No pyjamas please, New Zealand cinema hall requests moviegoers
What's the story
Tired of people showing up in pyjamas, onesies and dirty gum boots, a New Zealand cinema hall has asked patrons to come "appropriately dressed" to be allowed entry. Hawera Cinema 2 took to Facebook on April 20 to announce the pyjama/onesie ban, a post that has got social media debating over how much is too much vis-a-vis comfortable dressing and fashion policing. Here's more.
The announcement
No room for pyjamas, onesies, dressing gowns or dirty gumboots
"Just a friendly reminder that we have a dress code at Hawera Cinemas, it's simple really, as long as you are appropriately dressed and are wearing clean footwear you are good to go," Hawera Cinemas wrote on Facebook. "Please no pyjamas, onesies, dressing gowns or dirty gumboots - no matter how cute they are," it added.
Reasons
'Not the vibe or environment we want to encourage'
Kirsty Bourke, manager at Hawera Cinemas 2, told BBC that an increasing number of customers were wearing bedtime attire at screenings. "It's not the vibe or environment we want to encourage," she said, questioning why cinema halls couldn't adopt a dress code when it was an accepted practice in restaurants and clubs. The new rule doesn't aim to attack anyone personally, she added.
Reaction
Hawera Cinemas' new dress rule has Facebook divided
The move by Hawera Cinemas has had FB users divided. Some have applauded its efforts. "It's amazing people need to be told to get dressed before going out," wrote Greg Burgess. However, others haven't taken its meddling so well. "Wow didn't know you guys were the fashion police, making it your business to tell your customers how to dress," wrote Paygeen Williams.
Way forward
'We will refuse entry'
Since the announcement was made over the weekend, the movie hall hasn't received any complaints yet. But despite the heated debate on Facebook, Hawera Cinemas stands firm by its decision. "If customers turn up in pyjamas, we will refuse entry," Bourke told BBC. Will it not negatively affect business? "We believe we will lose more customers by not adopting a dress code," she added.