Undress code

An undress code is commonly used as the opposite of a dress code, restricting or prohibiting the wearing of clothing. In this sense, undress codes are common in many public swimming facilities for sanitary reasons. These rules restrict persons using the facilities to specific types of bathing suits. Also, historically, undress is a category of dress codes (see this section of dress code) Undress codes that prohibit clothing altogether (enforcing nudity) are less common. They are limited to (i) nudist recreation facilities in the US and western Europe (ii) cultural traditions which encourage nudity in some German and Scandinavian sauna or steam baths, (iii) traditional dress in some cultures in Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia/Oceania and (iv) pertinent religious traditions, as was the case with the ancient Indian Gymnosophists or the Christian sect of the Adamites (the custom is still practised by ascetics of certain Indian religions, as in Jainism).

Laws in many countries that require a person to undress when requested to do so by a customs - or police officer, usually to find illegal drugs or weapons on a suspect during the strip search, may also be considered a type of undress code, because the person in question is required by law to remove their clothing, but that is normally kept as short and discreet as possible, not publicly.

References

* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article619936.ece The undress code that’s the height of teen fashion] From The Times August 26, 2006