The recent incident of Tailin lyngdoh, a Meghalayan woman dressed in Khasi dress, being shown the door because she looked like a maid is no lone case. Over the years, similar instances have taken place in elite clubs. SANGEETA YADAV takes a peep into their dress codes
Delhi GYMKHANA Club has a set of strict rules for presence of domestic help in the premises. According to the club rules, Members’ Domestic Employees (MDE) — ayahs, drivers and attendants, though allowed in the premises, have to follow the instructions given to them by the office bearers. It is a foregone conclusion that MDEs are also not permitted in areas for members. Dress regulation (for members too is pretty strict.
Dress Regulation (for dining room, bars, card room, etc)
A lounge suit, Jodhpuri coat and trouser, safari suit trouser with collared shirt (tucked inside the trouser), bush shirt and trousers, national dress, achkans with chooridars, dhoti-kurta, salwar-kameez, pyjama-kurta preferably with Nehru jacket.
For the dance floor
lounge Suit/Combination
Safari Suit
Trouser with collared shirt tucked inside the trouser
For festive dances like Christmas and New Year eve dinner dance, coat and tie essential.
Attire not permitted
Short and tight skirts
Sports clothes/sports & jogging shoes
Rubber chappals
T-shirts without collars, T-shirts with figures or slogans embossed.
Gown/Kaftan
Another no-no is that children are not allowed inside the main club building. There is a separate family dinning room where members with small children can dine in.
National Sports Club of India was under attack last year when the Delhi unit barred servants from entering the premises. A photo saying that ayahs and servants not allowed was doing the rounds. Many said it reminded them of the British Raj.
Cricket Club of India says that members must be properly attired at all times. No slippers, track suits, shorts will be allowed. The rules also prohibits use of mobiles by in the enclosed area.
barred here too
June 12, 2016: Delhi eatery denies entry to underprivileged kids
March 07, 2015: Disabled activist denied entry into South Delhi Club
July 12, 2014: A Madras High Court Judge refused entry for wearing dhoti at the TNCA Club in Chennai
In 2002: The prestigious National law School of India University, Bangalore Director Professor G Mohan Gopal was denied entry into the elite Bangalore Club founded in 1865 because he was dressed in dhoti and slippers.
1988: MF Hussain, who was barefoot was not allowed inside Willingdon Club, Mumbai
In 2016: a man in Mumbai was denied entry into The Bar Stock Exchange as he was wearing shorts. Interestingly, foreigners wearing shorts were allowed. However, the bar denied that there was any such dress code policy.
In 2009: An Italian man and his Indian friends who protested after being denied entry into a Gurgaon pub for violating the ‘dress code’ were severely beaten up by the pub’s bouncers The foreigner was wearing a vest and another was in slippers.
In 1987: A prominent musician has been ousted from an exclusive club in Calcutta after he insisted on wearing Indian-style clothes and refused to follow the club’s dress code.
Calcutta Club ltd says that members are required to observe the club’s dress regulations at all times. Members also need to see that their spouse, children and guests observe regulations. Following dresses are not allowed in the club.
For men: Kurta/pajama of any kind, kurta with trousers of any kind, shirts with dhoti, T-shirts/shirts without collar and Chinese collar except for tennis, shorts except for tennis, and in men’s dressing room, jeans/sneakers/sports shoes after 7 pm, open chappals except with dhoti, shirts without being buttoned up, cargo pants, gym clothes/track tops and bottoms.
ladies: Shorts, gym clothes/track tops and bottoms, sports shoes after 7 pm. Any outfit that may otherwise appear to be inappropriate and/or indecent in the opinion of the committee.
The Delhi Golf Club where the entire fracas happened because of the elitist mindset of its members, has a strict dress code. Under its rules, the club can deny service to any member guest if they don’t adhere to the prescribed dress code which is:
Men
Blue jeans prohibited.
T-shirts only with collars/polo neck/mock neck can be worn.
Golfers need to wear appropriate golf shoes/flat sports shoe.
Jogging suits in any form are strictly prohibited as also T-shirt without collars.
Shorts of reasonable length only. Caps if worn, must be worn with the peak in front.
Women
May wear T-shirts/blouses.
Trousers and normal length shorts/skirts/capris.
Blue denim jeans or mini-shorts, including cut offs, jogging shorts, tights, track suits etc are not allowed.
Dress code for main bar, dining room, card room and party room.
Patkaor golf caps or hats prohibited. Shorts, rubber chappals and collarless T-shirts are prohibited.
Only blue denim jeans/jeans and full length trousers permitted. ladies to be appropriately dressed. No restrictions on national dress.
Dress code for pub.
Golf attire is permitted up to 8.30 pm and thereafter the dress code would be the same as applicable in the main bar, dining room, card room and party room. If improperly dressed, members and their guests will be requested by the club authorities to change into proper attire and if this is not followed will have to leave the premises.
Not only this, the club has a strict policy when it comes to mobile phones. They are not permitted in the dining hall, main bar, pub, card room, party room and health club either by the member or his/her guest/s. Mobile phones have to be on silent/vibrant mode in the premises.
A penalty of Rs 100 be levied on members using mobile in the area where they are prohibited.
India International Centre too has a dress code. Members using bar, lounge or dining facilities are requested to note that shorts are not permitted.
TAMIl NADU CRICKET ASSOCIATION ClUB also has a strict dress code. Members and guests have to be in trousers, shirts or T-shirts with collars and leather shoes.
