Only in America. Tonight, the great national divide over dress codes. It’s back with a debate over the dress code at steakhouse chain Ruth’s Chris and what it calls proper attire, asking guests to remove all hats and not come in with gym-wear, pool attire, tank tops, or exposed undergarments. Another chain, Chili’s, posted about that, saying the only dress code at Chili’s is you have to be dressed.
We’ve been here before, America. Remember last month, the Tampa airport announced itself as a pajama-free airport? And although it later claimed to be joking, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was serious as a pair of slacks when he said all air travelers should dress with respect.
“I’m not fining anyone if they wear their pajamas on the airplane. That’s not what we’re doing. I’m just—we’re asking people to maybe dress a little better.”
TONY DOKOUPIL: If we’re honest, it can certainly seem like the Sean Duffies and the Ruth’s Chrises of the world are losing this battle for standards. A few years ago, after all, the US Senate itself started to allow lawmakers to wear whatever they want, which for Senator Fetterman included shorts and sneakers in the chamber. But just a week later—people forget this—lawmakers voted unanimously to reinstate a dress code, and it was a popular move. So I don’t know the answer here, but it’s hard to argue with Mark Twain, who said, “clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” The same may be true for people in pajamas.