The penguin suit was once as much a part of poker culture as the cards were. Only the highest in society played poker, for an extravagant night out that allowed the aristocrats of the world to go wild for a few nights.
And yet, if you watch modern day poker tournaments, you’re unlikely to see a single bow tie. You’d be impressed to see a suit jacket, probably. Has this perhaps had an effect on the game?
Read on to see why we think tuxedos in the casino aren't as common as they once were.
The times, are they a-changing?
Well, the first argument that comes to mind when considering this forgotten legacy of gambling in tuxedos is that it isn’t the 18th century anymore. We don’t wear powdered wigs or smear our face with white stains, either. Should that be a part of gambling too?
Today, gambling is open to the peasants of the world. The physical casinos welcome as many people as possible, and in the internet age it’s more accessible than ever, being able to play whenever you want from your own phone on sites like GGPoker. Even the highest stakes tables don’t have a dress code, and in fact you’d look a little out of place wandering Vegas in a tuxedo as you casino hop.
There are black tie events that might have gambling incorporated, and the occasional James Bond wannabe buying a martini at the bar, but for the most part, people have to be instructed to dig out their best suit to play poker.
Comfort in what you wear
If you even take a glance at modern poker games, you might notice a lot of t-shirts and jeans. A lot of sweatpants and polo shirts. This is simply too common to be subconscious. Even Mother Theresa should have an impulse to check her hair when a camera was nearby, because unless you’re a Kardashian, it’s an uncommon occurrence. And yet, all these guys are showing up in sweatpants like they just rolled out of bed.
Perhaps it isn’t a coincidence. The point of a poker face is to look relaxed, no matter what cards you’re dealt. And a big part of looking relaxed is feeling relaxed. If you’re in a stiff jacket and trousers, unable to move in your seat, you might portray your discomfort to an opponent who is looking very closely at you and every reaction.
Should we bring it back?
If you watch modern poker tournaments, you might notice a few players try to keep very much in the shadows. How do they do this in a brightly lit room with a camera pointed exclusively at their face? With hoods. With caps, with beanies, and any other item of clothing that somehow obscures their face. Sometimes a WSOP final table can look like a Justice League reunion meeting.
Don’t think that this is just a matter of certain poker players being introverted. As mentioned above, it’s all about the poker face. It’s a real disadvantage to your opponent if they can’t read your face, so if you’ve got your hood up or a cap on, (this year’s WSOP saw a few players doing both at the same time) they’ll have a harder time trying to determine what you’re up to.
But in terms of making a fashion statement: yes. You’ll turn a few heads being the Mr. Darcy of the event in a sea of sweatpants and polo shirts.