TUXEDO
The ultimate in men's refinement. Aside from being in a wedding party, how often does a man get a chance to wear one in his lifetime? Very few. Most men don't even own one. Having the tuxedo as the dress code at lodge is the only way to achieve uniformity. The only way to truly meet on the level. As a lodge, decide which style of tuxedo to wear, ideally strike a discount deal with a local menswear store, and attend lodge like a bunch of pretty penguins.
Pros: Uniformity. Achieving the highest standard.
Cons: Price, maintenance. Can appear to be snobby.
COAT & TIE
The standard for most lodges in the US are off-the-rack suits. They're relatively inexpensive, and every man of a certain age owns, or at least should, at least one. The biggest downsides to the traditional suit are the wide variety of styles and colors, and the temptation to "dress down" by not including a coat or tie. Silly ties (Spongebob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, etc) and accessories are also a distraction.
Pros: Affordability, accessibility.
Cons: Several "tiers" of style and acceptance.
BUSINESS CASUAL
Slacks, typically khakis, paired with a polo or button down shirt. Again, the slippery slope of fashion applies here. The category is too wide to effectively manage across budgets and age groups, and runs the risk of becoming "too business" or "too casual". Older members will inevitably don wild colored, large pattern shirts that belong at a Hawaiian luau. A lodge uniform shirt could be used here, with everyone wearing matching, embroidered polo shirts.
Pros: Business, but casual.
Cons: Business, but casual.
COME AS YOU ARE/CASUAL
The biggest argument for the free-for-all dress code is that the clothes don't make the man. Inner, not outer, and all that jazz. Butts in seats are more important than dress codes. I say, show me where casual dress code lodges have higher attendance, and I'll concede. The hot button issue here is where to draw the line. Do you allow jeans? Do you allow holes in those jeans? Metallica t-shirts?
Pros: Cheap, comfortable.
Cons: Can appear to be shabby, nothing special about the Craft.
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Clothes do make the man. It's common for women to pamper themselves with hair, nails, and a day of shopping. Have you ever done that, as a man? I would implore you to make a day of it by going to a men's barber shop for a hot, straight razor shave and haircut, followed by being fitted for a new suit. You will not only look like, but feel like a million bucks. You should do this at least once per year, and every men's store has a big sale at some point during the year, which is the perfect time. That feeling will return every time you put on that suit.
Most of us don't get to dress up for anything anymore. Even a lot of churches have adopted more casual dress codes in recent years, which aside from funerals and weddings, was the only place a lot of men had to dress up. A lot of men simply don't like it. They complain that their tie is too tight, when the reality is, they haven't been properly fitted for collar size. They complain that suits are hot or itchy, but haven't looked at the wide variety of fabric choices available. There is a difference between a summer and winter suit, fellas. Don't wear the wool one in July.