( you can always remove a tie) and being a slob is never ever appropriate, period, case freaking closed!

Oh... NEVER a button down shirt with a tie after 6:00 PM! Grrrr...

Spread collar shirts, please!

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Oh... NEVER a button down shirt with a tie after 6:00 PM! Grrrr...

Spread collar shirts, please!

Agree 100%. To be honest, I hate the look of button down oxfords with jacket no matter what time of day unless one is wearing a rep tie and navy blazer. Otherwise, it simply cheapens the whole outfit.

TPE, I understand where Winetarelli is coming from. He and I tend to be on the same side often.

America has turned into a country of slobs overall. It has nothing to do with income, either.

Unless one is completely obtuse, the moment you walk the streets in Montreal, Munich, Rome, Paris, Milan et al, you notice.

When you TRULY notice is when you fly back and look around our airports.

I completely understand W+A... Airports are a close second behind Wal-Marts for the highest percentage of slovenly-dressed people. And you are 100% correct on the income thing- I grew up incredibly poor and was the very first person in my entire family (including aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, etc) to even go to college... But I always felt that if you want to have people take you seriously, you should dress seriously.

Personally, I have no problem whatsoever with someone showing up at a nice dinner with a clean, well-pressed shirt. I have dinner with my friends all the time, and that is usually the extent of their dressing up. I never make any mention of it- it doesn't bother me. But people shouldn't be afraid of dressing up because they think they will be "out of place." Don't worry about being the only guy in a jacket... You will be the first one the ladies look at! As you said, a well-made suit, and an Hermes tie are always appropriate unless lounging by the pool. And if you have on a fine tailored or bespoke suit- you are pretty damn comfortable too... It's a natural extension of your body.

quote:

Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:
I am the picture taken in Paris, outside of the Celine runway show: listen with the volume up- you will get a good laugh. http://www.nytimes.com/interac...t-feature/index.html

absolutely marvelous! slick!