New Year’s Eve at Studio 54. Photo by Robin Platzer – The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

The work I do can be very isolating. With the exception of taking the dogs out for a walk, I can conceivably go days without interacting with very many people, which isn’t healthy. As an exercise to get out of the house for a bit and engage more with polite society, I took a job as a host at a Downtown Cleveland restaurant called Marble Room.

In the landscape of the city’s restaurant scene, Marble Room is like Studio 54: everybody wants to get in, and not everyone can. When it opened in September of 2017, it gave Cleveland a much needed injection of glamour and sophistication. On a Friday afternoonin Cleveland, you can fire up the OpenTable app and get an 8:00 p.m.reservation almost anywhere except Marble Room, which is a prospect that hasn’t happened in the Forest City in a very long time. Situated in a stunning, respectfully preserved bank space originally constructed in 1886, Marble Room is a hot canteen with incredible food and outstanding service in an exquisite setting. 

Marble Room in Downtown Cleveland (via The Knot)

As beautiful as it is, Marble Room has no official dress code except the prohibition of baseball caps, which I really appreciate. Malisse Sinito, the proprietor and my boss, wisely decided that, in this hyper-casualized day and age, a dress code just puts people unnecessarily ill at ease. And she’s right.

In terms of sartorial turnout during my tenure as a host on weekend nights, I observed the gamut. Women typically looked nicer, which is true not just at Marble Room but pretty much everywhere else. Some people theorize that a lot of women dress for each other out of some sense of competition. Maybe it’s true, but at the end of the day, women seem to fuss a bit more with a chic cocktail dress and a nice heel, and they generally look better than their male counterparts.

Now about those male counterparts…

This may sound harsh, but it’s true: Cleveland will not win any men’s style awards anytime soon. This is Frumpytown. Untuckitville. Hoodies, zip-up sweaters and corporate-branded fleece vests are the uniform, and tailored fare is a foreign language. In Cleveland, suits are in intensive care, the necktie is in hospice, and dark dress shoes with a leather sole are in the cemetery. ’Twas not always thus, as Cleveland was once a hub of refined American haberdashery and men’s garment craft. (Observe Walter Halle, president of Halle’s, one of Cleveland’s premier department stores in the 20th century. Mr. Halle was considered a style icon among American men in-the-know.)

As I said, I observed the gamut in how people were turned out in Cleveland’s hottest eatery, particularly with the men. There were men in nice suits and jackets, and men in dad jeans, hoodies, and, on one occasion, shorts and flip-flops (I’m not kidding), and everything in between. Some men looked great, but the overall sense of occasion here is on death row. (And the unnervingly popular hyper-stitched designer jeans and untucked ‘dress’ shirts with contrasting cuff and collar linings belong in a unique category I like to call ‘Las Vegas Dad Casual.’)

Working as a host in the space, I spent much of my time at the door, greeting people and taking their coats before bringing them to their table. In my usual uniform of a simple tailored suit, white or light blue dress shirt and understated tie, I was often the first person many guests would see when they came in. One of my favorite things to do at work was to look at guests’ faces when they first entered the space. People were always dazzled, and it was fun to watch. With many of the men dressed in a decidedly casual mode, the expression was also mixed with an uncomfortable twist of “Holy shit, I’m underdressed.” Some of them even said as much out loud, and I would assure them that they were perfectly fine. But the wonder they may have felt at the jaw-dropping appearance of such an awe-inspiring room was somewhat tainted by a flash of self-consciousness about their own appearance.

Again, there is technically no dress code there. Everyone is welcome. And though it’s an expensive restaurant, the clientele isn’t just fancy rich folks. Many of the guests have saved up for this very special experience, often to celebrate something. And I can honestly say that it was a genuine pleasure to see these people have such a good time, dazzled by the food, the room, the service, the whole kit. But the biggest unexpected observation I made during my time there was that people who did dress up, put forth some effort, and brought a sense of occasion to their evening truly seemed to have a better time. Without question. You could see it in their faces.

I hold a firm belief that is hardly original. It’s an old adage that suggests that I’d rather be overdressed than underdressed. Neither “overdressed” nor “underdressed” is particularly comfortable, but in my experience, being underdressed is infinitely more uncomfortable. 

Another element at play for me is one of respect. When I dress to go out, I do it out of respect for myself, respect for the people I’m meeting, and respect for the place I’m entering. 

So… When you go out for a nice dinner, whether it’s a date, a birthday, an anniversary or even just dinner, make it nice. Put forth a little effort with a suit or a handsome jacket and a good pair of shoes. And for good measure, throw in a little of that respect for self, others, and place. The added bonus? When you look good, you feel good. And you have a better time.

Post Script

My last shift at Marble Room was on December 29th. Two nights later, on New Year’s Eve, I joined my friends and neighbors Heidi and Heidi (no relation) for cocktails and a light dinner at the bar. Our plan was to get there around 8:00 p.m. and get out by 10:30 p.m., well before the countdown anticipation and any booze-fueled revelry began. Though the evening wasn’t formal, I went black tie. I had a great time. And the ladies dressed up, too. We all had a great time. We had a blast, actually.

A note about pro athletes…
Cleveland is a sports town, and its athletes are local celebrities around here. Many of them frequent Marble Room. When it comes to modes of dress that color far outside the lines, athletes get somewhat of a pass. They do an unusual thing with their lives that puts them in a special cultural category, like rock stars. With clothing, they can get away with things that other people can’t. Civilians try again and again to adopt certain celebrity/athlete/rock star flourishes, but they can never seem to pull it off with any real conviction or believability. On a non-athlete/rock star, the effect looks more like costume. There are exceptions to this – notable people who have honed a reputation for creating a particular look – but it’s rare. Thrilling to see when it’s done well, but, again, rare. If you’re inclined to go streetwear, ultra bold, or color way outside the lines with your fashion, commit fully, go with confidence, and don’t half-ass it. Otherwise it looks silly.

8 Comments

  1. thatgirl

    This needs to be stressed on the regular, and I’m glad you’ve done so at a time when restaurant and party-going typically reaches its peak.

    My father was a “sport coat at minimum” guy for going out, unless a suit was called for. He’d look about at guys in attire he thought would better service them on the golf course—or the untucked crowd and mutter something about them lacking “any sense of occasion.” And it really does seem that so many American men don’t know what to do with themselves when they don’t believe a suit is called for, or would otherwise render them “overdressed.” Like that’s a thing. There are many ways to go between those ugly khakis, jeans and that suit you may need to dust off—and better is always better!

    If your readers learn anything from you, it’s to strive to bring your “A Game” wherever you go. Why not walk out, feeling you look great? To your point, one does owe those around them the respect that thoughtful dressing brings, whether that’s in a hallowed dining establishment or simply hobnobbing about town.

    Maybe but maybe you can offer your audience some closet items that they should resolve to edit in the new year. Happy new year to you, dear George!

  2. This is a conversation a friend and I frequently have.
    If one owns decent clothes isn’t this the time to wear them? It takes only the tiniest self-awareness to recognize that one’s presence is part of the ambience, therefor worthy of a little effort.
    Probably skewed perception on my part, but I think even the level of service improves accordingly.
    –jc

  3. Pingback: Dress Up When You Go Out. You’ll Have a Better Time. – Fashion Panda

  4. Leila Zogby

    You are spot on, once again, George. I am an opera fan and attend often. It floors me to see people wearing jeans, running shoes and a plaid shirt when they attend. The opera is AN EVENT! There is tradition and a respect for the art form’s history that seems to escape too many. OK, if you don’t want to go black tie or evening gown, I can understand. But are leather shoes, dress slacks and a nice sweater, blazer or sports jacket too much to ask?

  5. messagemaggie

    Love this, George. Just listened to Dave Hill’s podcast interviewing you and agreed with pretty much everything you two said regarding fashion. Great read!

  6. Stan Luksenburg

    Finally going to the Marble Room next month, in March. Too bad I won’t get to chat with you.