Posted on 03/28/2026 6:42:05 AM PDT by DoodleBob
Several years ago, I joined some friends on a trip to Mackinac Island, a place famous for its Victorian culture and ban on automobiles.
After bicycling around the island, we decided to splurge and have tea at The Grand Hotel, which is as polished as its name sounds. Before trooping in for tea, however, we stopped in a nearby restroom to exchange our sports clothes for something a little classier, for the hotel requires its patrons to dress up before entering its domain. Such a change was a bit of a bother, but in the long run, it made me value my experience far more. Because my outward appearance was more polished, my inward self could relax and savor both the food and my surroundings.
The good ol’ Grand Hotel isn’t alone in its dress standards anymore. Ruth’s Chris Steak House recently announced a new dress code for its patrons, posting the following on its website:
BUSINESS CASUAL – PROPER ATTIRE REQUIRED PLEASE.
Kindly remove all hats when entering the restaurant. Guests wearing ball caps are asked to dine in the bar/lounge.
The following attire is not permitted in our dining rooms:
Gym wear, pool attire, tank tops, clothing with offensive graphics or language, revealing clothing or exposed undergarments.
The famous steakhouse was mocked for these (rather minimal) standards by fellow restaurant chain Chili’s, which claimed that you only have to be dressed in order to enter their restaurant.
It’s an admittedly touché response … but does it really win Chili’s any points in the long run? Put differently, if money were no object, would we rather go to the trouble of dressing up to sit and enjoy the upscale Ruth’s Chris than go to Chili’s just so we can bum around in our shorts and t-shirts? Most would choose the former without question.
Some might consider this snobbery. The dress controversy between Chili’s and Ruth’s Chris, however, is really a microcosm of the larger culture war which has raged over of how we present ourselves to the world for years.
The viewpoint of Chili’s is the one toward which our society has been slouching for many years. “Come as you are,” they say, “we won’t judge!” Thus, what once was considered acceptable dinner attire – a nice dress for women and a sport coat for men – gradually morphed into jeans and a blouse, then booty shorts, crop tops, or sweatshirts and pajama pants.
Americans cling to such clothes, loving the comfort that they bring above all else. Yet at the same time, we also complain about how difficult it is to get ahead in the world and how hard it is to get others to respect us. What if the two are related? Might we see more success in our relationships, jobs, and other aspects of life if we didn’t cling so obstinately to the Chili’s dress code of “anything goes”?
Famed Hollywood costumer Edith Head would have said yes. In her book, “How to Dress for Success,” Head wrote, “No matter in which direction your strivings for success are pointed, what you wear and how you look can make the difference between moving steadily toward your goal or just rocking back and forth in the same spot.” In other words, if you want monotony and stagnation, keep choosing those casual, comfortable clothes when you go shopping, dine at restaurants, attend church, or even go to the office.
But those who want to move forward in life should consider a different tactic. Although it sounds a bit crass, Head encourages us to think of ourselves “as a product” that needs selling. And in order to sell that product, one must seriously consider how to improve it.
“The difference between ‘packaging’ you and a static product like a can of beans is considerable,” Head goes on to explain. “The beans are going only one place. You are going many places, and the way you look in each special situation, at different times of the day and on varied locations calls for a variety of looks, a number of moods and a diversified wardrobe.”
If we can control nothing else, we can always decide how we dress, Head says. “When you know what you want out of life—the areas of success you desire—then it is easy to dress ‘in character’ to create the most exciting, pleasing, attractive appearance for your audience.”
Yet so many of us do the exact opposite. What, after all, do our sweats, ripped jeans, and skimpy shorts and shirts say about us? Do they signal that we are a “product” that is clean, neat, alert, responsible, and quality material worthy of advancement … or do they signal that we are dumpy slobs, more interested in lazing through life and getting by with minimal effort?
It’s completely our own choice as to which of these options we’ll follow … but just remember, that choice may be the difference between a Ruth’s Chris or a Chili’s life.
+1 Good one!
I get that no everyone has the means to wear “Sunday best” to church. But if you can afford a tight black leather mini skirt (I really did see this worn to a Christening)you can afford more modest respectful attire.
...Grey Man Philosophy
Some are aware they don't need respect from others.
Some embrace Stoicism and/or the Tao - that respect comes from within and cannot come from others.
Lol!
Today flying is like riding an overcrowded bus in a third world country where most of the passengers need baths and deodorant.
**************
How odd that people living in a rich, highly developed country would want to dress like those living in a poor, third world country. If anyone in the latter suddenly came into money one of the first things they would do would be to ditch their shaggy clothes of poverty and dress in manner that reflects their newfound prosperity.
Bathing and deodorant is hygiene, not apparel. The most God-awful stench I've been assaulted with is from those who wear black wool suits regardless of how hot it is and they bathe once a week, due to their religion. (And I've smelled rotting flesh).
I like Hawaii formal. That’s when you wear close toe shoes instead of slippahs with the aloha shirt you’ve had for forty years. Always a classic.
But back stateside. I go no where that requires formal. As for the latest craze for lamenting the quit and tie for flying. Let’s bring back smoking sections too where the sharp dressed can smoke cigars and cigarettes on a 15 hour flight. Ah the good ol days.
Slobs on welfare.
Maybe, but any suit is way too hot in the summertime in Atlanta. Or anywhere. People who put so much emphasis of what others wear are petty little tyrants.
Buy a suit, I'll blow my nose on it.
I prefer the Ensign Pulver approach to life.
I recently decided to up my game and dress appropriately for church: dress slacks, white shirt, tie, sport coat. It turned out that it is not really uncomfortable and easy to do.
Again, just because bad people may wear suits, that doesn't make wearing suits bad. You seems to be trying very hard with all your incessant spam posting on this thread to draw that false conclusion.
And yes, everything you are writing here is making you sound more and more like a slob.
I bought a really nice summer weight wool sport coat a week ago at a thrift store. I even sprung for the “round up” for the charity...a whole $4. I went to Food Lion today. I wore nice jeans, a Pendleton plaid shirt and a camel hair tan blazer. I’ll wear a coat and tie tomorrow for church, just like my 26 year-old pastor. We are the only ones who dress up which is perfectly OK.
They don't just happen to wear suits, they wear them intentionally to add legitimacy to what they're doing. There's a reason these people on television and in politics adopt such camouflage.
If people start dressing up in order to help get away with crimes, maybe it's time to stop shaming others for not dressing like that.
Once you deal with people who wear suits all the time, you learn the first warning sign of distrust is the suit.
And yes, everything you are writing here is making you sound more and more like a slob.
Well, that's an opinion. How someone dresses, someone you can't even see, and why it would annoy you points to something - and it's about clothing.
“... weddings and funerals wearing t-shirts and shorts and flip flops. Girls would dress like they were going clubbing. Disgraceful.”
You think that’s bad. Back in the day ppl used to go to worship in shepherds clothing and fishing clothes -straight off the boats. Stank like sheep and fish!
Brings back childhood memories does it? 😃
I would like to join your fine organization. A simple, Super 160's Brioni will do. Just let me know when I should show up at the tailor's for my fitting. Oh, and, not that it matters, but what does your organization do?
Thanking you in advance,
Colorado Doug
You don’t know? You’ve probably forgot. Memory loss is the first sign of seed oil deficiency. You need to book it to Chilis while you have still have the strength and mind to get there and refresh your body and mind with seed oil. Remember. No short cuts and drinking straight out of the bottle.
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