Our Dress Code

Recent violations of the Rose & Thorn Dress code have prompted us to review the dress code policy.  We have determined that in order to continue the quality of our gatherings we need to reassert dress code enforcement. 

Please read this entire policy, whether you are a new member or a long-time one. It’s important: you don’t want to run the risk of being turned away at the door. What follows has been adopted by the Core Group as Official Rose and Thorn Policy. Our thanks to Roger for clarifying/rewriting the policy.

The Dress for Rose & Thorn Gatherings:

Rose & Thorn gatherings are dress-up affairs and casual dress is not appropriate. Our dress code allows a lot of flexibility you can wear your choice of Fantasy dress, Fetish theme Dress and/or dressy outfits/costumes. Also welcome: semi-formal evening dress, nice blouses, military type clothing/costumes (brush shined or polished boots), skirts, button down shirts, ties and slacks, dresses; formal evening dress (gowns or suits), dress Business attire, or a blend all of these. Scottish dress kilts or "schoolgirl" type skirts are quite welcome. BDSM/biker type leathers, harnesses, and chaps are welcome. You are welcome to dress quite revealingly; we ask that you cover your crotch.

A guiding principle: If you lack fetish type clothing, dress as thought you were going to an important evening dress event in a semi-formal to formal setting. Wedding reception or awards dinner, etc.

The following are NOT allowed: blue jeans, sweat pants, baseball caps, old sneakers, Flannel/plaid shirts, etc.

Hint, if it is worn at a super bowl party, during routine car repairs, or to clean out a dirty attic we probably don’t want to see it at a Rose & Thorn party.

Those inappropriately dress will be asked to leave and come back when properly attired. If you have a question with regard to this policy, please feel free to ask, but read the rest of this document first.

A trench coat is quite useful here, or you are welcome to arrive in Vanilla clothing if you plan on changing in to more appropriate clothing for the party a space will be provided for this. Use common sense, and dress for the weather. If you don’t want to walk alone from your parking place to the party, park as close to the house as you can put on your hazard lights run up to the door and ask the greeter at the door for an escort, one will be arranged for you, pronto.

Visit one of the many area second-hand shops for some great values on evening appropriate clothing. It is amazing what you can do with a very small amount of money, and a little imagination. For more information consult the yellow pages under "Clothing - Secondhand".

You can squeak by with a quality button down or dress type shirt and a decent pair of pants, perhaps with a jacket, a black turtleneck would be acceptable. A shirt and a tie will also get you by. Show us an effort and some imagination.

If you show up inappropriately attired, you’ll be asked to leave and come back when you’re properly attired.

However, if you really want to dress vanilla you can attend the VSK (Vermont Society of Kink) soirées. Here you are REQUIRED to dress "vanilla" because they are held in the public eye and are intended to be much more low-key. Visit them at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VTSocietyofKink