This isn’t ebook related, but it’s so bizarre that I just had to report it to you.
I get invited to a lot of press events staged by PR firms that want to show off their clients. Good for them and good for me, as I get to keep abreast of new stuff.
Recently I got invited to an event by the, evidently, clueless PR firm of Spark & Hustle. They are presenting a number of new small business owners who want to get some publicity. All well and good, and I accepted the invite. It is taking place at the New York Athletic Club – a venerable New York institution.
Now here’s the kicker. I just got the an email confirming my attendance and part of it said:
Dress Code: The New York Athletic Club has a very strict dress code. Men must wear jackets (a suit is not required, but a jacket/sport coat is) and women should be in business attire, which is pretty flexible these days. No jeans and sneakers. The club will nor permit anyone with jeans or athletic shoes to enter the building.
Wow! Makes a lot of sense, right? Invite people you want to impress and at the same time tell them what they can or can’t wear.
Even stranger – the New York Athletic Club evidently doesn’t allow athletic shoes in the building! I guess all the men (or women in business attire) who are in the gym are wearing wingtips, clogs or hiking boots.
I’ve just written back to the PR flacks saying I’ll pass on this one. I don’t have the shoes for it.
I find it funny that it’s at the NYC Athletic Club, but the dress code doesn’t faze me. I’ve been to work trainings where they flat out said if you didn’t show up in business formal that you would not be allowed into training. It’s not uncommon, and while it’s funny that it’s at an Athletic Club, there are many, many venues with similar dress codes and even more draconian rules.
For example, after my nephew’s christening his family hosted a luncheon at a yacht club, and my sister-in-law had to email everyone and explain that flip-flops (even high end ones) were not allowed, and that we would not be allowed to use cell phones in the dining area. There were even signs when you walked in indicating that the use of cell phones and similar electronics were prohibited and you would be asked to leave if the waitstaff saw you with them. And this was at a beach club by the shore! No cells OR sandals? Equally weird, but it’s their bat and ball…
Nice going, Paul… now the TR site has shoe ads all over the place!
I find your frustration extremely bizarre: it’s a fancy event and even if it’s held in an Athletic Club, you are obviously invited there not to work out, right? So, basically, they want you to be dressed for the event.
You know, it’s only in the US that people are wearing jeans, snickers and flip-flops everywhere they go. In Europe the majority of people in the streets *would be dressed well enough* for this occasion.
There’s no biz like shoe biz!
I have never been at a golf club where golf shoes are allowed in the main golf club …. ! where is the mystery ?
Some old school tennis clubs require wearing all white to be on the court.
The Lucky Strike (bowling) in Hollywood also has a strict dress code with no athletic wear. They really enforce it after 5pm, and everyone under 21 has to leave at 7pm.
It just shows there’s a good reason for exclusivity. It keeps the riff-raff out
The author of this article is dumb as rocks. The nyac is a nice social club and has a dress code. If you think it’s appropriate to wear sneakers and jeans to work events you need to grow up and stop whining.