Dress Code
Philadelphia Country Club Members enjoy the Club’s facilities in an environment where all Members are expected to follow traditions of proper attire. Respect is a key belief of the Club that requires adherence to the Member Traditions Concerning Appropriate Attire. These traditions are supported and enforced by the House Committee pursuant to Paragraph I.3, below.
With these goals in mind, the following Traditions will aid you in determining what attire is proper for Philadelphia Country Club.
1. Members and Guests, regardless of age or gender, never wear the following in any area of the Clubhouse (locker rooms, racquet sport courts, Pool, and Fitness Center excluded):
- Exposed undergarments;
- “See-through” fabric without proper lining;
- Bare midriffs;
- Dresses, shorts, skorts, or skirts with a hemline shorter then mid-thigh;
- Cargo pants, cargo shorts, joggers, or sweat pants;
- Hooded sweatshirts or hooded sports shirts;
- T-shirts;
- Clothing with large brand names, images, slogans, or logos;
- Torn, sloppy, or un-tailored clothing;
- Gentlemen never wear caps, hats, or visors within the Clubhouse or on any Terrace venue.
- Bare feet, flip-flops, or cleats.
Members only wear swimsuits and swimwear in and around the Swimming Pool and Summer House area.
2. Dining Rooms & Event Venues
Philadelphia Country Club is fortunate to offer several venues for dining and events. These venues offer different levels of formality. Therefore, Members are expected to dress appropriately for the venue they visit.
Members always consider common sense, respect for tradition, modesty, and respect for fellow Members when choosing their attire.
Children eight (8) years old and older always follow the Member Traditions Concerning Appropriate Attire.
The Grille & Grille Terrace
The Grille & Grille Terrace are Country Club Casual attire venue.
Gentlemen wear tailored slacks or Bermuda-length shorts, and appropriate shoes.
Gentlemen never wear untucked shirts.
Gentlemen always wear collared shirts.
Ladies wear classic, modest, tasteful, and tailored outfits, with appropriate shoes or summer sandals.
Members may wear appropriate tennis whites on Tuesday – Thursday for the entire day and Friday through Sunday only until 5:00 p.m.
Members may wear neatly tailored jeans. Members never wear jeans that are frayed, torn, ripped, or bleached.
Members always use the utmost discretion with regard to jeans.
Children under eighteen (18) years old may wear school athletic uniforms in the Grille.
The Bullitt Bistro & Terrace
The Bullitt Bistro & Terrace are Country Club Casual attire venues.
Gentlemen wear tailored slacks or Bermuda-length shorts, and appropriate shoes.
Gentlemen never wear untucked shirts.
Gentlemen always wear collared shirts.
Members may wear appropriate tennis whites until 5:00 p.m.
Ladies wear classic, modest, tasteful, and tailored outfits, with appropriate shoes or summer sandals.
Members may wear neatly tailored jeans. Members never wear jeans that are frayed, torn, ripped, or bleached. Members always use the utmost discretion with regard to jeans.
The 1890 Room
The 1890 Room is a Traditional attire venue.
Gentlemen always wear jackets in the 1890 Room. Neckties are encouraged.
Ladies wear classic, modest, tasteful, tailored outfits, and dress shoes.
Members never wear untucked shirts, shorts, sporting attire, or jeans in the 1890 Room.
Other Venues, Special Events, and Traditional Events
Other venues include the Ballroom, Polo Room, Gladwyne Room, Rosewood Room, and Founders’ Room, all of which are used primarily for special events.
Special events include, but are not limited to, Dinner Dances, Members-Guest Sporting Events, Gourmet Wine Dinners, and Happy Hours. The House Committee and Club Staff shall determine and publish the applicable dress code for these venues and special events on an event-by-event basis. Members always adhere to the dress code set forth for these events.
Traditional events include New Year’s Day Open House, the Annual Meeting, Easter, Mother’s Day, the Invitational Dinner Dance, and the Annual Christmas events. Gentlemen over the age of twelve (12) always to wear a jacket to these Traditional events, unless otherwise specified by the House Committee and Club Staff. Ladies wear attire commensurate with the gentlemen’s jacket requirement to these Traditional events.
Gentlemen never wear untucked shirts to any Special or Traditional event.
Gentlemen always wear collared shirts to Special or Traditional events.
The Fitness Center
Members always wear appropriate fitness attire while using the Fitness Center. Members may wear appropriate shorts, sweats, t-shirts and sport shoes. Members never wear clothing with bare midriffs or visible undergarments, including sports bra tops. Members may wear properly fitting tank tops that are non-revealing and not altered from their original form (i.e. no cut-offs).
Members never use heavy perfumes and cologne while using the Fitness Center.
3. Enforcement
Members are aware that all matters pertaining to the Clubhouse are under the House Committee’s jurisdiction. The House Committee enforces the foregoing Traditions. The House Committee entrusts the Club Staff with the same enforcement authority, in the Staff’s capacity as agents of the House Committee.
Members understand that the foregoing Traditions are neither all-inclusive nor dispositive, due to the subjective nature of fashion and personal tastes. The House Committee reserves the right to assess Members’ dress code decisions on a case-by-case basis. Further, the House Committee insists that Members respect any dress code decisions rendered by Club Staff, and Members are reminded to direct any questions to the Manager on Duty, and if unresolved, to the House Committee.
Members assume the responsibility to inform their Guests as to the Member Traditions concerning appropriate attire. Members always assist their Guests to be certain that the Guest adheres to the Member Traditions Concerning Appropriate Attire and to follow the Staff’s instructions should the Guest fail to do so.
Revised March 28, 2023