DH wants to wear shorts to birthday meal

[Lins77]

I've arranged a big family lunch at a very smart hotel to celebrate DH's Significant Birthday. He's worn shorts every day over the summer (he doesn't work). I said he should wear long trousers but he doesn't see why he should. What do you think?

Lightweight trousers for a posh lunch is not torture.

Yes I agree, and I wouldn’t bother paying out the money for a top class place if he doesn’t want to wear something smart

And expressing a preference for something is not even vaguely related to claiming something is torture. What a weird response.

OP claimed to be worried he'd feel uncomfortable if he ended up underdressed. It is just as possible he doesn't care about being underdressed and this won't make him uncomfortable.

Check whether the hotel has a dress code and, if they're ok with it, let him wear his shorts.

I'm not sure I'd call myself a royalist actually - though I certainly don't let them get me wound up.

I think you've taken the post slightly out of context. If it had been intended to say we should all follow the royals for sartorial advice, I wouldn't have selected a child member. It would have made far more sense to reference Charles, or William for example. But that was neither the point, nor the context. The context was a discussion on the thread around short pants being something boys grow out of for formal wear - whether they are royal or not royal. George and Louis are two well-known young boys ( their AGE being the relevant factor, not their royal-ness). I don't know of all that many well-known young boys who are often seen in public at formal events that I think people would have understood the reference to - though would equally happily have used them as an example. The fact they happen to be royal is beside the point.

If you dine out a lot in some of the more upmarket restaurants in London, particularly central, you will know that only relatively young males turn up in short pants. Obviously pub meals, chain restaurants etc don't insist on that. But the tenor of OP's post is that the meal was booked somewhere less casual.

What an over reaction to a throwaway statement.

Erm, ok Pot. You're black too, love Kettle.

This thread is full of overreactions. Who would have thought the topic so triggering!

Look at the dress code. They may not permit him to enter and you should look at this together. If he doesn’t like it book somewhere else that isn’t so uptight.

My DH lives in shorts for as much of the year as he can. However, he accepts he has to wear trousers on some occasions ie a smart family meal out......

This. But maybe get him to check their dress code first.

What about the legs of 50 plus women?

Would you let him dictate to you what to wear because he thinks it’s ‘inappropriate’ 🤔

He'd feel a right arse if they don't let him in, and then no doubt that would be the OP's fault too, the beastly controlling horror of a wife that she is.

A smart hotel could have a dress code and refuse entry to those not wearing it.

Have you checked to see if there is a dress code? We have a lovely hotel/restaurant where men are expected to wear a jacket.

Call the hotel, explain it's a 70th (?) and that the birthday boy in this heat would rather wear shorts, and ask if that's okay and acceptable to them. You don't want to risk his not being allowed entry to the dining room.

Having said that, I would never have believed so many women could hold such strong views on what clothing unknown men should or should not wear.

I would say it depends on the weather and I would check with the hotel whether there's a dress code. If shorts are allowed, as long as they are smart, I would say that's ok.

You best check with the venue, that shorts are permitted, otherwise he could be turned away at the door.
I’d personally buy him a rather nice pair of tailored shorts and a matching jacket for his birthday.
However, I’m also gonna guess he’s not fussed about the venue and would rather go where his shorts would never be an issue.
I’m betting if he had the choice, it would be at the bar with his mates, most men hate women organising their birthday celebration’s as

1. It always involves family members that they cannot stand or don’t get along with.
2. The venue is just oneupmanship, showing family members “we can afford this”.
3. Everyone assumes and nobody actually ask’s them what they want to do.
4. They gave up celebrating with birthday cake back at their 21st birthday.
5. They think it’s a waste of valuable drinking money.

Ask any man where they wanna go for their birthday and you will get the same answer!.

His birthday, his choice, assuming the hotel doesn’t have dress restrictions banning them.

Well clearly he CAN wear shorts 🙄
he has legs and it's not illegal

As a bloke I say shorts are a definite "no-no" in such circumstances. But it's his birthday and he wants to look like a divot, fair enough I suppose.

Let him wear the shorts, legs are the best thing about most men over 50, but only if wearing trainers, desert boots or work boots, none of them bare feet in sandals !

Call the restaurant and ask if allowed. If so, he can wear what he wants.

My husband is 50 plus and rocks a pair of shorts.