What kind of dress code should they have for OTB chess tournaments?

I remember long ago watching Boris Spassky on television, up against an English (of course) player.
Said Boris: "I cannot resign to somebody who has dressed so badly".

Who has the authority to define appropriate appearance, for whom, in what social hierarchy, at what place and historical moment, under what cultural and legal norms, for what purpose, before which audience, with what degree of personal choice, and with what consequences for nonconformity?

@coledavis said ^

I remember long ago watching Boris Spassky on television, up against an English (of course) player.
Said Boris: "I cannot resign to somebody who has dressed so badly".

Later in life when Spassky was satisfied with a quick draw, he would show up dressed in tennis wear carrying his rackets.

"Who has the authority to define appropriate appearance"

• For chess to thrive it needs sponsors.
  Properly dressed players raise the image of chess, and thus sponsorship.
  There are codes in other sports too: golf, tennis, polo, billiards.

How about wearing a horsey costume to promote lichess and open source? :)

Have you noticed the ones sitting on their belts? Would you dare to tell them to pull up their pants, or even ask them to button up their shirt? They’re already exposing quite a bit of skin, so what’s the acceptable percentage? LOL.

Players aren’t there to get a suntan, and I think they should dress appropriately for the environment and the occasion. Basic hygiene should be a given: brushing your teeth, flossing, using mouthwash, and, yes, washing before showing up. It also helps to wear clean clothes rather than something you just wore for a run. The scent you leave behind, do you really want it to linger after you’re gone?

The idea of making the best move doesn’t only apply to chess. There’s no point in challenging the limits of the establishment just to see what you can get away with. It’s unnecessary and, frankly, a bit childish.

Respect goes both ways: respect for yourself and respect for those around you. When there’s no formal dress code, the best approach is to look at how others dress for the occasion and use your better judgment. Dress appropriately for the setting.

Some people dress to make a statement and stand out, while others prefer to keep a low profile. Either way, lead by example, or learn to follow others.

Look at the pictures, if you do not want to read.
https://lichess.org/@/Lichess/blog/retrospective-2025-toronto-lichess-meetup/3ReyIZOk

Is it o.k. to wear a tunic and a red fez?

once i saw this guy wearing a wizard costume to an OTB game, and another time I saw a guy wearing an extremely flashy anime cosplay to the game. its great

@Toscani:
I'm sympathetic to your viewpoint, but I wouldn't want to belong to a club that would have me as a member.

But last time I played, they wouldn’t even let me wear knee-length shorts.