When we posted about popped collars in October 2004, the people were divided. While some decried the practice as a “pointless fashion trend” reliving a short reprise from its heyday in the 1980s, other readers (and at least one DCist) defended it as a harmless variation in the otherwise bleak world of men’s fashion.

The whole issue had slipped from our consciousness until we noticed this sign outside of Cafe Saint-Ex last Friday. After a brief hipster affiliation the bar has long been overrun on weekends by crowds that include many sporting preppie looks – including popped collars. Even Jenna Bush has swung through to cut loose at the bar’s Gate 54 club. Apparently this clientele will now have to modify their behavior to get in, but the sign doesn’t explain whether the “social poppers” whose collars “inexplicably” turn themselves up in the course of the evening we discussed in 2004 face ejection.

Our smoking ban coverage has shown us that people can get pretty irate about exclusionary policies enacted by bars. We at DCist can’t seem to agree about the merits of a smoking ban, but now that our most vocal defenders of popped collars has departed the staff we can applaud one of our favorite watering holes for taking a stand against a disturbing trend. We just wonder what’s next: bans on loafers or Lacoste?