Could a dress code be the reason for a small town's economic success? You tell me.

Six months ago a new shopping center opened up in my fair city. Its situated along the Red River taking up a three block strip between the Hourseshoe Casino and a recently built Bass Pro Shop. The shopping center resembles an outlet mall with approxiamtely 75 shops and eateries open with maybe another 50 planned to be leased (hot damn, we also have Hooters).

Its doing very well. In fact so well a couple of the shops (Bass Pro and Yankee Candle) are leading the nation in sales. Well a local TV station commented on the Louisiana Boardwalk's success and attributed the success to their strict dress code. That's right. In their opinion, the strict dress code encouraged people to come out and shop.

What's so special about this dress code? You can't wear baggy pants that might expose your underwear. You can't wear a bandana. You can't wear a hat turned around backwards. You can't wear anything that resembles gang colors or apparel.

That's a few of the rules. Does anyone see a trend here? Could the rules be tilted just slightly in favor of what a few consider to be an ideal image? Could the rules be prejudicial against trends of some ethnic cultures?

Soon after the Boadwalk opened with its dress code I called the city's mayor office to get their opinion. After all, they should have a stance since the city's police help patrol and enforce the rules. The city copped out. They said the shopping center was completely a private venture and said they had the right to create their own codes and that the city couldn't interfere (but this private venture reserved the closest parking spot for the mayor-hmmmm).

Does that sound right to you?

One of my new neighbors is a city councilman. I plan to address this with him at out next neighborhood social. Do you think its worth it? What should I hammer as my main point? I know exactly (IMO) what's going on and to a small degree I could agree ... the shops have the right to keep trouble at bay. But have they gone too far?

Opinions please!

The dress code is for the customers? Man, if the people there don't like it, then they won't shop there. The fact that it is so successful may indicate that the community is in support of it. Seems a bit extreme to me though.

Wait until the ACLU hears about this!!!

Dress codes are fairly common in dance clubs/upper end bars. Many high end restaurants require gentlemen to wear a tie and coat. Many restaurants will not allow a woman/man to wear jeans. (The Eiffel Tower restaurant at Paris/Las Vegas, for example.)

I think it would be a different situation if this was a public/government location that would refuse service if a citizen was inappropriately dressed. For example, saying you could not vote if not dressed appropriately; this would be inappropriate and grounds for complaint. However, this is not the case.

The mall would be more akin to the restaurant or bar. It is a choice as to whether someone will frequent the establishment and spend money. Obviously, the mall owner is attempting to set a certain tone/look for the client base. That look/tone is attracting a client base. This is capitalism at work. Find a need/market and fill that need.

I do not see an actionable situation for the ACLU or any other rights organization unless someone is discriminated on the basis of their race or sex.

quote:

Originally posted by Ron.Stevens:
Sounds racist to me.

you jump to that first huh? so you must think all african americans wear baggy pants and gang colors?

if anything its a class issue...picking on the under-educated poor. and the poor have higher crime rates....therefore make a dress code that keeps the poor (with a higher probability towards crime) out off the mall... If you are a intelligent poor underprivledged person, chances are you aren't wearing gang colors or can stand to face your hat forwards for a couple hours.

quote:

Originally posted by MsMelissa:
Dress codes are fairly common in dance clubs/upper end bars. Many high end restaurants require gentlemen to wear a tie and coat. Many restaurants will not allow a woman/man to wear jeans. (The Eiffel Tower restaurant at Paris/Las Vegas, for example.)

I think it would be a different situation if this was a public/government location that would refuse service if a citizen was inappropriately dressed. For example, saying you could not vote if not dressed appropriately; this would be inappropriate and grounds for complaint. However, this is not the case.

The mall would be more akin to the restaurant or bar. It is a choice as to whether someone will frequent the establishment and spend money. Obviously, the mall owner is attempting to set a certain tone/look for the client base. That look/tone is attracting a client base. This is capitalism at work. Find a need/market and fill that need.

I do not see an actionable situation for the ACLU or any other rights organization unless someone is discriminated on the basis of their race or sex.

I think MsMelissa is right. Not that I like dress codes. Similarly, an outdoor mall here just started a weekend rule where people under 16 aren't allowed after (I think) 6 pm unless they're going to the movie theater there.

So "No shirt no service" has been discriminating against white trash for decades.

quote:

Originally posted by sobek:
So "No shirt no service" has been discriminating against white trash for decades.

I think that "employees must wash hands before returning to work" falls in this same category.

I have 5 daughters, 3 of which are teenagers. I have a similar dress code for my property. Although, I really enjoy busting the b***s of the wanna be, hip hop guys that come to the house with the crooked hats, big baggie shorts that look like capris pants to me. I especially like it when my wife notices their underware hanging out of their pants. She takes it as an insult to her, and she srongly suggests to the young man that he is to cover up the undies, get a belt, fix his hat, or there will be no visiting the house and no seeing her daughter. I work in the hotel industry, I'd love to see that dress code at my hotel, but that will never happen. If it works for your shopping center, great.

We have a mall here also that has a curfew for anyone under 16 on the weekends. I personally think the hip hop look, looks stupid. Every time I see some kid walking around with his pants half off of his butt, I want to pants him in public. However, I have family that have made a fortune on this style through 40+ clothing stores. IMO, if a mall wants to appear to be upscale, it's their business if they want to set up a dress code. As some have said before, some upscale bars, and I used to bounce at one, prohibit backwards hats and bandanas. The bar I used to work at did and with the clientelle we used to draw, we never had a problem. If someone came in wearing one of those items, they were asked to either turn the hat around or remove the bandana. If the mall in your area is doing well, especially in this economy, more power to them.

These responses you've posted are much better than I had anticipated. Most of you have actually put some thought and good reasoning behind them.

Still, I can't help but wonder if there's some type of agenda behind this dress code.

Bombardier made a few comments that I think are spot on. The under educated or "don't give a damn" crowd are much of the time the ones that create trouble. Often times they are also the ones without disposable income (so who would want them hanging around shops). Whereas the crowd that's willing to turn the hat around or pull their jeans up to at least the small of their back are showing a willingness to fit in their surroundings and not rock the boat. In this case, maybe even spend a little money.

Maybe the dress code is working. It keeps the non-conformist away and presents a pleasent shopping experience for the middle class residence that want an enjoyable day at the shopping mall. I guess there's no harm in that.

But still, I wonder if its the right approach.

Thanks for inputs.

quote:

Originally posted by Hard Ash:
Still, I can't help but wonder if there's some type of agenda behind this dress code.

Even if there's a stated agenda, so what? Every private owner has a right to any agenda they see fit.

quote:

Originally posted by Guilow:
Every private owner has a right to any agenda they see fit.

Or do they? City after city are banning smoking within privately owned businesses because they have opened their doors to the public. The old days of "I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" are gone (well maybe not in the South). Private businesses that offer services to the general public are subject to fair practices.

I can understand night clubs having a dress code. People go there with the expectations of seeing others (male and female) dressed as stylish and provacative as they hope to find someone on the dance floor or at the bar. But what I'm talking about is an outdoor shopping mall along a river in Louisiana next to a Bass Pro Shop. Beadruex can shop in his jeans and t-shirt but heaven forbid if someone turns their Yankee ball cap backwards.

It makes no sense, but that's Louisiana.

For a shopping mall, my point of view is that anything goes. Only exception might be closed toe shoes, in some places, for safety.

Yet, at the same time, an individual shop might object to such a laissez faire attitude.

I was once 86ed from a cigar store (on "Rodeo") in Bevely Hills because I had the audacity to be wairing jeans! And it was 4:30 pm in the afternoon!

quote:

Originally posted by cigarmanron:
For a shopping mall, my point of view is that anything goes. Only exception might be closed toe shoes, in some places, for safety.

Yet, at the same time, an individual shop might object to such a laissez faire attitude.

I was once 86ed from a cigar store (on "Rodeo") in Bevely Hills because I had the audacity to be wairing jeans! And it was 4:30 pm in the afternoon!

I've been to that cigar shop and your jeans were not the reason they 86ed you. At least that's what they told me.

How the heck did I miss this one? Just one question...

What part of Texas is this in? It has to be Texas...am I right?????

quote:

Originally posted by Hard Ash:
Still, I can't help but wonder if there's some type of agenda behind this dress code.

Bombardier made a few comments that I think are spot on. The under educated or "don't give a damn" crowd are much of the time the ones that create trouble. Often times they are also the ones without disposable income (so who would want them hanging around shops).

At the cost per square foot rent that these shop owners are paying, I think they have a right to want "real" potential customers in their shop, as opposed to the "loiter" crowd. Those who have no intention of buying, may shop lift out of bordom or need and definitely have a tendency to run off the "paying" customers.

Don't get me wrong, I've window shopped with the best of them, but I have the money to purchase "something" if it strikes me. That's the difference.

The only agenda most shop owners have is to MAKE A PROFIT AND MINIMIZE RISK.

Hey, to me it is really simple. Dress like a gentleman or lady, and you get treated with the respect due your appearance. Yeah, I have ratty jeans and worn out t-shirts, but I try to dress for the location. WARNING!! Don't dress up if you are going to kick tires at a car lot! You appear like "blood in the water to the hungry shark" sales staff!

quote:

Or do they? City after city are banning smoking within privately owned businesses because they have opened their doors to the public. The old days of "I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone" are gone (well maybe not in the South). Private businesses that offer services to the general public are subject to fair practices.

Smoking bans are wrong. DEAD WRONG! As a private business we should be allowed to have rules that cater to the type of customers we wish to attract. If people don't feel comfortable shopping with a bunch of gangsta's and someone opens a shopping center that doesn't allow gangsta's they are catering to a certain customer. If the gangsta's don't like it go somewhere else or leave the gangsta junk at home. Just like people that don't won't be around cigarette/cigar smoke they should avoid privately owned businesses that allow smoking on their private property. And they should also see the business opportunity to open a smoke-free restuarant.

quote:

(well maybe not in the South)

Could you explain this please?