TheUnstitchd
Heading to the casino is rarely a casual affair. Usually, it’s a part of something bigger: a great night out, weekend away, or the basis for a vacation. So, if you’re not a fan of the idea of seeing your photos filled with you in that t-shirt you sleep in, you might need some fashion advice before hitting the tables.
The casino has historically been a high-class affair, made popular by the aristocrats of the past, who needed something to do once their servants got their wig on straight.
But what you wear to a casino depends on three things: where in the world your casino is, what kind of casino you’re going to, and the “rules” of fashion that have lasted the test of time. Take a look at our tips to have you looking your best at any casino.
Where are you going?
There are casinos all around the world. As much as Las Vegas feels like the be-all and end-all of casinos and the world’s gambling hub, there are a lot of places where the casino is a big part of the DNA of the city.
Like, Monaco, where the Monte Carlo’s Casino houses an opera house and a ballet company, or the City of Dreams in Macau, China, which is one of the biggest in the world and offers a modern art experience along with its thousands of slot machines.
All that is to say that climate is the first thought before we get to distinguishing the style you should go for. All those options are hot areas, but there are casinos in the ski resorts in France, Switzerland, and Austria.
Plus, no one wants to look like a tourist while you’re gambling. If you’re not backpacking, there is no reason not to leave the “I Heart Vegas” t-shirt in the hotel room. The same goes for the corduroy shorts and the baseball cap. If you’re in Europe, you might as well be wearing a backpack to the locals.
So, are we going for long sleeves and layers or slinky and floaty material? You have your starting point. From there it’s about asking what kind of casino you’re going to.
What’s the vibe?
Las Vegas is the best example to determine this. Vega may be the party capital of the world and playfully nicknamed Sin City, but there are a lot of venues on the strip that would be better suited to wearing a ball gown rather than a Hawaiian shirt and jeans. Examples include the Venetian resort with its Renaissance design that just oozes sophistication inside and out.
So, are you going for a Con Air neon-lit casino where what happens there, stays there, or are you looking to play out Casino Royale in your best tux in the historic Monte Carlo’s casino?
You don’t want to be the only one in the room wearing jeans when you meet Le Chiffre, and equally it’s not fun being the only one in black tie at a Yee-hawin all-American casino where you’re only just beginning to learn how to turn yourself into a gambling whale.
What are you wearing?
From there it’s about remembering the basics of staying fashionable. If you’re someone who loves to follow the latest trends, you do you, but casinos are timeless and generally passion projects of history as far as the architecture goes, so it would make sense that you aim for timeless too.
Looking fashionable comes down to a few simple rules, the first is to balance your proportions. If you have a top item that is billowy or heavy like a hoodie, wear something slimming on the bottom. The best example of this is the latest trend of wearing bicycle shorts with a hoodie that looks like it was stolen from a boyfriend who is part giant. Apply that rule to your casino dress. A floaty skirt with a tight bodice, or a skimming skirt with a ruffled top.
For the ladies, you can never go wrong with a little black dress. Think of the iconic photo of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s for all the hallmarks of timeless fashion: simple, glamourous, and the attitude to wear it. Bring it into the 21st century with your accessories if you’re going for a more party vibe. Wear it with fishnets, mesh tops, statement earrings, etc. The brilliance of a little black dress is that it can be worn almost anywhere, depending on how you accessorize it.
In fact, the best tip for staying fashionable in a casino is to take the timeless staples and make them your own. Add whatever accessories or additions you feel good in to a good pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, a pair of knee-high boots, or a simple skirt.
And of course, if you’re in the right casino in Vegas, the staple there is a “just married” sash and a guy on your arm you don’t know the name of.