There’s nothing worse than getting excited for a night out only to be turned away at the door for not meeting the dress code requirements. Surprised? Formal dress codes may seem outdated, but they are still alive and well. Those who enforce them just refer to them as “preferred dress,” these days, which translates to “follow these rules or you won’t be allowed in.” Check out what you can and cannot wear at a few downtown hotspots.
Cadillac Ranch (39 W. Jackson Place, 317-636-0100): No heavy chains, baggy clothes, or clothes with holes. Jean shorts cannot be too baggy, long, or covered in designs. No high-top basketball shoes. No sunglasses. Baseball caps must be worn forward at all times.
Taps and Dolls (247 S. Meridian St., 317-638-8277): No droopy clothing or anything that can be used as a weapon, such as boots with buckles down the side. “We tell them they have to pull their pants up,” says Ryan Greb, manager.
Eagle’s Nest (1 S. Capital Ave., 317- 616-6170): There was a time when cutoffs, athletic gear, and jerseys meant being turned away at the door. However, according to an e-mail from Crysany Smith, assistant food and beverage manager at Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, this is no longer the case. “It put our greeters and management in a very uncomfortable position,” she says.
Tini (717 N. Massachusetts Ave., 317-384-1313): Anything goes, from casual afternoon customers to dressy evening diners. “It’s extremely small, kind of a revolving door,” says Jennifer Morris, bar and beverage manager. “You just never really know what you’re going to get.”
Have you ever been turned away for not dressing the part?
