The history of the gambling industry is also the history of special fashion. Over the years of gambling establishments’ existence, the dress code has changed a lot.
For a very long time, it was believed that land-based casinos were a place for rich and sophisticated people to spend their free time. Accordingly, if someone wanted to pass the evening playing blackjack or enjoying the colorful slots, he had to carefully prepare for it. Over the years, the dress code for visiting casinos has changed many times.
The first casinos opened in Italy in the early 17th century, and a particularly famous establishment still operates in Venice. Even then, the style and sophistication of outfits were in first place. Thus, only people in formal wear could enter, and to play at the table, they were required to wear a triangular hat and a mask. One of the first casinos was opened at the theatre; they looked at the intermission, and the guests were dressed as exquisitely as possible.
Casino traditions reached North America in the 19th century, and, of course, the dress code there was completely different—so, if men wore tuxedos and black ties, women were draped in corsets and flaunted frills. This was in upscale establishments, but there were also saloons, where they also played gambling and where cowboys could wear much more informal clothing.
In the twenties of the 20th century, casinos became an underground business – there was tighter control over drinking alcohol in public places and gambling. Interestingly, the dress code again became as strict as possible, but the reasoning behind it is that gambling establishments tried to minimize attracting police attention. Men at that time wore elegant suits. And women – shiny dresses, which fully corresponded to the glamorous style of the time. It remained relevant until the fifties.
Another leap in casino fashion marked the middle of the 20th century. Gambling establishments became mainstream because they began actively visiting celebrities. In particular, Las Vegas, which is now breaking records of tourist attendance, often visited Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and others in the 1960s. They inspired men to wear clothes with clean-cut lines and favored black and white.
A separate page of casino fashion history begins with the James Bond movies. In fact, the franchise helped the casino industry cement its fame as a glamorous pastime. So, both men and women used to dress as elegantly and even somewhat formally as possible, but things changed dramatically at the turn of the millennium.
The new style for modern gambling establishments is casual. Under pressure from ambitious people who didn’t want to follow instructions on what to wear, casinos relaxed their requirements. And the advent of online casinos all the more logically caused a shift to a more relaxed dress code.
Gambling establishments have become open to the masses, which means that formality and wealth have moved to the background.
The material was prepared with the support of Promocodemelbet
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
