2008  Is there a dress code in the milongas in BsAs?

Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 18:19:47 -0300
From: Janis Kenyon <jantango@FEEDBACK.NET.AR>
Subject: Is there a dress code in the milongas in BsAs?

Joanne wrote (amongst other things):
> As for my husband, I encourage him to wear a suit and tie, because
> (don't gasp please) that is the dress of the milongueros in Buenos
Aires.

John Gleeson wrote:
Sorry but I am gasping. I am constantly amazed at people who take a few
samplings and state that everybody conforms to that sample, especially
when talking about BsAs.

I have just spent two weeks in BsAs - a suit and tie is NOT the
dress code of the Milongueros. It is the dress code of some of them.
Some others wear turtle-necks and pants; others wear just dress
shirts (without a tie) and pants; and others wear..... and so on and so on.

There is no dress code in BsAs. Older, more traditional-minded, folks
might tend towards the mored traditional suit/tie; younger ones appear
to gravitate towards the more casual.
_________

Yes, there is a dress code among the milongueros who can afford to wear a
suit and tie to the milongas these days. They always wore a suit and tie to
a milonga during the 40s and 50s or they weren't allowed to enter. Mario
Santamaria always wears a suit and tie to a milonga. Ricardo Calarota
always wears a suit and tie to a milonga (even in January). Jorge De Gouvea
always wears a suit and tie. Ricardo Suarez (79) is always wearing a suit
and tie in a milonga. I can name others.

It is unfortunate that younger dancers show up in jeans and t-shirts, not to
mention all the tourists who do the same. Is this a good thing for the
tango?

John, I doubt you went to Salon Canning or Celia's on Saturday night to see
all the men wearing suits, but two weeks in Buenos Aires is hardly enough
time to get around to the milongas, let alone do a survey of what people are
wearing. And even less time to get to know where the milongueros dance.

Joanne's husband Tim is one of only two men I know from the US who wear a
suit and tie when going to dance in the milongas of BsAs. The other one is
my friend Joe who is here now. They have respect for the tango. For some,
going to a milonga is like going to a gymnasium: you expect to sweat so why
dress up.

It's true that everyone doesn't conform to a high standard of dress in the
BsAs milongas. Wouldn't it be more pleasant for everyone to walk into a
place and see everyone dressed elegantly? Tango deserves our respect. This
is one way to show it.

Pichi de Buenos Aires

Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 08:51:21 -0800
From: Barbara Garvey <barbara@TANGOBAR-PRODUCTIONS.COM>
Subject: Re: Is there a dress code in the milongas in BsAs?

Dear Pichi et al,

>Joanne's husband Tim is one of only two men I know >from the US who wear a
>suit and tie when going to dance in the milongas of >BsAs. The other one

is

>my friend Joe who is here now. They have respect for >the tango

Al and I have not been to Buenos Aires in 5 years, but visited 6 times
between 1987 and 1998. Until 1994 almost all men in almost all milongas wore
suit and tie (at least in spring and fall -- I can't speak for summer.). Al
would not think of going to a milonga without jacket and tie, nor would a
number of other friends in San Francisco who have visited BA numerous times,
among them Charlie Stewart and Dale Richardson.

Until a year or so ago, this was also the practice in San Francisco, but
times are changing here too.
Abrazos, Barbara

Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 13:15:15 -0500
From: A Coleman <gurps_npc@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Is there a dress code in the milongas in BsAs?

Janis, you need to learn what the phrase dress code means.

It does not mean that some or even most people follow it. It means that all
people follow it and you will be ostracized if you do not.

Yes, some people in Buenos Aires, mostly the older, staid, crowd, wear suits
and ties. But there is no dress code. If you come in jeans, you will not
be turned away from the door. Women will still dance with you. People will
still talk to you. They will not even make rude comments.

In other words, while many in the fading, aging, older crowd dress up, may
do not.

And part of that reason is that the younger crowd often dance more
vigorously and for longer periods than the older people, so have to deal
with more sweat then they do. If the older people suddenly started
sweating, then they too might dress more casually.

The cloathing has nothing to do with respect. I respect the tango a LOT.
In fact I respect it too much to dance when I am stinky, so I make sure I do
not become stinky. I also respect the women I dance with to much to get
stinky before dancing with them.

Tell you what, slave to fashion. I'll dance in my Tuxedo if you dance in a
ski jacket. I bet you'll take off that jacket before I take off my Tuxedo
coat.

But as long as you are dancing in a barely there, slit to the hip, peice of
cloth so thin I can stuff the entire thing in my pocket, I'll be dancing in
nice, thin tailored short sleave shirt, sans jacket.

Frustrated with dial-up? Get high-speed for as low as $26.95.

Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 10:28:15 -0800
From: Carlos Rojas <Crojas@HACIENDACDC.ORG>
Subject: Re: Is there a dress code in the milongas in BsAs?

A Coleman wrote:
"And part of that reason is that the younger crowd often dance more
vigorously and for longer periods than the older people, so have to deal
with more sweat then they do. If the older people suddenly started
sweating, then they too might dress more casually."

Old people sweat too (I know I do). Besides looking good, and for those
of us that the suit will not help with the looks, the main reason to
wear a jacket is to be considerate to your partner, so she does not have
put her body against a wet shirt.

Since I am a Finance Manager and for many years wore a suit, I now
prefer not to wear them, so I wear a t-shirt under my shirt, and for the
most part it keeps my shirt dry, even in summer. (I need to figure out a
way to keep my head dry).

In Portland we have an ingenious woman name Bonnie making shirts made
out of that material Nike uses that dries quickly, the guys that wear
them tell me that it works great, I have placed an order with her.

Also we have casual and dress up milongas, they are not advertised that
way, but people know when to dress up. But I tell one thing, if one of
my favorite dancers comes to the milonga, I will dance with her no
matter what she wears.


Carlos Rojas
Portland, OR


-----Original Message-----

Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 10:15 AM
To: TANGO-L@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: [TANGO-L] Is there a dress code in the milongas in BsAs?

Janis, you need to learn what the phrase dress code means.

It does not mean that some or even most people follow it. It means that
all
people follow it and you will be ostracized if you do not.

Yes, some people in Buenos Aires, mostly the older, staid, crowd, wear
suits
and ties. But there is no dress code. If you come in jeans, you will
not
be turned away from the door. Women will still dance with you. People
will
still talk to you. They will not even make rude comments.

In other words, while many in the fading, aging, older crowd dress up,
may
do not.

And part of that reason is that the younger crowd often dance more
vigorously and for longer periods than the older people, so have to deal
with more sweat then they do. If the older people suddenly started
sweating, then they too might dress more casually.

The cloathing has nothing to do with respect. I respect the tango a
LOT.
In fact I respect it too much to dance when I am stinky, so I make sure
I do
not become stinky. I also respect the women I dance with to much to get
stinky before dancing with them.

Tell you what, slave to fashion. I'll dance in my Tuxedo if you dance
in a
ski jacket. I bet you'll take off that jacket before I take off my
Tuxedo
coat.

But as long as you are dancing in a barely there, slit to the hip, peice
of
cloth so thin I can stuff the entire thing in my pocket, I'll be dancing
in
nice, thin tailored short sleave shirt, sans jacket.

Frustrated with dial-up? Get high-speed for as low as $26.95.

Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 23:54:37 -0700
From: Brian Dunn <brian@DANCEOFTHEHEART.COM>
Subject: Re: Is there a dress code in the milongas in BsAs?

A Coleman wrote:

"Yes, some people in Buenos Aires, mostly the older, staid, crowd, wear
suits
and ties. But there is no dress code. If you come in jeans, you will not
be turned away from the door."

In March and April of this year, the popular evening milonga El Arranque did
have a sign that said that slacks were required for men, as opposed to
jeans...rather than force the issue, I did go (around the corner) back to
the hotel to change. So I can't report that I was turned away, but it's
fair to say this fits the definition of a dress code. Yet I know there are
many places to dance that have no such sign. In any case, during the four
weeks we were there, I recall wearing pants with a crease (no jeans) and a
fairly dressy short sleeve shirt to most milongas, evening or night.

All the best,
Brian Dunn
Dance of the Heart
Boulder, Colorado USA
1(303)938-0716
https://www.danceoftheheart.com