What to wear at the opera?

[jakeyt]

I live in San Francisco, so the opera scene is pretty relaxed. But I want to impress my date(s) a bit. I don't own a tux, and renting one seems maybe a bit unnecessary. However, what about a lounge suit? If so, what should I wear? Grey suit, dark blue tie? Light blue shirt? Dark red tie? Dark shoes?

 

[Caustic Man]

The first time I went to the opera I was 18 years old. I saw Don Giovanni and I wore a leather motorcycle jacket studded with spikes and I had a mohawk. True story.

 

[greger]

Must have been a happy opera. Every time Don Giovanni looked your way he must have had a hard time not laughing.

 

[Murlsquirl]

I've been to an Opera in SF and like you said, it is pretty relaxed. If you just want to impress your date, put together your best fitting and tasteful fit. Feel free to post pictures here of what you are considering.

 

[jakeyt]

Something like this without the pocket square, wide spread collar

 

[comrade]



I live in San Francisco, so the opera scene is pretty relaxed. But I want to impress my date(s) a bit. I don't own a tux, and renting one seems maybe a bit unnecessary. However, what about a lounge suit? If so, what should I wear? Grey suit, dark blue tie? Light blue shirt? Dark red tie? Dark shoes?

Relaxed compared to where else in the Bay Area?
I go several times a season and attend numerous other Classical
concert and the SF Opera is by far the dressiest music venue.

 

[jakeyt]

From sfopera.com: "Dress in whatever it is that makes you feel comfortable and at your best."

 

[Trompe le Monde]



Relaxed compared to where else in the Bay Area?
I go several times a season and attend numerous other Classical
concert and the SF Opera is by far the dressiest music venue.

even here in vienna where they know a little bit about opera, the dress standard du jour is basically whatever you were walking around the city in.

 

[GBR]

Don't try too hard, the woman (or man) will not thank you for being the odd man out.

 

[9thsymph]

Wear the nicest version of what you normally wear. DO NOT RENT A TUX. EVER. FOR ANYTHING!

 

[comrade]



even here in vienna where they know a little bit about opera, the dress standard du jour is basically whatever you were walking around the city in.

even here in vienna where they know a little bit about opera, the dress standard du jour is basically whatever you were walking around the city in.

Trust me, I've been to both Operas, including the Volksoper.
Vienna is dressier than San Francisco. At least on the basis of a much
smaller Vienna sample.

 

[Trompe le Monde]



Trust me, I've been to both Operas, including the Volksoper.
Vienna is dressier than San Francisco. At least on the basis of a much
smaller Vienna sample.

In magnitude of events for people it's a side distraction in their daily lives that ranks about the same as going for coffee.
So they stop in after work, a day of shopping, etc. (And there's a big part from walk-up tourists too)

The difference is that in general the local population has a tough higher dressing standards than those in California.