Tenerife Council Dress Code Memo Sparks T-Shirt Rebellion
A Santa Cruz de Tenerife council member sparked controversy by wearing a t-shirt to a meeting in defiance of a new dress code recommendation for official events.
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has sent out a memo to its members with clothing suggestions for official events. The goal is to ensure everyone looks professional and consistent when representing the city at things like meetings, openings, and receptions.
For men, the memo suggests a suit, light shirt, tie, and dress shoes (not sneakers). Women are advised to wear a suit, dress, or a blouse with pants or a skirt. Everyone is asked to avoid casual or athletic wear, t-shirts, strapless dresses, and shorts.
This memo didn't sit well with socialist council member Patricia Hernández. Before a recent city council meeting, she pointed out to her colleagues that she was wearing a t-shirt, going against the memo's suggestions. This caused surprise and confusion among the council members, including the mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez.
The mayor responded by saying that the memo was just a set of recommendations, not strict rules. He added, "You come in a t-shirt and I in tennis shoes, but everyone is free to choose their attire."