Proper attire for the press box

[HanSenSE]

One former colleague was covering a local amateur golf tournament and the people at the club wouldn't let him in wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I thought that was going a bit too far, although I probably would have opted for more traditional golf attire.

If you're going to a private venue, check if there's a dress code. Most golf clubs have them -- no denim! collared shirts! -- and aren't those MLB rules still in effect?

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/87550/

 

[Alma]

All good advice, but if you have a pair of nicer dark jeans, see if your boss is OK with that for anything below pro. Most jeans look a hell of a lot better than most pairs of khakis, in part because they're nicer and more expensive than khakis. You're at a CFB game in November, waiting on muddy sidelines, or God forbid you knock over your Diet Coke into your lap...jeans will have been the preferable choice.

I really don't get the hangup on khakis vs. jeans.

Don't wear shirts with stains. Seems obvious. But one day, you'll be mulling it over.

 

[sgreenwell]

NEVER wear that team's apparel, its lame.

also never wear the apparel of the OTHER team. I knew a photog who covered an NFL game while wearing the visiting team's jersey. That drew a lot of angry phone calls from the home team, especially since that was the year of Spygate.

meanwhile, what's proper attire for a courthouse?
http://www.standard.net/Staff-Columns/2014/06/06/Reporter-booted-from-court-for-bare-shoulders.html

The courthouse I have to go to regularly, there is a rule that you can't have bare midriff, or be wearing shorts, in the court rooms themselves. However, it is posted outside of each court room and on the courthouse website, as opposed to that Utah case.

Re: the actual discussion on hand, I normally do khaki or a decent pair of cargo shorts if I'm going to be outside for a lot of the day. If it's something indoors, or a nicer outdoor event (graduation, political fundraiser), then I'll usually wear khakis or dress pants, with a polo or dress shirt.

 

[hondo]

FYI, if you're covering a NASCAR race and planning on walking into the garage and/or pits, you can't wear shorts or open-toed shoes, even if it's 90 degrees outside.

They've backed off on the shorts if you have a hot pass. It's now okay,
That said, I haven't seen worse fashion sense than in a NASCAR press box or infield media center.

 

[hondo]

A well-known golf writer once showed up on a practice day at Bay Hill in jeans a sandals. Since Bay Hill won't even let Tour pros wear their hats in the clubhouse, I'm still wondering how he got away with that.

 

[Double Down]

Dark jeans, dark socks, dress shoes, sport coat, collared shirt, no tie.

 

[ColdCat]

The courthouse I have to go to regularly, there is a rule that you can't have bare midriff, or be wearing shorts, in the court rooms themselves. However, it is posted outside of each court room and on the courthouse website, as opposed to that Utah case.

I was barred from entering a courtroom once by a baliff in Georgia because I was wearing what he termed "short pants." Since this was two hours up the road from home, I had to drive to a mall and buy a new pair of khakis.
A few weeks later I was in a courtroom in Florida where the defendant and his family were all wearing shorts and football jerseys. Different judges, different rules, though I suppose not owning a suit should not bar you from your day in court.

Dark jeans, dark socks, dress shoes, sport coat, collared shirt, no tie.

The dress shoes thing is where I draw the line. I might have to spend all day on my feet and/or walk all over a golf course or a race track. No way in hell I'm doing that in anything other than the most comfortable pair of shoes I can get my feet into. If you turn up your nose at me wearing Nikes because I don't want to be in agonizing pain at the end of the day, GFY

 

[93Devil]

Nylon dress pants, nylon golf shirt, tucked in shirt, belt and dress shoes will keep you covered in a lot of occasions.

And nylon is a lot more comfortable than cotton when it gets warm. Plus, it looks nicer and keeps color much longer.

 

[MeanGreenATO]

I get chided by all of my colleagues for being too dressed up to cover high school games, but I could really care less. Usually a button down, some khakis and brown loafers/oxfords no matter what I'm covering. And it does indeed mask your three-day bender.

I think if you're one of the young guys in the press box, you should always be well-dressed. I might be wrong, but I think it definitely makes it look like you belong. Now I have a weird doctrine for attire in general. I can't remember who said it, but it's something along the lines of "The better you look, the more confident you are. The more confident you are, the more you can accomplish."

 

[Batman]

I get chided by all of my colleagues for being too dressed up to cover high school games, but I could really care less. Usually a button down, some khakis and brown loafers/oxfords no matter what I'm covering. And it does indeed mask your three-day bender.

I think if you're one of the young guys in the press box, you should always be well-dressed. I might be wrong, but I think it definitely makes it look like you belong. Now I have a weird doctrine for attire in general. I can't remember who said it, but it's something along the lines of "The better you look, the more confident you are. The more confident you are, the more you can accomplish."

There's probably some truth to that statement, but I also abide by a "When in Rome..." philosophy.
If I'm covering a high school baseball or football game where I'm going to be moving around a lot, shooting pictures (and possibly sitting on the ground), sweating, getting rained on, etc., I'm going to dress down a little bit. Khaki shorts and a polo shirt, or even a solid-colored T-shirt, are plenty good for that.
If I'm covering a trial or a banquet, then, yeah, a suit and tie, or at least khakis with a button down shirt with tie, is appropriate.
If I'm going to be in an air-conditioned press box and not having to walk a lot, I can see finding a middle ground between those two. Nice shirt and khakis, similar to what I'd wear to the office every day. At a stadium, though, you're usually doing a lot of walking so I prefer jeans or khaki shorts, decent shirt, and tennis shoes.

My main goal at most events is to blend in and be a fly on the wall. I don't always want people to be able to pick the reporter out of the crowd. Whatever dress that entails, is what I shoot for. Overdress -- or underdress -- and you can easily look like an ass.
Experience has taught me that in a controlled press box setting, not looking like a total slob and not wearing team gear is usually sufficient.

 

[MeanGreenATO]

My main goal at most events is to blend in and be a fly on the wall. I don't always want people to be able to pick the reporter out of the crowd. Whatever dress that entails, is what I shoot for.

That's a great point. Just makes it easier for the parents to know where to direct their gripes about little Jimmy.

 

[Walter Lippmann]

Dress for success like these two blokes at Super Bowl Media Day.

I really have no words for the way Peter King presents himself in public. I mean, I know it’s sportswriters, so already the bar is set pretty low, but Jesus H. Christ, he dresses like the short bus dropped him off at Media Day.

Read more: http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2010/02/super-bowl-media-day-and-peter-kings-lofty-rebuke-of-our-nonsense.html#ixzz346ahAAH4

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

I'm not going to tell a grown man how to dress, but I always felt confident any time I was wearing a tie, so I liked wearing one.

 

[Rhody31]

ColdCat, stop being cheap and buy a nice pair of shoes. I mean nice - not Bostonian or Clark's. I spent a ****load on a pair of shoes and they're more comfortable than any sneakers I've ever owned.
Jeans are fine, but here's the problem - most people don't know what nice jeans look like. Don't wear Wranglers or Lee's. If they're blue, they're not good. If they taper in at the leg, they're not good. The should be straight-legged or cut out at the boot. Otherwise you look sloppy.
If you wear jeans to a golf course to cover an event at any level you deserve to get kicked off. Common sense.

 

[Double Down]

Dress shoes have come a long way in terms of comfort. You can find a number of brands damn near as comfy as sneakers. I don't judge anyone for sneakers though. Back woes are no joke.

I simply go with the sport coat/nice jeans look because I think it's the right blend of dressy casual. I wouldn't wear it if I were covering a HS game, or a golf tournament, but anything that involves going indoors (presser, pressbox, LR, interview at someone's house) it's a safe, inoffensive choice.

That said, I've gone to Ravens OTAs and training camp practices in flip flops. Not my best moment, but not deeply ashamed either. I probably wouldn't do that at a team facility where I wasn't a regular though.

 

[HanSenSE]

No problem with a pair of khakis, golf or button-down shirt and nice pair of sneakers. Got a pair of sensible shoes for special events, like a wedding, funeral or the brass coming to town. Only exception I'll make may be a long day at the ballpark in the summer. Look like a pro and, more often than not, you'll be treated the same.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

If you're going to be out in the sun for a long time and burn easily, as I do, is some sort of hat OK?

Obviously not a baseball hat with a team logo, but some sort of hat?

 

[Batman]

If you're going to be out in the sun for a long time and burn easily, as I do, is some sort of hat OK?

Obviously not a baseball hat with a team logo, but some sort of hat?

I would think so. I have a Panama Jack hat I picked up on our honeymoon years ago, and I've been busting it out more and more lately. Wide-brimmed, solid top, almost looks like a fedora. Completely neutral in terms of looks and colors, and it keeps the sun off my neck as well as my head. I can't even imagine anyone having a problem with me wearing it outdoors.
It actually looks a little silly on my head, so people chuckle at it sometimes and it's a good icebreaker, to boot.

 

[Steak Snabler]

If you're going to be out in the sun for a long time and burn easily, as I do, is some sort of hat OK?

Obviously not a baseball hat with a team logo, but some sort of hat?

Yeah, if I'm covering baseball or early-season high school football, I almost always wear a hat. My go-to is one bearing the name of a small NAIA school in another state (in my mom's hometown), so there's little chance anyone there thinks I'm some goofball homer.

On the flip side, one of the stringers at the competition used to show up to high school games wearing an LSU cap, shirt/sweatshirt and shorts. I remember the PA guy's kid excitedly saying one night "there's an LSU scout here!" His dad said, "no son, that's the guy from the [Podunk Press]."

 

[SixToe]

I've seen everything from ties and sportcoats with dress slacks and nice shoes to khaki slacks or shorts and a golf shirt to a sports editor looking like a bum wearing sweatpants and worn out sneakers.

Overdress. Look professional. If you're going to be outdoors, wear a hat or cap.