Monaco restaurant refused her a seat for being underdressed — so wrapped their tablecloth around her and left them with no choice
Mogilko borrowed a tablecloth and turned into a fashionista in seconds
Monaco, a tiny city, is squeezed into less than 0.8 square mile (2.08 square kilometers) of the French Riviera — yet for high rollers and hedonists, it is full of wealthy elegance and lavish charm, including its fashion. The tourists in flowy sundresses flocking in luxury yachts at the harbor; workers in crisp shirts snagging ravioli and pizza-like tarts at terrace-top cafes; tourists rumbling in gleaming casinos; and women entering gold-leaf-clad salons — every outfit screams upscale fashion. When entrepreneur Marina Mogilko (@siliconvalleygirl) visited Monaco, she was probably not aware of the fashion code. A restaurant didn’t allow her entry because she was wearing shorts. On June 30, 2026, she shared how she used a tablecloth to solve the problem, depicting a Met Gala-worthy style statement. Her video has received 7.9 million views on Instagram.
Tablecloth to the rescue
When Mogilko didn’t get entry to her desired restaurant, she walked into another restaurant and asked for help. “I need help. I wanted to go to that place, but they wouldn’t let me in my shorts,” she explained to someone who seemed like a restaurant worker. Mogilko then requested if she could borrow one of the white tablecloths, promising to return it afterward.
The restaurant worker agreed, and she immediately unrolled the linen, wrapped it around her waist, and tucked it in, making it look like a wrap skirt. The DIY skirt complemented her black tank top and a printed neck scarf, turning her into a fashionista in seconds. As expected, Mogilko reached the restaurant, where she was denied entry. Since she had already eaten, she decided to order some dessert. “If a girl wants to get something, she finds a way,” she exclaimed in a comment.
Tiny town with a big fashion
Being a sophisticated region, Monaco has its own dress code and fashion etiquette, which differs in various settings. In restaurant settings, particularly, women are required to doll up in elegant attire, such as a knee-length or long dress, per MonacoPratique. Other acceptable attire options include a dressy blouse with a nice skirt or trousers, professional makeup, and demure jewelry. Most restaurants adhere to these formal dining standards. Although Mogilko’s dress didn’t fit this etiquette, her creative problem-solving quickly resolved the issue. Her witty imagination affirms the PISA 2022 report, which found that females scored 3 points more than males in creative thinking.
'Creative mind'
Meanwhile, reacting to Mogilko’s video, @monicakhan__ said, "Only you can pull this off Marina!" @innaua wrote, "So you were not allowed in shorts. How about men? Were they allowed in shorts?" @dollhouseconcierge pointed out, "But there's a man in a graphic t-shirt behind you? Make it make sense."
You can follow Marina Mogilko (@siliconvalleygirl) on Instagram for content related to entrepreneurship, travel, and lifestyle.
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