Jacket Preferred

To maintain a classy look and feel, certain venues may indicate a dress code of “jacket preferred”. This means just what it says: you won’t be automatically turned away because the man in your party doesn’t have a jacket, but you might not get a prime table in a high-visibility area.

For the ladies

The “jacket preferred” dress code does not apply directly to women, but it does indicate a certain level of formality. The same rules apply as with “business casual”: no t-shirts, jeans, or sneakers. Only dress shoes, heels, or dressy sandals would be appropriate for such an establishment. Slacks or trousers can be matched with a blouse or collared shirt for daytime, or something slightly more elegant for evening. Dressing for a “jacket preferred”
establishment is an opportunity to pay more attention to elegance and glamour than you would with “business casual”. You will certainly not feel overdressed in a skirt or dress.

For the guys

Here men will want to follow similar guidelines to the “business casual” dress code: clean, professional, and pulled together. For an evening event with friends or a date, you can try something a bit more daring and dapper, like a button-up shirt in a bold, unexpected color. Establishments with “jacket preferred” dress codes tend to have a closet
of loaner jackets, but you will have a very limited selection of colors and sizes, especially during busy hours. The mâitre d’ on staff at such an establishment is likely to be a true professional, and will not make you feel uncomfortable about borrowing a loaner. But your date’s reaction is much harder to predict. Consider this carefully before deciding to flout the rules.