Does Your Pool Need a Dress Code?

By Sharon McLoone

Most folks headed to the pool grab a towel, a bathing suit, sunscreen and maybe some goggles and flip-flops.

But in Washington, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation has issued a guide of acceptable pool wear after enough District residents showed up this season to swim, but weren't wearing appropriate swim attire.

Does your pool need a dress code?

"'Street clothes', Brazil/French-cut, thong style and/or revealing swim wear, cut-off jeans, jeans, skirts, shorts, sport bras, leotards, leggings, dri-fit wear, compression shorts and compression shirts are prohibited," according to a DPR statement. "Underwear and undergarments are not allowed to be worn under swimsuits."

A spokesman for Parks and Rec told WTOP that because the pools are free, they usually fill to capacity and some residents stop by on a whim, without preparing for a pool outing.

"They really want to know, 'Why can't I wear my cutoffs in the pool? Why can't I just wear what I want to wear?'" spokesman John Stokes said. "It can lead to being unsafe."

The new guide says: "Street clothes (especially cotton) can transport airborne and ultimately water-borne contaminants into the pool."

It's not an issue in places where residents and non-residents have to pay an admission fee. Alexandria Parks and Recreation spokesman David Miller told WTOP that because residents have to plan around coming to the pool (they pay a fee of $2 to $5), they arrive in appropriate swim attire.

McLean does your pool need a dress code too?