How casinos have influenced the luxury fashion industry over the years

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The link between clothes and casinos is a longstanding one, with the world’s most iconic luxury casinos in places like Monte Carlo, Vegas and Macau having long imposed dress codes of varying strictness on the people who visit them in a bid to keep things glamorous.

That requirement to dress in your finest clothes is all part of the charm of playing at one of these casinos for many people, and provides the perfect opportunity to ‘dress to impress.’ Gambling isn’t just about placing high-stake wagers in the hopes of winning big, but feeling like a million dollars while you do it – and from glitzy gowns to sharp suits, a luxury casino is the perfect place to showcase your finery.

While there’s no denying that online casinos and bingo sites like Jackpotjoy have experienced a dramatic surge in popularity over recent years, there’s nothing quite like visiting a land-based establishment for the full luxury experience. And, for those who enjoy putting on some elegant attire, the world’s most esteemed bricks-and-mortar venues hold the same appeal they always did – if not more so, following two years of lockdowns spent at home on our sofas.

Here, we take a closer look at how casinos have influenced the fashion industry over the years.

The influence of casinos on fashion

The worlds of casino and fashion have been intertwined for many years and it can sometimes be hard to untangle them enough to determine which is influencing which. There is no question that the arena of high end couture pays homage to casinos at times though, and it makes sense for this to be the case, because the two share an undeniably glamorous aesthetic dedicated to luxury and class.

When visiting a top casino complex in an iconic locale like Monte Carlo or Las Vegas, you’ll find yourself entering a world of utter opulence, where everyone dresses to support that look and feel. From employees, such as croupiers, to customers, everyone is expected to wear tuxedos or beautiful designer dresses when inside the most sophisticated casinos – and it’s this long-held tradition that has helped them to maintain the luxurious appeal they have always had.

Even so, the dress codes have adapted over time in line with the latest fashions. An example of the influence at work is the way in which casinos have adopted codes over the years that encourage slimmer, more fitted suits for male visitors and shorter skirts and dresses for females.

But again, the influence goes both ways, and seven years ago, the iconic Chanel fashion house held a casino-inspired show at the Grand Palais featuring a catwalk with casino imagery and clothes that were based on the latest dress code trends within modern day casinos. The show even featured table games that those attending could play, and was a prime example of how at times, fashion and luxury casinos have become melded as one.

This hasn’t been the only example in recent years of the fashion industry looking to casinos for inspiration, and in fact, just two years later, the innovative Moschino fashion house followed suit by launching its own casino influenced collection. This drew from the bolder and more overtly glamorous dress codes of top casinos, rather than the muted, classic designs favored by Chanel, but the source of the inspiration was once again very clear.

The impact of film

The film and celebrity worlds have always influenced fashion, with one particularly notable example of this being the James Bond franchise. Every new Bond film creates waves within the fashion world and casinos have always been a central theme, having featured heavily in the likes of Casino Royale and other classic 007 flicks.

Design houses like Chanel owe as much to the black tuxedo image of James Bond when he is gaming at a casino as they do to real life dress codes when creating their clothes, because it was Bond who helped to make that look a classic one in the first place.

Real-life celebrities with a connection to the world of couture also draw on the background of casinos and gaming when coming up with new collections. The latest example is that of Sex and the City star and fashion maven Sarah Jessica Parker, who has created a line of ultra-glitzy casino themed shoes known as The Strip Collection, which was inspired by the great Las Vegas casinos and has quickly shot to the top of almost every fashionista in the world’s Christmas list.

What are the typical casino dress codes?

Although many land-based casinos have some form of dress code, it’s only the luxury establishments that tend to set very strict rules.

A man visiting one such casino is expected to wear a well-tailored suit, with many opting to go one step further and don super-formal evening attire such as a tuxedo, allowing them to achieve a vintage yet timeless look that gives a direct nod to both James Bond and the Rat Pack led by Frank Sinatra.

Over the years, it has become the definitive male casino look, but not an essential one, as a dark slim suit that fits well is considered just as acceptable at most of the high end gaming establishments.

Because fashion for women tends to be more varied and interesting, female guests are able to take their pick from various options when visiting a luxury casino. In the past, a glamorous but classy gown and high heel shoes would have been the first choice for many women, but nowadays the trend is towards shorter cocktail dresses rather than full-length gowns – although always at an elegant and demure length, of course. 

The ‘LBD’, or ‘little black dress’, is considered a fail-safe choice and combined with elegant high heeled shoes, will always do the trick – creating a high fashion look and injecting a little extra glamour that simply can’t be achieved with flats.

Stilettos might not be the most comfortable type of shoes to wear during a long evening out at a casino, but sometimes, sophistication has to come before practicality – and at the world’s most opulent high-end casinos, this is often the case.

There are a number of ways in which the fashion world has taken a cue from casinos over the years, and iconic characters and celebrities like James Bond and Frank Sinatra have helped to craft the classic casino ‘look’ since the early days – while in more recent years, have fashion houses have looked to spark an evolution in luxury casino dress codes for fresh design inspiration, and have successfully achieved just that.

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