Opera attire?

[carynb]

So, Mr. M & I have tickets to Carmen in a few weeks, and I've got a little dilemma.

What exactly is appropriate attire for an opera these days, anyway?

I was thinking a little black dress for me, and a sport coat & nice shirt for M, but will that have us overdressed? Underdressed? Has anybody been to a performance at the Canadian Opera Company recently and can give me some guidelines? I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Comments

[lordzowy.livejournal.com]

As far as I'm concerned, an event like that should be dressed up. Every time I go to the TSO or anything that I would consider cultural, I dress up, nice pants, good shirt and shoes.

However I also wish that we were back in the 30’s and 40’s for up scale attire. Where men and women dressed in suites and dresses just to leave the house. Ah.. for simpler times.

Anyway, I haven't been to an Opera yet, but if the other events that I have gone to are any indication, jeans and T-shirts are worn. Whether that’s acceptable is up to you I guess. I make sure that I look nice. If that means that the event warrants the suite then that’s what I wear.

[zoarazul.livejournal.com]

As long as you don't take your shoes off part way through the performance (as was done by the malodorous fellow sitting next to me when I saw the Tallis Scholars at Roy Thomson Hall) you'll be fine. :-)

For these kinds of events I usually dress as "job interview plus" where the "plus" is some style statement (scarf, etc.) that might be a little to swishy for an actual job interview.

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Okay, thanks. *g* That gives me an idea of kinda what to wear, anyway.

I miss the days when going to the Opera/Symphony/Ballet meant dressing to the nines - the last time I was at the ballet, half the audience was in jeans...

[lordzowy.livejournal.com]

Thats what I was talking about, its going down hill for nice clothes and nice events.

[race29girl.livejournal.com]

We haven't gone to the opera or ballet for a long time but when we did, we always dressed up. I always wore a nice dress and halfabee always wore a suit. The sport coat and shirt would always work if M doesn't have a suit.

I always enjoyed and thought it was appropriate to dress up when going out to the ballet or opera. After all, how often do we really get the chance.

To my amazement however I have seen everything from tuxes and very formal attire right down to track pants worn. Its surprising what some people deem appropriate.

Hope this has helped.

[suburban-mom.livejournal.com]

so, while I agree that formal attire is de rigeur for the Opera......my question is why?

Why do so many people feel the need to dress up to take in a performance of any sort?

[carynb.livejournal.com]

Why do so many people feel the need to dress up to take in a performance of any sort?

I think people feel the need to dress to match the atmosphere of the performance, more than anything. You wear a hockey jersey to a sports game, goth-ish gear to Nine Inch Nails concert (or, at the very least, jeans & a black t-shirt rather than office wear) and something dressy to a "classical" performance.

Part of it is getting yourself into the right mindset for the performance, I think. It's part of psyching up for it. And part of it's just social convention, if course.

Personally, I'm extremely shy, and have a very strong dislike of standing out for any reason. I'm really a classic wallflower, and am usually happiest - especially in large crowds - when I can fade into the background. The easiest way to do that is to dress the same way everyone else does. It's camouflage. *g*