Every group has its dress codes. Only in retrospect do your own look strange
Two stories from the 1960s
The Rolling Stones went to a posh Chelsea restaurant for dinner. They were turned away on the grounds that no gentleman could be admitted unless wearing a tie
The group left quietly, but returned a short time later. Each wearing a tie
But nothing else
At the end of the decade a famous tv star went to a function at a swanky New York hotel. Wearing one of the newly fashionable tunic/wide legged trouser ensembles
Told that ladies in trousers could not be admitted she simply removed them, on the spot. The tunic was longer than the still fashionable but ever so slightly passé mini dress
Another, more personal, story
I had to go to a student-y meeting one Saturday morning at the National Liberal Club off Whitehall. A friend from college accompanied me because we were to go on to something else in the afternoon
We entered the marble hall & went to the porters desk for directions. Which he gave to me, very courteously. But then he said to my friend I am very sorry, sir, but I cannot allow you admission
My heart felt as if it had literally dropped into my boots via the express lift
My friend was West Indian. At that time there were no anti-discrimination laws. Fleet Street had a pretty universal No Colour Bar in England line, but that did not obviate the need for us to do things like picket the Whisky-a-go-go. This Soho club had been proved (to our satisfaction) to be operating a colour bar
But this was the Liberal club. My England. He couldnt. Could he?
If he could, then not just my heart but the bottom had dropped out of my world
Then he produced a cardboard box from under his desk. If you would care to make a selection, sir, then I will be able to admit you
Once my friend had donned the chosen tie, we were in
He was still wearing it when we left
