Dress Code

For such an elegant dance , you will probably get a lot hotter dancing Tango than you think you will. Although it is not that aerobic, dancing Tango is demanding, and you should bear this in mind in your choice of clothes as well as ensuring you can keep fresh throughout the evening. As a general rule, the Tango Community make quite an effort to look their best, especially at Milongas, where you really can ‘go to town’ dress-wise if you want to.

One general point – please avoid wearing anything that could damage your partner’s clothing, for example large belt buckles, brooches, pins, coarse sequins etc. or anything with sharp edges that can snag.

Ladies

Ladies have the advantage that they can choose clothes that are cool to wear and still look very elegant. Loose flowing skirts or dresses are advised to be able to move without restriction. Or if the skirt area is tight it should have an open access down the side seam/s to allow free movement.

A word of warning with dress lengths – if the dress is too long at the back you may find you will catch the heel of your shoe in the fabric.

Jeans and trousers are adequate, but again, the fabric needs to be giving enough to allow the legs to extend with ease, and your shoes do not catch the trouser leg fabric.

Men

Serious Tangueros care about how they look. At Milongas in Buenos Aires – where it’s often hot and the air conditioning poor – men often wear suits. For Tango events in the UK men sometimes wear jackets, some go for a retro look with a waistcoat, but you will get hot. Shirts and smart t-shirts are very suitable with a decent pair of trousers. There is no regulation colour although many choose black.

It is not appropriate to wear singlets or shorts – even if it is very hot. If you’re the perspiring type, make sure you have a supply of clean shirts to change as the evening progresses. You may also wish to keep a small towel in you bag to freshen your face regularly. You can read more about these aspects in the Etiquette and Personal Hygiene pages.