For many people, their first worry on hearing they have to go to an event is wondering what they’re going to wear, particularly if the environment is completely new to them, and it’s well known that feeling comfortable in your outfit choice can have an effect on your mood. If you’re an adult, most likely you’ve already sussed out the appropriate costume for the club, a dinner party, or a date but, every so often, life still manages to throw you a curveball.
Going to the casino for the first time is just such an occasion. Unlike with your first night out, your friends might not necessarily have the know-how to help you make your choice. So, whether you’re planning a trip sometime in the future or have found yourself at a loss the night before, here’s how to blend in and make sure you can attract attention for a huge win.
check the dress code. The most important step before you even open your wardrobe is to check the website of the casino (or contact them if they’re not online) to see if they have their own dress code. While many places these days are willing to cater to a more relaxed clientele, some will still insist on a black tie or at least formal wear. Better to find out in advance you need a suit jacket rather than experience embarrassment on the door.
You could also try to assess what kind of atmosphere you think your chosen casino has. For example, if the website emphasises the elegance of the establishment, you may want to lean towards classy evening wear, even if there is no explicit dress code. A casino more focused on winnings and having a good time, however, will probably be more lenient.
Don’t be afraid to change your destination if you realise, on reflection, that this casino isn’t the right one for you!
consider a classic look. Choosing an outfit doesn’t have to be complicated since there’s a long precedent to fall back on when it comes to dressing up for this exact kind of location. Despite the fact that some of the world’s most popular casino destinations for slots, blackjack and roulette are situated all over the world, from Macau to Manila, the classic look remains essentially universal. Whether you’re playing at one of the 2,400 video slots at the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore or taking advantage of Vegas’ 70 years of history, men can wear a sharp suit and women can opt for a classy, not too short dress.
If you’re a humbler dresser looking to avoid stares, the safest possible choice for men is dark trousers, a buttoned shirt, and dress shoes, with the general rule of thumb being that anything suitable for the office is also safe for the casino. While ties are not necessary, you should complete the look with a blazer. Many style guides also advise harmonising the colour palette of your look as much as possible, for example, by matching your blazer to your trousers.
For women who may not feel comfortable in a dress, a dressy top combined with dark trousers or a pencil skirt is also an appropriate choice. You may still want to nod to the glamour of your environment by choosing a top in a bold, jewel colour or go with a button-down so as to make the look more formal. Avoid cotton as this is a more relaxed fabric and make sure to accessorise carefully, perhaps with some dangly earrings.
don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone. That said, if there’s any time to branch out a little and embrace a more extravagant look, then it’s while trying to win big at the casino. For men, this can be a rare opportunity to accessorise, since, at all casinos except those with a strict black tie dress code, you can wear something as unusual as a cowboy hat and not stand out. For women, this can be a chance to crack out your most luxurious jewellery, the kind you can never usually find an excuse to wear.
At glitzier casinos, women can wear an attention-grabbing piece, such as a sequinned fabric, provided they are tempered with black dress pants or heels to avoid looking too over the top, or even opt for a bold makeup look that incorporates metallic colours. The most appropriate colour choices for the casino tends to be gold, silver, red or black, although there’s no requirement to match your surroundings if you find yourself with an inkling to wear turquoise. While you should still accessorise with jewellery and maybe a clutch bag, women emphasising their clothes may want to tone down their accessories and stick to something understated like bangles or stud earrings.
Men who want to inject a touch of glamour to the classic look could consider choosing a button-down with a mild texture or shimmer in the fabric. An extravagant tie is also an option, although only paired with a plain colour shirt. Shoes should remain dark and in a traditional Oxford style, since branching out in this area rarely ends well.
make sure you’re still comfortable. That said, you’re going to a casino, not a fashion show. Since the main point of your evening is to have fun rather than look good, it’s important to make sure you wear clothes you can feel comfortable in. For women, in particular, remember that you will have to stand up for long periods of time, so select a pair of heels you can walk in or go for dressy flats, such as some of these options from Zara, if you think you’d be in pain otherwise. In general, try to wear fabrics that are sophisticated but not too stiff so that you can move easily.
If you’re headed to somewhere a little more raucous and fun-loving, you can also just dress casually, although still not in the kind of outfit you would lounge around the house in. Aim to dress slightly better than your everyday clothes, which, for women, could simply be a maxi dress with a small jacket in case it gets cold. Try to avoid anything strapless, not only because this is less comfortable, but also because it risks looking trashy.
For men, a laid-back environment means you can wear khakis and even a polo shirt, although you should try to stay away from bolder patterns or prints, instead, going for, at the most, a simple striped fabric. In contrast to more formal casinos, you should be fine in brown loafers, although make sure your socks still match.
pack a spare. Ultimately, though, in all cases, you’re better safe than sorry, which is why it might be sensible to pack a spare outfit, just in case you find you’ve misjudged the situation. The added advantages of this option, even though it might seem overly cautious, is that you can help out a friend who hasn’t done as much research as you too. Plus, casinos tend to experience a change around 6pm, where people redress into a slightly more elegant look to reflect the shift from day to evening, so, if you find yourself on a winning streak, you may end up needing more than one look after all.
share:
Be the first to comment