Are restaurants with “dress codes” discriminatory?

It should stop you from wearing one shorts Or enjoy a baseball cap Expensive night In many upscale restaurants in the city, potential customers are turned away if they are wearing clothes that do not match the elegant atmosphere of the store.

“You might have a guest in a hoodie who could buy out the entire restaurant but can’t be seated because the dress code requires a jacket”

Some customers complain of discrimination, especially when certain people are subject to different dress codes because of their race, class or gender.

But others agree with the restaurateurs, who say keeping standards minimal in a luxury space allows patrons to appropriately match the decor, creating an atmosphere that makes everyone feel special. After all, they say, they’ve invested enough money in the business that it’s not too much to ask customers to put in a little effort for a five-star experience.

That’s why there is a dress code

Richard Ford has basically written the book on dress codes. Ford, a professor at Stanford Law School and author of Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History, said there is a duality in setting and enforcing rules about what people can wear.

“Logically, dress communicates respect and professionalism, so schools, workplaces and venues have good reasons to insist on attire that is consistent with the mission and purpose of the institution,” he said.

“I don’t like that you can’t see who a person is because they are dressed to follow the rules”

“On the other hand, dress codes are sometimes used to distinguish between stigmatized racial groups.”

He noted that the dress code prohibits gold chains, braces or sagging pants.

Reuben Buford May, a sociology professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studies discrimination in public places such as nightclubs, restaurants and bars, agreed that while dress codes can be seen as a way to attract a certain type of patron, they can also be understood as a way to keep others away.

“One owner said to me, ‘Sarah and Marla are bad for business,’ so he created a set of guidelines to keep certain ‘types’ out of his business,” May said.

In the past, you might have been able to identify a person’s “status” in society by their clothing. For example, if it was after 6 p.m. and they were wearing a tuxedo, you knew they were probably not a farmer. But May points out that today’s popular styles tend to be more about comfort, so dress codes may be harder to justify.

“You might have a guest in a hoodie who could buy out the entire restaurant but can’t be seated because the dress code requires a jacket,” he explains.

Restaurant owners are happy to have a dress code

Juliet, a Houston-based steakhouse and fine-dining restaurant owned by Jamie Allen, said it “enforces a strict, high-end dress code.” Allen, who created the code himself, said it shows that Juliet’s is not a place for an everyday quickie, but a celebratory destination.

“There’s a time and place for everything,” Allen said. “I don’t want everyone to dress like they’re at a sports bar.”

Allen, who is black, said he has personally experienced racism when trying to gain entry to certain establishments, but noted that Juliet’s dress code is equally enforced.

“I myself have been to places where there are things that black people are prohibited from wearing, like Jordans or big chains,” he said. “Our dress code is not meant to exclude any group of people because Juliet is a place where everyone gathers. All races can feel comfortable.”

Juliet’s dress code states: “We do not allow sportswear, beachwear, denim shorts, provocative clothing, sleeveless shirts or T-shirts. Tracksuits, sweatshirts, beanies, hats, bandanas and plain white T-shirts are prohibited. Clothing that emits foul odors is not permitted anywhere in the area.”

“as you wish”

Vinyl Steakhouse in New York’s Flatiron District takes a different approach. “We welcome all styles of attire in our restaurant,” says owner and sommelier Sofia Flannery. One big reason? She’s never been a fan of any dress code policy.

“I’ve always thought it stifles individuality, and people are so interesting,” he said. “I don’t like that you can’t see who a person is because they’re dressed to follow the rules.”

Another reason to forgo the jacket and tie is that the restaurant is located in Manhattan.

“New York has always been a city where you can be completely yourself, and we work hard to support that with our dress code,” Flannery said. “An Adidas jersey? A hat from that Yankees game you just got back from? We love everything.”

*Information from: Huffpost.com | Subject photo: Menu