What to pack for Las Vegas

In general, daytime dressing is casual and in the evening, no sequin is spared. There are some nuances here, though.

“Resort casual” is what you’ll see people aiming for: collared shirts and shorts or pants for men, and dresses or shorts with a cute top for women. You can get away with wearing T-shirts and jeans or casual shorts and flip-flops during the day.

But Las Vegas dresses up at night. For men, think button-down shirts and pants or a suit. For women, the expectation is glammed up – this is where you can wear that bandage dress and the 7-inch heels you bought on a whim and never wore. The sky’s the limit for women, as long as it looks like you put some thought into it.

You’ll do a surprising amount of walking in Las Vegas, even if you never leave your own resort. So wear comfortable footwear. You will inevitably, in your time here, see someone who has given up on her platform heels and is limping barefoot across the casino floor. You’re encouraged to not be that woman. A Vegas pro move is tucking a pair of foldable flats into your bag before a long evening.

Very few restaurants in Las Vegas still require dinner jackets, but you might be surprised to know that some formal restaurants have a “pants closet” at the ready for men who come in wearing shorts. Men wear everything from business casual to full suits and women wear the gamut. But what’s more important than what to wear in the evening is knowing what not to wear: baggy jeans, hats, beachwear, flip flops.

Las Vegas is among the top five sunniest cities in the US, and because of the city’s elevation, it often ranks high on the UV index. So even if you don’t regularly apply sunscreen, this is where you’ll want to start. If you’re in and out of a pool, you’ll want to keep applying. Bring a big hat for taking walks along the Strip or going out to the pool. Many a Vegas vacation has been ruined by overdoing the sun on day one.

Las Vegas has a fashion-conscious pool scene and people bring their fashion A-game to pool parties and beach clubs. Just be cognizant of where you are: at an adults-only pool or European (read: topless) pool, you’re fine to uncover—not at the family pool. You won’t shock people in Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean you should try. You may even be asked to cover up if you’re showing too much skin.

Some pools are explicit: Leave the Speedo at home. Many pools don’t allow jeans, some don’t allow athletic clothing or shoes, and quite a few don’t even allow pants. The code is generally “fashionable beachwear,” which means trunks or shorts and shirts for men and a bathing suit and cover-up for women. And in some hotels, you’re required to wear a cover-up between your hotel room and the pool. Again, this is not the place to go without shoes.

Las Vegas regularly reaches temperatures of above 100ºF in the summer, and although it cools down in the evening, there are plenty of summer months in which the high temps still hang on until late. So bring breathable clothes for the summer months. Especially in the summer months, be prepared for some major temperature shifts. Las Vegas casinos love their A/C, and it can get chilly inside. Bringing another layer is always a good idea.

Many people are surprised at how cold winter in Las Vegas can be. Daytime highs in December and January average in the 50ºsF, and nighttime lows often plunge below 30ºF. So if you’re coming in the winter months, bring a coat and/or additional layers.

The spring and fall in the Mojave Desert typically feel like other places’ summers, so you’ll likely be right at home wearing summer clothes between March and October.

The aesthetic for nightclubs is this: Dress to impress. If you’re at one of the higher-end clubs, you’ll see women in evening wear and cocktail dresses. At most nightclubs, women wear sexy nightclub wear. In other words, you can’t really overdress here. Your sequined dress may be too blingy at home, but it’ll fit right in on a Saturday night.

Men do need to adhere to a specific set of nightclub wear rules in Las Vegas, and most clubs post a formalized dress code on their sites. Usually, this means no sneakers, baseball caps, sports shoes, baggy jeans, or too many chains. T-shirts are officially off-limits, but you can get away with fashion T-shirts in many clubs. Especially in the higher-end clubs, you’ll want to wear a button-down shirt and at least bring a jacket.

To those with tattoos: Some beach clubs reserve the right to remove you for excessive or offensive tattoos. Cover them up.

A good thing to remember in Las Vegas: When you step outside your hotel room door, you’re on camera. Even though Las Vegas dress standards are on the permissive side, that doesn’t mean you want to be the entertainment. Leave the torn clothing and baggy jeans at home and make sure your clothes fit.

For day clubs and pool parties, check the rules. Many don’t allow sprays of any kind, eye drops, medications (prescription or otherwise), wearable technology, or liquids—including liquid makeup.

Yes, marijuana is legal here and you can have up to an ounce on each person (keep in mind that it may be confiscated at a nightclub). But smoking in public is a misdemeanor and carries a fine of $600. And no, you can’t smoke it in your hotel room.