There is no united front within the world of professional poker about the concept of dress code at live tournaments. Usually there is none, although some of the establishments may have few of their own ideas on the subject. Lack of clear rules about the proper attire surely generates a lot of interesting and often funny situations.
Back in a day, where the idea of a card game was few old-fashioned guys gathered together in a poorly lit dusty room, the approach to fashion was similarly uncomplicated. Even in the early 1960s when poker started to gain more recognition in Las Vegas, the players were doing pretty good job to keep it in agreement with the old traditions: drink with their hands, cigar in their mouths and – above all – the cowboy look. Or at least the cowboy hat which was a signature piece of clothing for old timers and industry legends such as Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim. For a long time, simple solutions like colorful shirts and visor caps were the way to go for most. And, of course, there is also the James Bond type, an interpretation of the extremely classic elegance of old-time casinos.
 The 2000s decade has brought t-shirts and oversized sports jerseys to the equation, as well as one of the symbols of the game – hoodies, plus additional accessories: scarfs, sunglasses and big headphone sets. With the whole industry being on the rise, big companies entered the race. Many players showed their affiliation by wearing logos on various pieces of their clothing. Things were going hand in hand: players wore many and big accessories to make themselves more impassable and hidden and, in some cases, were acting like a model or walking (or better said, standing) commercial for the entirety of the game. Which is a win-win situation for both the players and the sponsors.
In recent years, a lot has changed in many capacities (technology and TV coverage, inclusion of female players, even the dietary choices), and textile department is surely one of them. The absence of a strict dress code allows informality but that doesn’t mean everything goes. Some outfits, such as sandals or beachwear are generally frowned upon, just like covering the whole face. More players seem to follow the dress to impress rule anyway, preferring suits and blazers over t-shirts. This makes sense and is something we can all learn: if you are going to be stared at by many people for long times, at least make it worth their while. Sometimes, poker players decide to go absolutely nuts, which has a lot to do with so-called prop bets that make players do all kinds of strange things on a dare. Some of the most complex costumes people wore during poker events include: Vanessa Russo dressing up as a cockroach, Bertrand Grospellier’s Joker and Phil Hellmuth’s hilarious practical jokes.
As opposed to playing online, where you have to focus mostly on maintaining proper discipline and executing strategies such as maximizing winnings on small stakes, there are definitely more factors involved when playing live. The actual presence of living and breathing opposition that would very much love to take away your money, is something to be seriously concerned about. Skillful players will do whatever they can to take advantage of you. There is no small detail in the process of hiding one’s true emotions and state of mind. In the light of all that, what people wear at the tables is not always a fashion statement but a necessity. Apart from the outfit’s most obvious quality that should be a convenience, it can serve double purpose as a disguise. Among the most common cloths and accessories behind which people try to conceal themselves are usually: sunglasses, giant headphones, hats and baseball caps, sponsored clothing, and even… beards and mustaches.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
Fashion rules to follow in the casino
How to dress for a casual casino day
Style inspiration from James Bond’s iconic looks
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