Appropriate attire for the symphony

[hweikel888]

Hello! I'll be heading to a performance at the San Francisco Synmphony in a few weeks, and I was curious as to the appropriate level of formality. As a student, I have with me a navy suit, a tweed SC, some odd trousers ranging from light grey to brown, and shirts in all the usual colors. The suit jacket actually works really well on its own, to the point that it would seem like a normal navy blazer with horn buttons. I have a few pocket squares and ties in brown, grey, purple, black, and a nice cashmere navy bow tie from drakes... Shoes are a tad more limited with my brown brogued captoe oxfords, but I could always grab some plain black captoes.

What would you recommend from this assortment, or is it a mandatory evening wear only sort of event?

 

[emptym]

When I've been, people have worn anything from jeans to suits, possibly tuxes. I'd probably wear a sport coat and no tie.

 

[unbelragazzo]

I've never been to the symphony in SF, so this is based on my experiences elsewhere in the US, but I would guess pretty accurate for SF too.

There will be a wide diversity of dress, especially if you're going on the weekend or, god forbid, a matinee. You'll probably see somebody there in a polo shirt, maybe even shorts. You'll see plenty of people in suit and tie too. Unless it's opening night or something, it's unlikely anyone will be in black tie. Especially since you're young, no one will feel like you're being disrespectful if you are wearing tweed.

But why not just wear the navy suit? It's the easiest, simplest, and most elegant thing to do. If you are going with people that you think will be dressed very informally, then you may choose to tone it down a bit. But if everyone else is at least wearing a jacket, then the navy suit would be my choice. White shirt, white pocket square, black punchcaps are fine, and a conservative tie. The black and grey ones sounds promising.

 

[emptym]

The West Coast is much more casual than the East. When I taught at GU, at least 80% or of the faculty wore coat and tie. Here, it's maybe 20%. IIRC, the same number will wear that at the SF symphony, but it's been a couple years since I've gone.

Edit: just asked my wife, who's been there more than I have. She thinks up to half will wear coat and tie.

 

[unbelragazzo]



Edit: just asked my wife, who's been there more than I have. She thinks up to half will wear coat and tie.

That sounds about right. I've been to the symphony in San Diego, which is more casual than San Francisco, and there were still plenty of people in coat and tie. The crowd there tilts way older though.

 

[MyOtherLife]



When I've been, people have worn anything from jeans to suits, possibly tuxes. I'd probably wear a sport coat and no tie.

Agreed verbatim.

 

[hweikel888]

Thank you all! I think I'll go with the navy suit and pick either a simple knit tie or no tie, depending on the attire of my date.

 

[unbelragazzo]



Thank you all! I think I'll go with the navy suit and pick either a simple knit tie or no tie, depending on the attire of my date.

Suit with no tie is what you wear when you don't know what you're supposed to wear and are trying to hedge. It's the uniform of the dressed down politician. If you're going to wear the suit, just wear a tie. If you don't want to wear a tie, then wear your tweed or maybe the suit jacket and some nice chinos.

 

[hweikel888]

Would a pink shirt and a deep brown that goes well with the navy be alright? I could always stick to a white shirt.

 

[unbelragazzo]



Would a pink shirt and a deep brown that goes well with the navy be alright? I could always stick to a white shirt.

Pink/brown probably not a disaster, although it depends on the shades and it's not the best with black shoes. I'd just stick to the white shirt.

 

[mezentius]

Why not try to mix up some SC/chino/tie combos? Navy looks good, but it's not exactly the most creative thing in the world, and I daresay you'd have some leeway when going to the symphony as a student. Save the navy for when you can't wear other things.

 

[Veremund]

Navy suit, white shirt, black knit tie. Be the best looking dude not on the stage. Others will look at you and decide to dress better themselves next time.

 

[GBR]

Entirely your choice these days, people will wear the broadest variety of clothes doubtless shaded by the price of their seats and those that they are with.

 

[idfnl]

Keep it simple, wear the blue suit, shirt and tie.