Standards of dress have changed enormously over the last 50 years. As an example, many years ago, when I was in my twenties I took a date (possibly my now wife) to what was then the best French restaurant in Chicago. At the time for such a formal setting customarily men wore suits and women wore dresses. Typically cocktail length but also full formals. While we were waiting to be seated, we saw (and heard) the maître d scolding one of the guests, a young woman, possible 20. She was slim and attractive and wearing a leotard without stockings or tights with a scarf twisted around her hips as an improptu skirt and the poor maître d thought she was not dressed properly. Ultimately, he let her in but I turned and whispered to my date “If she had been five years older or five pounds heavier he would have turned her away”.
Nowadays not only wouldn’t he have batted an eye but if had made bold to comment on her outfit she would be outraged.
