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Unless it's a formal occasion, you don't need a suit. But every man worth his salt at least owns a few nice slacks, matching jackets and ties.
What you wear does indeed mean something. And insisting on dressing down no matter what shows the world that you don't respect the occasion and, by extension, the person you're with. What's more, wearing jeans to an upscale restaurant or the symphony doesn't make you a rugged individualist. It makes you look like an asshat, an emotionally underdeveloped Rebel Without A Clue.
But unless it's a James Beard finalist kind of place, a suit is overkill. Hope that helps.
If dinner is over $150 for the two of you I'd say slacks and nice shirt. Between $100-$150, more optional. Under $100, I'd sway towards jeans and a nice button up.
I'd never take a girl I haven't been dating a while on a dinner thats over $100..
I had reservations to Ruths Chris last week for my gf's bday and she said it was too expensive and called and cancelled for somewhere much cheaper.
I love wearing slacks and dress shirts since I rarely get to. I have a ton because I always use the rare occasions to wear them to buy new ones.
Unless it's a formal occasion, you don't need a suit. But every man worth his salt at least owns a few nice slacks, matching jackets and ties.
What you wear does indeed mean something. And insisting on dressing down no matter what shows the world that you don't respect the occasion and, by extension, the person you're with. What's more, wearing jeans to an upscale restaurant or the symphony doesn't make you a rugged individualist. It makes you look like an asshat, an emotionally underdeveloped Rebel Without A Clue.
But unless it's a James Beard finalist kind of place, a suit is overkill. Hope that helps.
I would tend to agree with you but after moving to CA I'm still shocked and how underdressed Americans are here. I have never lived anywhere else so I don't know how it goes elsewhere but the city I was from was definitely more like New York; women (even the Muslim women, if they were middle class or above) rarely went out not dressed to the nines and with makeup on, and men would wear slacks and collared shirts even to casual bars. Then I come here and go with the folks to an expensive restaurant and 90% of the guys in there are wearing jeans and the waiters have tattoos that would render you practically unemployable in many Asian cities.
I would tend to agree with you but after moving to CA I'm still shocked and how underdressed Americans are here. I have never lived anywhere else so I don't know how it goes elsewhere but the city I was from was definitely more like New York; women (even the Muslim women, if they were middle class or above) rarely went out not dressed to the nines and with makeup on, and men would wear slacks and collared shirts even to casual bars. Then I come here and go with the folks to an expensive restaurant and 90% of the guys in there are wearing jeans and the waiters have tattoos that would render you practically unemployable in many Asian cities.
Sounds like a time warp back to the 1950's if ya ask me.
But unless it's a James Beard finalist kind of place, a suit is overkill. Hope that helps.
I'd say a suit is not required at the majority of James Beard finalist/nominated places too. That honor is a benchmark for good food but not at all for formality.
I would tend to agree with you but after moving to CA I'm still shocked and how underdressed Americans are here. I have never lived anywhere else so I don't know how it goes elsewhere but the city I was from was definitely more like New York; women (even the Muslim women, if they were middle class or above) rarely went out not dressed to the nines and with makeup on, and men would wear slacks and collared shirts even to casual bars. Then I come here and go with the folks to an expensive restaurant and 90% of the guys in there are wearing jeans and the waiters have tattoos that would render you practically unemployable in many Asian cities.
I travel out to California on business and have noticed that, too. But what I've also noticed is how people on the west coast respond to a man who actually bothers to wear a jacket and tie with a fair degree of panache. I won't go so far to say that the waiter's heels click together when you order a rioja, but there is a certain deference that you don't get if you just slouch in there with jeans and a polo shirt.
By all that that I don't mean dressing in a showy, uptight way, but just as a matter of course. Because what people don't realize is that all that casual dressing is no longer a rejection of values, but rather a blander and more slovenly type of conformity. What's more, all the casual attire mavens out there don't seem to understand that a pair of nice summer dress pants are far more comfortable on a hot day than a pair of jeans, hands down. So you not only look better, but you feel better at the same time. Yahtzee.
I'd say a suit is not required at the majority of James Beard finalist/nominated places too. That honor is a benchmark for good food but not at all for formality.
Ive decided to just wear a blazer and jeans , its a nice balance between formal and trendy , I don't own a decent blazer so will pick one up tomorrow
Consider a nice herringbone, given the time of year. An understated patterned button-down, too. Just make sure it doesn't clash with the jacket.
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