Dress code for train travel

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

A Catholic high school in Illinois, USA, has been criticised for its lengthy prom dress code handbook - a whopping 21 slides.

The guidelines, which deem some dresses to be acceptable on certain body types but not others has prompted a call for a student-run prom. Some have also accused the school of body-shaming its students - having a critical or negative attitude toward certain body sizes or weights.

While the gentlemen's dress code is covered in just two slides, there are 15 slides in the guide for the ladies.

What do members think is an acceptable dress code to travel by train?

[bobm]

I am not unduly worried provided it is not so dirty it will risk the next person using the seat to need the drycleaners and they keep their feet off the seats.

[LiskeardRich]

Clean, I once had a person so smelly sit next to me I started urging!

[TaplowGreen]

Chanel No 5 and a smile.

[Bmblbzzz]

Peaked cap and navy blue boiler suit covered in coal dust and oil smudges.

[patch38]

Nah - top hat and watch chain. Just like IKB^▸ (Isambard Kingdom Brunel). 

[Phil]

"Hints to Lady Travellers" (originally published 1889) is a mine of information. It even includes advice about what to do should rival railway companies deliberately act to make passengers miss their connections. Unimaginable today, of course.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hints-Lady-Travellers-Geographic-Society/dp/1904027911/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489142229&sr=8-1&keywords=hints+to+lady+travellers

[broadgage]

Not so dirty as to dirty the clothes of the next user of the same seat.
Not smelling offensive.
Not so revealing as to cause embarrassment or be offensive to a reasonable person.

Not emblazoned with foul language, indecent images, or otherwise strongly offensive words or pictures.

Ideas have of course changed as to what is proper, about 20 years when I first started to dine on the train, there was no requirement for gents to wear a tie, but most did and I felt a little out of place if tieless.
On my most recent Pullman dining trip only 1 customer was wearing a tie.

I do not consider either overalls or night attire to be entirely suitable, but permissible subject to the above conditions.

[JayMac]

Whatever you like, provided its clean.

[broadgage]

Whatever you like, provided its clean.

In many cases, yes, however I can not agree that clothing being clean is the ONLY requirement. For example a T shirt printed with the wording "kill all the [insert racial or ethnic group of your choice]" is not in my view acceptable, no matter how clean.
Likewise anything so skimpy as to show the private parts is not acceptable, no matter how clean.

[ChrisB]

Oh, you'll be really happy then...seems as though those midriff-baring t-shirts girls wore in the past are returning to fashion. But being wirn by those who wore them first time around...

[grahame]

Likewise anything so skimpy as to show the private parts is not acceptable, no matter how clean.

I'm not totally clear on what you're saying - are you referring to the clothing or the private parts when you say "no matter how clean"? 

[JayMac]

Whatever you like, provided its clean.

In many cases, yes, however I can not agree that clothing being clean is the ONLY requirement. For example a T shirt printed with the wording "kill all the [insert racial or ethnic group of your choice]" is not in my view acceptable, no matter how clean.
Likewise anything so skimpy as to show the private parts is not acceptable, no matter how clean.

And legal. Both those examples could be illegal. But that really goes without saying.

[grahame]

Interesting how we have strayed slightly from clothing.

One of Lisa's bugbears in crowded places (hotel lifts especially) is people who reek of perfume - as it gives her a headache for the whole evening.   Can't say I'm a great lover of false smells either, actually preferring the aroma of alcoholic breath which we get on some of our train services in the evening to an overbearing perfume.  Are we alone in this dislike of products which are sold to attract?

[Bmblbzzz]

I'm sure you're not. There are plenty of people who avoid soap and laundry products with added perfume, for instance; some just out of preference, some due to allergies.