Marylebone Cricket Club, the spiritual guardian of the laws of cricket, has issued a guide with pictorial examples on dress regulations in parts of Lord’s cricket stadium.
Lord’s is owned by the MCC, founded in 1787 and considered the world’s most famous cricket club.
“Dress regulations have been in force for parts of the stadium, like the Pavilion and members’ stands, for many years now,” MCC spokesperson Neil Priscott said, when asked why the club issued a pictorial guide for the first time in its 225-year history.
Bare torsos, bare feet and dilapidated and offensive clothes are a strict no-no, the club rules say. MCC members and visitors to the Pavilion and Long Room must be dressed smartly: “Gentlemen shall wear lounge suits or tailored jacket and trousers, shirt, tie or cravat and shoes with socks.” Polo shirts, T-shirts or anything in denim is banned; so are sandals, shoes without socks, shorts, tracksuits and garments in military camouflage colours.
The MCC, which admitted women members in 1999, has strict guidelines for women too: “Ladies should wear dresses; or skirts/trousers (which may be cropped below the knee) or culottes, with blouses or smart tops and shoes, bo-ots or sandals.”
Bare midriffs are, how-ever, totally out at the Pavilion. Bikini tops, leggings without a skirt over the top, strapless dresses or tops, anything in denim, jodhpur-style trousers, T-shirts, track suits, training shoes, plimsolls, flip-flop shoes and overalls are not allowed.