Another traditional male-dominated arena that us girls are slowly annexing is the casino. We're not talking about your grubby pub back rooms where ne'er-do-wells gather to exchange crumpled fivers over a few hands of five card-stud (whatever that is). We're talking glitz and glamour – casinos with red carpets where you're more likely to bump into a celeb than the local nut case.
Take London's Hippodrome Casino, for example. You've no doubt heard of it – it was once as famous a venue for cabaret and entertainment as The Palladium. Well, people stopped wanting cabaret acts as the 1970s drew to a close, so it was turned into nightclub by that rocking dinosaur Peter Stringfellow. A curb on drinking permits saw that venture close in 2005, but in 2012 it was relaunched as “The Hippodrome Casino”. It was opened by comedy mayor Boris Johnson, but that shouldn't put you off. The casino is operated by PokerStars and FullTilt, and won the Best Land-based Casino at the 2013 Totally Gaming Awards.
If you're heading for a night out around Leicester Square, you might consider nipping into the Hippodrome Casino for a quick flutter but you might be a tad flummoxed about what to wear.
For guys, it's easy – a tux or a suit – but what about us ladies?
There's a definite buzz going around for 1920s fashion at the moment, inspired – I think – by Baz Luhrman's remake of The Great Gatsby. You could gather together your own Gatsby-inspired outfit. Think flapper dresses and dust off the set of pearls your gran left you. Wear your hair in a tight pin curl with a bejewelled hairpin if you have one.
If the 1920s don't do it for you, your favorite cocktail dress or just a short formal dress will be more than enough. Simply yet stylish is the key – don't go over the top with either accessories or make up. A single necklace or a pair of jewelled earrings will just add the right amount of extra glitz to your outfit.If you look good in a casino, you'll feel good too. Dress to impress but create the right impression as well. You'll want to be taken seriously, as there's serious money to be won. It's all about getting that cash from the pockets of the men folk and into our clutch bags!
