Night time NYC - Dress Code
 

Hi. Will be in New York soon and am wondering about the after 5 pm dress code at some of the more touristed places like the lounge at the top of the World Trade Center or perhaps the top of the Peninsula Hotel or Marriot Marquis. I'm not talking about clubs which it seems are quite dressy, but more bars with a view. Are dress shorts acceptable? Khakis? Black Jeans? Do men need to be in a collared shirt? Are there any official dress codes or is it more that if you are "dressed down" you might feel out of place? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

New Yorkers always over dressed. I am sorry to say find yourself something black and cool (sleeveless) and you will feel comfortable. The Marriott I believe are all tourists and I would not worry there. The Peninsula is very exclusive as well as windows on the world. You could be rubbing elbows with highbrow CEOs in there. Both are frequent sites for conferences and business meetings. We are a fashion capital if you don't want to feel like a tourist I would advise against shorts. I cannot say for sure but I am pretty certain that black jeans in these places may also make you feel out of place. If you are coming in summer, jeans are too hot for comfort. As for men I am not sure about collars often see men in sleek black short sleeve tightish shirts, I think Armani makes em (LOL), sorry but a nock off will do. In better establishments men where these shirts under a sports jacket. This is what I think. In the end don’t let the snobs intimadate you. NYC is a melting pot. Some of us had rich parents some of us just came off the boat. The specialness of our city is that everyone should fit in. Unfortunately this is a code that only allows for the deeply stange and interesting. Just plain country bumkin gets you a lot of raw looks. Former country bumkin writing you this post. This was all IMHO.

I would not wear shorts at night if you don't want to look like a tourist. I agree with the previous poster re: collared shirts. The tight, uncollared variety are very popular. Of course, this look doesn't work well on all body types. Use your discretion. Yes, Armani sells them but so does (believe it or not) Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic and J. Crew. I know 'cause I just bought some for my husband in an attempt to update his wardrobe. I think Khaki's are always appropriate. Extra bonus, Brooks Brothers is having a great sale now on these shirts and they are online! (Can you tell that I love to shop). Have fun!

Some places do have official dress codes and don't allow shorts or jeans. In particular I would advise against shorts which are definitely out of place in Manhattan at night. For men, khakis are fine for most bars and will especially be fine at the Marriott Marquis which is a more relaxed place in terms of dress than the others you mentioned (there may even be people in jeans there, although there are also lots of people in business attire).

What you wear really depends on where you're going. There's no NYC after 5 dress code per se; if you're in doubt, call the place you're going and ask. Lets put it this way: you shouldn't wear cut-offs and a Black Sabbath tshirt to Windows on the World, and you shouldn't wear an Armani suit to Papaya King. I think black jeans and any collared or polo shirt would be fine just about anywhere but the fanciest places.

Sound advice is worth reprise ... black, black and more black ... and check plaids at NJTP exit 18. Shorts ... did someone mention shorts ... within earshot of NYC? Short is right ... nitro patch, please. Yikes! B,B and B, with a stray to the grays, and you're set to swing. Enjoy the heights, e ciao.

I'm glad someone else brought up this question because I'll be in NY in a few weeks for the first time in decades. I think I've got the black thing down for nighttime (black pants for women are okay, aren't they?) but what about during the day? Does anyone wear shorts? I don't want to feel out of place.

The only time I've seen shorts on women during the day is if they are running in Central Park or are clearly from out of town. I live in a suburb of NYC and go in pretty often. No matter how well dressed I think I am I always feel underdressed when I get to Manhatten. I know its hot but wear a simple skirt, capri's or a dress rather than shorts and you'll fit in better. And yes Leone, black is a very safe bet. Try something in Linen. Black pants are fine for night. <BR>At all costs avoid sneakers. Start looking now for a pair of stylish sandals and wear them around the house to break them in. It's amazing how some women can walk around all day in spike heels (which I don't recommend)!

Duh: <BR> <BR>Of course you can wear shorts (or black pants). You have to remember, alot of the people you'll see during the daytime WORK in Manhattan and, if given the choice, would probably be in shorts themselves.

Leone, I disagree with advice on plaids. Burberry plaid is EVERYWHERE in the city these days, check the style section of the NY times. Just make sure it is Burberry!

Uh, Duh, perhaps you'd wish to short the shorts for Manhattan. Others will weight in ... I can hear those differing fingers pounding even now. Well, shorts may the season ... except in your lobby, which makes it a tad difficult to reach the street. Lets do longs this time. Or risk being tackled by a bellhop in Armani T. Ciao

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but if you're interested in going to any dance clubs, many of them forbid sneakers of any kind, even black ones the try to look like shoes. And don't try to get into any trendy clubs with a collared shirt and khakis. Please--don't even try.

Those are tourists, Curious. Burrburry plaids ... gives me the chills. It's B, B and more B ... really, how many times do we have to go through this issue? Look, my plane departs in just a few hours. Can't we talk about something interesting for a change? JC Watts, faith-based football or affirmative action? Tom DeLay, to spray or not to spray? Dick Armey ... fab nightclub name or what? Anyone care to get it started? Ciao

Keep in mind people who work here in casual attire are not going to be frequenting the establishments mentioned in your original post. Shorts are fine for walking and sight seeing or doing the Ellis Island thing. But if you are talking about better restaurants and bars, would you do that at home even? As for the last post, popularized by Studio 54 some clubs still pick you off a line and examine your wardrobe before you go. Being on the line and space in the club does not guarantee entry. I as well as other New Yorkers leave these clubs to the bridge and tunnel crowd (suburbanites). Not worth your visit anyway but they do give an idea about how pretentious we can be about dress.

Ugh, the whole shorts thing again! Listen, ignore the fashion police and do what you would do in your home town! <BR> <BR>Going shopping or a museum or a casual dinner: shorts are just fine, as long as you look neat (i.e. no cut-offs). Going clubbing, or the opera, or a fancy dinner: dress up! <BR> <BR>As for black: this 30 something NY'er puts most of his black in the closet for the summer..except for some light weight things good for SOHO/East Village at night. <BR> <BR>

You'll always be fine in NY in black, black, and black (luckily for Leone), but I must say that this summer, stylish women in the city are wearing lots of color and lots of denim (though in very fashionable cuts and not out at night. The colors are jewel tones, not neon. I'd be more conservative with color for men, but light (not white) linen trousers with a neat shirt are very summer-in-the-city right now. Have to say that, except for very casual things like strolling in the park or sunning, you won't see many of either sex in shorts, even more so on weekdays of course, and anyone in walking shorts is instantly recognizable as a tourist. Black is always simple for traveling, though!

Can anyone tell me if there are certain areas of Central Park to avoid? Unsafe, dirty areas...places where a 30ish single woman should just not travel alone. Also, do women generally wear cocktail dresses when out in the evening hours? Can anyone suggest a few nice, unpretentious resteraunts and good places to see musicians/bands? What is the best time of day to go to SOHO and Greenwich Village? Anything exciting happening at night? Thanks in advance for your advice/opinion.

Hey Jen are you highjacking "f's" thread? If you want to get noticed you might want to post your own. After all you do have many questions which could be answered by experienced foderites who may not be rechecking this posting. Good luck!

ok just saw your post very good!

Jen, stick to the southern and central parts of Central Park (below 96th St), especially adjacent to the museums, and do not walk anywhere in the park alone in the early morning or at dusk or after, just to be on the safe side. At other times you will find plenty of company. No, women do not wear cocktail dresses out at night, unless headed to a specific andformal destination. They wear well-cut pants and nice but sophisticated skirts or dresses. In a cocktail dress you would feel distictly overdressed, especially at 30ish. Stick to dark colors, as has been noted, and you'll be comfortable. The best time to visit the Village and Soho depends on your agenda. Obviously, if you want to shop, go during the day. For people watching, anytime. Both areas have many bars, clubs, lounges, and restaurants for an evening scene. The bar and cafe scene is bustling but more laid back in the East Village. Best casual places to see live music are bars and small clubs; check citysearch.com, timeout.com, and villagevoice.com for listings, or when you're here, pick up the Village Voice (free) or Time Out New York (not) for listings. Unless at a true neighborhood bar, expect drinks to be pricey. For restaurants, what kind of food do you like? We have it all. Neighborhood restaurants and ones that serve food at the bar are best bets for feeling comfortable dining alone. Say something about what kind of food, prices, and neighborhood you want, and I'll offer some recommendations.

Jen, stick to the southern and central parts of Central Park (below 96th St), especially adjacent to the museums, and do not walk anywhere in the park alone in the early morning or at dusk or after, just to be on the safe side. At other times you will find plenty of company. No, women do not wear cocktail dresses out at night, unless headed to a specific andformal destination. They wear well-cut pants and nice but sophisticated skirts or dresses. In a cocktail dress you would feel distictly overdressed, especially at 30ish. Stick to dark colors, as has been noted, and you'll be comfortable. The best time to visit the Village and Soho depends on your agenda. Obviously, if you want to shop, go during the day. For people watching, anytime. Both areas have many bars, clubs, lounges, and restaurants for an evening scene. The bar and cafe scene is bustling but more laid back in the East Village. Best casual places to see live music are bars and small clubs; check citysearch.com, timeout.com, and villagevoice.com for listings, or when you're here, pick up the Village Voice (free) or Time Out New York (not) for listings. Unless at a true neighborhood bar, expect drinks to be pricey. For restaurants, what kind of food do you like? We have it all. Neighborhood restaurants and ones that serve food at the bar are best bets for feeling comfortable dining alone. Say something about what kind of food, prices, and neighborhood you want, and I'll offer some recommendations.

<BR>F, <BR> <BR>Pay no attention to L/Leone's obsession with black. He does not live in New York although at times he tries to make it appear that he does. He knows no more about NYC than any other tourist would. <BR> <BR>I was in New York City for several days last month - people wear a wide variety of colors and styles in the summer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing shorts in New York during the hot days of summer. At night, I would dress up more but would not make an extreme effort to wear black. <BR> <BR>I suspect L's aversion to shorts is that he has not got the legs for them - when you sit in front of your computer day and night like he apparently does based on his overabundant postings, you tend to be out of shape and would not look presentable in shorts. <BR> <BR>Hey L - you left out Bob Dole in your diatribe this time - you know that guy that endorses those little blue pills that you love.

Ignoretheramblings ... not too bad ... well, stilted, dangling, obvious ... even reaching ... maybe tapped out for ideas ... and missing the target ... but, other than that, really not too bad. Hey, since you follow Bob, how about Bob and His Blues for a barber shop quartet ... they really dole out the hits. Have a good weekend. Ciao

<BR>F, <BR> <BR>As you can see L presents no defense against what I stated in my previous post - just his typical humor-challenged attempt at being cute. <BR> <BR>At least he is smart enough to not challenge what he knows is the truth.

I live a few miles outside Manhattan, and have worn shorts and sneakers there LOTS of times! Especially on Saturday when I'm doing the tourist thing for out of town relatives. There are plenty of people wearing shorts--also designer outfits, jeans, rags, whatever... No one cares what you are wearing!!! Be comfortable--you'll be walking a lot.. I can always tell the tourists/out of towners because they're the ones wearing their sunday best to go to a saturday matinee! Now night time is different--I wouldn't wear shorts/jeans too many places (although jeans are fine for just walking around). I agree black is the way to go..

Did someone mention black jeans for a night out????? <BR> <BR>I dont think that person should go out because they are stuck.........in the 80s.

But what if they still fit?

Leave them in the hotel room as a tip for the maid.

But I was gonna wear them to a wedding. They matched my two year olds' outfit.

Don't obsess. Wear what's comfortable. <BR> <BR>Don't visit the Village during the morning. Everyone is sleeping. <BR>

Some of you are making me feel really aprehensive about visiting your fair city. My husband and I are 50+, from the deep South (temps in the high 90's), and my husband doesn't own anything Armani! One of my favorite things to pack for travel is a broomstick skirt. Is this going to be too outlandish? They are prints with navy, black. etc. background. My husband was planning to bring Dockers and discreet print or plaid shirts for daytime and a navy jacket for dinner in restaurants like Union Square cafe. Some of you more mature posters, please give me your opinions. We don't want to stick out like sore thumbs. We plan to attend some plays, go to museums, eat at moderate restaurants, but have no intentions of going to clubs.

Dear F, <BR> <BR>Please stop obsessing! Just wear what you are comfortable in. Don't wear any moo-moo's, OK? Seriously, what you are thinking of wearing sounds fine. What makes NYC so interesting is that everyone wears whatever they feel like. Why should you lose your own style in favor of the masses? Wear whatever you think you look good in and go and have fun.

To [email protected], seeing as Leone didn't take up for himself, may I? I know him and yes, he definitely can wear shorts without a care, and the Armani T's too. If you think about it, someone as into style as he is, is not about to let himself go to pot....and he hasn't.

This is New York we're talking about, not L.A. Unless you wear Hawaiian shirts, shorts with black socks pulled up to your knees, a floppy hat, carrying around your map of the city, with a camera around your neck you probably are going to blend in fine. No one really cares what anybody is wearing. If you really want wardrobe advice, though I usually feel comfortable in khaki or white pants and a black shirt almost anywhere except maybe someplace really fancy. Wear nice, but COMFORTABLE shoes. I don't like sneakers. That's me, though. A lot of people wear them. Wear what makes you comfortable. No one is going to point and snicker.

There's a lot hogwash on this thread! <BR>Myth #1: No one wears shorts in NY. I don't know what part of the city some of you visit or live in, but just walk in any neighborhood on a summer weekend, and you'll a lot (most?) of residents walking around in, yes, shorts and tee shirts! Yes, these are the same people wearing suits, dresses and the like during the at work! <BR>Myth #2: Only wear black. If that's all you see in NY, then perhaps your sunglasses are much too dark! <BR>

Do people wear sunglasses in N.Y.???

Ok I was in Balthazar's last night considering this thread. For out of towners Balthazar's is a hot French (celeb spotting) dinner spot. I was concerned because I was in khakis and a red shirt. I was amazed at the casual dress inside. Yes you had your stylers in place. But I also saw a number of people in jeans, khaki's and stuff they might where to a diner. I work near the Peninsula so I know that this does not hold true for that hotel. Depends a lot on where you are. And guess what my feet are killing me because I did not wear sneakers. Don't sweat the sneaker thing if you are doing loads of walking. Your foot health is more important that the passing glance. <BR> <BR>It does matter where you are as to what you will see on the street. In the downtown section of bway, not to be confused with mid-town bway, many people had on sneakers and all types of casual wear. Mix and match casual with dress. We have very big egos about dress and intelligence in NYC. You have some of the most competitive people in the country here this is why you see so many pompous responses. Take it in stride be who you are with a spare or two dress outfits if you are intimidated. <BR>

Yes Howard, you will see people wearing shorts on the weekends in neighborhoods. You will not see them wearing shorts in midtown midweek however. I know guys could probably care less about how they look, but it happens to be very important to some. Just a difference in personalities, so if "duh" wants to fit in cut her a break and give her the information she wants. Don't try to tell anyone that they shouldn't care about what people think because obviously they do. You wear what you like, I wear what I like and everybody's happy!

HI <BR> <BR>I think different places in NYC have different expectations of dress..if I'm going to Ess-A-Bagel or a local pizza joint, T-shirts/shorts are fine. If I'm going to a nightspot or a decent restaurant, I will not wear sneakers, shorts, Polo shirts or T-shirts. I will try to pick an outfit that seems appropriate. Nice sandals (not birks)or stylish black shoes, nicely cut pants (if jeans, definitely not acid wash unless going to 70s theme, etc...)and a shirt that seems a propos for the kind of nightspot I'm going to (jazz different from alternative different from techno/house, etc..). It may not even be expected, but this is how I feel most comfortable when other people are dressed up. <BR> <BR>Some people think having to dress up in NYC to go out is a hassle, or think of New Yorkers as pretentious. I simply view it as a cultural difference between NYC and other places. Besides, I think that dressing up is fun and adds to the ambience of a place. In many ways, I find NYC *less* repressive sartoriallly than some smaller towns, because originality and creativity in dress are often (although not universally) appreciated...as opposed to thought of as *weird*. And don't think it's only the rich who dress up...living in stylish Montreal, my poorest friends were able to find really nice clothes at great bargains (Salvation Army even) that got them into top nightspots there. <BR> <BR>Enjoy NYC; it's a great place! And even if you make a huge fashion faux pas, don't worry; in the grander scheme of life it's not the end of the world. You may end up at a nice pizza joint and have a slice of one of NYC's finest. DAN

Hey, IgnoreTheRamblings, how're ya doin', guy? Hey, didn't want to respond until I'd had a day or so on the beach to touch up my tan and check out the babes who register the looks, and I am happy to report I did okay. Your Ramblings are as such, and your humor is as such, and for nought. The cat was in mean gear and swinging, and when they played RedNeck Mother, I knew every word. And later I hit every hot spot on the beach, and it was fun, fun, fun city. And those legs got me where I needed to go, and in style. Never, never assume about folks you don't know. But I forget you for your remarks. You know, maybe you're just more observant than I ... I mean, it would never occur to me to sneak a peek under a table to check out somebody's gams. Just between us guys ... you don't take any gum for later, do you? Ciao