The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[dan'l]

It gives me an excuse to finally wear black tie.

We have nice floor seats (Parkett) and it seems a shame not to fully enjoy the experience. I also think it is matter of respect to the performers and other guests when deciding what to wear. I guess I can understand students in the standing area wearing jeans, but I want to dress like an adult.

 

[UrbanComposition]

Welp, I guess I'll eat crow, because the dudes at the opening gala for SF Ballet in at the Opera House and City Hall turned out quite sharp. Sure, most were not strictly correct, but you can tell that most guys really stepped up their game. Many people commented on how they had never seen so many "tuxedos", and while I could've argued, the whole scene just made me happy. Everyone looked great.

Having said that, this is StyleForum, so...I'll post the pics soon and let the debates begin

 

[Zerase]

The guy you talked to in the Ripense was looking really really sharp.

 

[UrbanComposition]

The guy you talked to in the Ripense was looking really really sharp.

He was easily the most "correct" and he looked fantastic.

 

[UrbanComposition]

So keep in mind these are real people, who don't trouble themselves with particulars, so be nice. Everyone looked great, but man, the women were smashing. Obviously they aren't beholden to any real code except to look awesome and they did.

 

[UrbanComposition]

 

[UrbanComposition]

 

[UrbanComposition]

...and here's the last of them.

 

[UrbanComposition]

Despite many outfits falling outside strict black tie canon, all in all I was impressed, and it was truly something to be surrounded by so many people trying their best to dress to the nines. Hopefully I'll go again next year.

 

[Andy57]

Awesome pictures, Peter! So sad I missed out on this event. I see you got a photo of Betty Yu--she always looks great!

 

[Zerase]

Judging by the pictures, the older audience dressed much much better than the younger. Also really nice to see a proper white tie ensamble.

 

[smittycl]

Smashing!

 

[Van Veen]

Welp, I guess I'll eat crow, because the dudes at the opening gala for SF Ballet in at the Opera House and City Hall turned out quite sharp. Sure, most were not strictly correct, but you can tell that most guys really stepped up their game. Many people commented on how they had never seen so many "tuxedos", and while I could've argued, the whole scene just made me happy. Everyone looked great.

Having said that, this is StyleForum, so...I'll post the pics soon and let the debates begin

I have a ("younger") friend who attended that. I believe he wore a velvet DJ with what looked like the correct accoutrements, including a nice set of MOP studs. (I take that back... I don't think he wore a cummerbund, which is unfortunately out of style with millennials and younger). He'd probably get shredded on SF though, knowing this place. (He did not make your retrospective.)

 

[Van Veen]

It gives me an excuse to finally wear black tie.

We have nice floor seats (Parkett) and it seems a shame not to fully enjoy the experience. I also think it is matter of respect to the performers and other guests when deciding what to wear. I guess I can understand students in the standing area wearing jeans, but I want to dress like an adult.

Nowadays non-profit performing arts organizations do not want to discourage anyone from coming in the interest of audience development. For example, this is from the Seattle Symphony website: "Whether it's Birkenstocks or a ball gown, please wear whatever makes you feel comfortable."

So, my advice (in general, not to you specifically) is just enjoy the show, and don't get worked up about what other patrons are wearing. Ultimately it's better for the organization and for the arts in general to cast a wide net.

 

[am55]

Nowadays non-profit performing arts organizations do not want to discourage anyone from coming in the interest of audience development. For example, this is from the Seattle Symphony website: "Whether it's Birkenstocks or a ball gown, please wear whatever makes you feel comfortable."

So, my advice (in general, not to you specifically) is just enjoy the show, and don't get worked up about what other patrons are wearing. Ultimately it's better for the organization and for the arts in general to cast a wide net.

I remember having this conversation with the head of a national youth orchestra, who wanted to clothe the players in T-shirts in bright colours with primary school patterns. He thought it'd make the whole thing more approachable, popular, and ultimately impressive. The players were against the idea as concerts were very special occasions for them and to wear street clothes took away from the spirit. From later talking with the very audience targeted by such moves, they also considered going to "the symphony" a special occasion worth dressing up for.

The real way to make classical music accessible is to make it affordable. I used to go to the ROH as a broke student thanks to the 10 GBP tickets (couple of times in black tie), the Proms were even cheaper, but the cheap seats were not necessarily less well dressed. Here in Asia, a Vienna Philharmonic visit will be milked thoroughly with tickets starting at $250, sometimes $400, and I remember seeing Mehta conducting them in the Rite of Spring for almost a hundredth of that...