"Rules" for dressing up

[Don Patrick]

Really interesting thread.

Being from the military, our rules have always been rather simple. Black or Navy for semi-formal, and white for formal wear. Four-in-hand during the day and bow tie after Retreat.

I know the Brits tend to be fairly strick with dress rules. One late evening in Bremerhaven, Germany, I awoke to knocks on my door. Several of my Brit 'NATO Sergeant' buddies had come to take me to their club. Complaining I didn't have anything to wear, they said no problem. There I went downstairs to the club in my underclothes - except for a tie, I did have to don a neck tie. Rules were rules.

Another time at Picadilly Circus in London, several of my German friends and I stopped to dine at a small restaurant there on a corner. The restaurant resembled a 'Denny's'. We were refused admittance because we didn't have coat and necktie on. We ended up across the street at a fish and chips place. Doors laid on top of saw horse legs for tables - covered with newspaper. Good food. Had my first white tea there.

Interesting to see how many dress rules there seem to be.