When I travel overseas, I make it a point to eat at one very highly rated restaurant at least once in every city I visit. My problem - many times the travel guides list that jackets and ties are required. My problem, often when I arrive with my tie on (I hate wearing ties) I see other men without neck wear. What gives? Are these recommendations outdated?

Hi Larry,<BR> Wearing a tie is one way to show that you are the sort of person that the restaurant would want to have on its premises.<BR> You can always remove said neckwear (in the men's room not at the table) if you think it necessary.<BR> I too hate ties, but sometimes a man's got to do what a man's got to do.

A tie says you give a damn about how you look....the sloppy look says you think you are Brad Pitt....but everyone knows you are not. If in a great restaurant....wear the tie! Save the slob clothes for mowing the yard.

Truly chic men these days will be found in the best restaurants in a crew neck and sport coat. Sorry, but it's a fact of life. Do you really think the top young people -- actors and rock stars for example wear ties?

xxx: Do you really think the &quot;top young people - actors and rock stars&quot; have a clue about manners and appropriate dress?<BR><BR>

Oh Jeeez!! how many men look as good as Brad Pitt? <BR>The ones that don't - wear ties!

Do you really think that by wearing a tie you avoid looking sloppy?

Larry, if you don't want to hear what folks think re ties, jackets, etc., don't ask. Sure, someone can look unkempt even wearing a tie, but generally it does make a statement that the person cares about how he presents himself. I don't get it; how hard is it pack 1 tie and tie it around your neck for 3 hrs. one night?

I don't get it either. If, when you arrive, you discover others are not wearing a tie, you can simply remove it and put it in your pocket. It is definitely true about the trend of crew/mock t-neck sweaters (cashmere is best) with a sport jacket or blazer. There are coat and tie sort of places where all the gents comply and those where the preferred dress code is not &quot;enforced&quot;. If you HATE wearing ties, why bother with coat and tie sort of places?

Everyone here just seems intent on giving you their style opinions, rather than hard facts.<BR><BR>I can't comment on anywhere other than London (as I'm a girl, and it's therefore not an issue on the continent for me), but in London, apart from somewhere very old fashioned like the Savoy Grill, you can wear whatever you like to the best restaurants in town. Whether the previous posters like it or not, the glitterati are unlikely to be seen wearing a suit, and are equally likely to be seen in jeans.<BR><BR>Easiest thing to do would be to ask when making a reservation.

Kate, Larry's second post begged for a subjective response. Bottom line is, just as with the forever-asked jeans question, the vast, vast majority of places you can dress as you like; it's how you want to look. <BR>I do agree with your suggestion to just call the restaurant and ask. What more is there to say on this subject?

Forget the tie - unless you're going to wear a kilt. Only wankers wear ties on vacation.

ttt

OOOhh yes, wear a kilt! and don't forget to wear what goes under it!

<BR>Larry,<BR><BR>Jacket and a turtleneck shirt or light sweater works well.

It would be highly inappropriate to wear a tie with a kilt.

Gee, then someone should tell Prince Charles and all the other &quot;high fallootin&quot; guys who are often photographed in kilts and wearing ties at the same time.

Perry Mason, in later years, wore a jacket and turtleneck sweater in court, and they didn't kick him out of court. If they don't kick you out of court for not wearing a tie, they won't kick you out of a restaurant.<BR><BR>On the other hand, perhaps the judge realized that his neck had become entirely too large for a tie to fit.

If you are bald and pot bellied, wear a tie and they may think you are a business tycoon.<BR>If you are hard bodied and have 'perfectly' unkempt hair, wear bluejeans and they may think you are a movie star.