Monaco enjoys a fine climate almost all year round but is it a fashion faux-pas to combat the heat by wearing shorts?
Of course, you can wear shorts in Monaco – you won’t exactly get arrested or deported. However, there are several events and establishments that operate a strict jacket and tie policy, which means no shorts. Ultimately, it’s best to avoid shorts altogether, lest you stand out as a fashion tragedy.
Read on to learn more about Monaco, the unofficial (and official) dress code that exists, and why it’s so extravagant.
Monaco: The Home Of Superb Opulence
Monaco might be one of the smallest sovereign nations on Earth, but that hasn’t stopped it from acquiring and housing great wealth. It’s a dramatically minuscule nation, tacked on to the bottom of France, but it enjoys global renown and a strong reputation for being a playground for the super-rich.
In 2019, the population of the entire country was less than forty thousand. It’s estimated that almost a third of Monaco’s residents are millionaires, with some twelve thousand of the population boasting enormous bank accounts.
It was revealed in 2019 that the wealthiest occupant of Monaco at the time was worth a staggering two billion dollars. It’s easy to see why Monaco attracts the world’s elite, all year round.
There are few places on the planet that have as much extravagance packed into such a tiny area. Monaco is home to an infamous casino and nightlife scene, the Monaco Grand Prix, and countless regattas and yacht shows in its legendary harbor.
Of course, a country so densely populated by rich and famous individuals will definitely come with more than a few rules. For example, Monegasques (as the residents are known) are prohibited from gambling in Monaco’s casinos.
It’s alleged that this is because the government of Monaco doesn’t want its residents to simply gamble away their money.
Another strange law concerns caravans, RVs, or motorhomes. They’re absolutely forbidden from driving through or parking in and around Monaco, for reasons that aren’t entirely clear.
There are more than a few fashion-related laws in place in the country, too. You’d be surprised what you can get in trouble for when walking the hot, high-value streets of Monaco.
Following The Laws Of Fashion
If you think you can stroll out of your hotel in Monaco and walk to the beach without wearing a shirt, think again. This is considered a substantial infraction, and you will get in trouble with the police if caught.
Also, keep your shoes on – walking barefoot faces a similar circumstance, and the police will certainly pull you up on it. It might be a hot, beach-lined destination bordered by the Meditteranean Sea, but you still need to follow the laws of fashion.
In general, there are traditional and typical rules of fashion that one should adhere to when in Monaco. Firstly, you need to bear in mind that won’t even get into certain establishments and events if you’re dressed incorrectly.
You can take the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix as a key example. It’s stated that shorts aren’t recommended for either men or women, but a smart-casual style of dress should be adopted.
If a man wishes to follow both the written and unwritten rules, he should wear a shirt or polo shirt with a jacket or blazer, and trousers. Further, he should wear ‘closed, polished shoes’ and never, ever sneakers or flip-flops.
Of course, branding also goes a long way in Monaco, and you’ll often see the emblems of Gucci, Prada, and Ralph Lauren on the streets of Monaco. If you’d like to learn more about the latter, you can read an article that discusses the immense popularity of Ralph Lauren’s polo products.
Ultimately, you’re not going to be shunned or arrested for wearing something like shorts in Monaco, but it’s a fashion faux-pas for sure. You’ll draw more than a few strange looks, particularly in the nation’s higher-end hotels, restaurants, and shopping districts.
If you’re going to Monaco to gamble, then perhaps leave the shorts at home. The casinos of Monte Carlo don’t operate a strict dress code, but you should try to look the part, given that you’ll be rubbing shoulders with millionaires.
However, it’s as free a country like any other, and you’re an individual in your own right. If you want to walk down the street in lime green board shorts, who is going to stop you?
Well, maybe the police.