Fashion has taken a hit since the COVID-19 pandemic, with casual being the new black. As workplaces lean towards comfort, there’s one place you can still count on for a fun, dressy outing: the casino.
Casinos have always had dress codes for their patrons. The elevated look helps them maintain an air of sophistication and gives them an edge over competition. The level of dressiness, of course, depends on how high-end the casino is. The Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco will enforce a suit-and-tie dress code, while a small-town casino may let in locals with t-shirts and shorts.
Another consideration is time of day. Going to a casino for dinner and entertainment will naturally lead to a dressier outfit than a matinee. We cover all this and more.
Although we’re a real money online casino in Canada, we still enjoy the occasional night out at a bricks-and-mortar venue. For that, we’re going to focus on mid-tier casinos that strike a nice balance between dressy and comfortable. No tuxedos required.
Women’s Fashion
There are so many options for the ladies. Wearing a cocktail dress is sufficient for most mid-tier casinos and a fun building block. A black one with simple straps is universally flattering and can be worn for many different occasions beyond going to the casino.
An alternative to the cocktail dress is a simple skirt and blouse combo. A traditional wool skirt is timeless and a good option in the winter, while a pencil skirt is a popular choice in the summer months. Whatever fabric you go for, just remember to keep the waist cinched for an elegant and defined style statement.
It’s the 21st century—women also have other options beyond a dress and skirt. Dress pants, or slacks can be paired with a dress shirt for a business casual look, or a black turtle neck if you’re going for a more Euro chic vibe. The fabric will depend on the season, with wools favoured during the winter, and linen and cotton in the summer. You can even get away with a more casual shirt provided you wear a blazer over it.
Men’s Fashion
Men visiting the casino in the evening can don a business suit if they want to make a statement. Ties are typically optional, except for at the very high-end venues. Most trousers and collared shirts will do for a daytime visit when patrons are looking more casual.
In the winter months, men may veer towards knitwear, like a V-neck sweater or a vest. A sport jacket might even give you the right combo of smart casual.
Shoes
The shoes you wear should complement your outfit. Strappy heels are a natural pick for cocktail dresses in the summer, while pumps are better suited for a more business casual style. In the winter months, heeled boots are a more practical option.
If you want to avoid the heels but still look presentable, ballet slipper-style flats can offer the same elegance with greater comfort in the summer. Women who prefer a more business casual style, can opt for leather loafers, which will provide more structure.
The biggest thing is you want to make sure you can comfortably play casino games like Craps, that’ll have you standing and rolling for an extended time. If you plan on sticking to slots or blackjack, you’ll have more time seated.
Men’s shoes will vary based on personal taste. A simple captoe dress shoe is a good option that works well for a variety of events and outings. If you don’t like the captoe’s seam, you can opt for wholecut; these are a step up in formality and look great with a black suit if you’re going for more of a James Bond look.
A more casual option that will serve you well for daytime trips to the casino are Derby shoes, which have been around for centuries. They’re the perfect extension of business casual and make their own statement.
Accessories
You can let your clothes speak for your outfit by wearing subtle, classic jewelry and a matching handbag. Or you can go with a simple outfit and let your accessories shine. Big elegant earrings, a beautiful pendant-style necklace, or a fun bejewelled clutch can go a long way towards personalizing an outfit.
As for men, a nice watch can elevate your look. Consider your wallet too, as you’ll be pulling it out when you get more chips at the tables. Make sure it’s not a giant one full of old receipts and coins.
Getting the right belt makes a big difference too. There are different levels of formality with belts; in general, the slim and sleek ones are for more formal settings, while the wider ones with bigger buckles are for an everyday look.
For a cohesive outfit, always match your shoes to your belt. This goes for both colour and sheen. A glossy black belt is ideal paired with glossy black leather shoes, but if you have suede shoes, you’re better off sticking with a more a more matte finish for your belt.
Hair and Makeup
No need to go to a stylist for this. Just an elevated version of your every-day look will suffice.
Colours
Since casinos lean towards traditional elegance, you’ll fit in with darker colours, that are more neutral. Black is the most common shade sported at casinos, but white, navy, brown and tan are good picks too. You can get away with a more colourful outfit when you wear a nice cocktail dress.
What Not to Wear
We’ve talked a lot about outfit ideas for a casino outing, but if you want to go off the beaten path and do your own thing, just be sure to avoid wearing overly-casual clothes like shorts, sandals, athletic wear and torn jeans, unless you’ve checked beforehand with the casino dress code. Shirts with offensive or threatening images are also unwelcome at any casino—online ones being an exception. That leads to our next point.
Bodog’s Online Casino in Canada You can dismiss all of these fashion codes when you play online casino games at Bodog. We bring the action to you in the comfort of home.