What to wear to Opera (NYC)

[dunga]

Looking for suggestions on a good lewk for the Opera in NYC. I am going in two weeks on Saturday night and while I don't think we are sitting in the best seats I plan to walk around on the staircase and promenade a lot during the intermissions (that is where the fashion looks are). Any good ideas!!

 

[animeman05]

Sorry, I read the thread wrong. I suppose a shirt and a tie is all that is required but if you want to a suit would impress.

 

[artoftime]

Unfortunately in 14 seasons at the Metropolitan (you did not specify Met or City Opera) the quality of dress has steadily declined. One sees a host of characters, ranging from derelicts in flip flops and t-shirts, to the old school Tux & gown set.
For the love of Sigfried, at least a jacket & tie!

 

[Harold falcon]

If I go to a Friday or Saturday night show, I wear a tux. If I were to go to a matinee I would go with a jacket and tie.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Alec Baldwin once several years ago, and he and I were both in a tux.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by harvey_birdman

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Alec Baldwin once several years ago, and he and I were both in a tux.

I hope that you checked your wallet.


- B

 

[Concordia]

Traditionally Monday night is the big dress-up night. On most other nights, including a good chunk of premiere productions, a dark suit or very urbane blue jacket will serve you just fine.

 

[empirestate]

If you want to check out the fashionably dressed, plant yourself outside the orchestra level at intermission as everybody mills about. I've found that those with the highest level of sophistication in their looks tend to not be speaking English. And they make it look so damn effortless...

Suit is fine. Jacket is fine. Tie is optional.

 

[dunga]

Originally Posted by artoftime

Unfortunately in 14 seasons at the Metropolitan (you did not specify Met or City Opera) the quality of dress has steadily declined. One sees a host of characters, ranging from derelicts in flip flops and t-shirts, to the old school Tux & gown set.
For the love of Sigfried, at least a jacket & tie!
NYC Metropolitan opera, which is the fashiony one, I thought.

Originally Posted by Concordia

Traditionally Monday night is the big dress-up night. On most other nights, including a good chunk of premiere productions, a dark suit or very urbane blue jacket will serve you just fine.
Thanks, I will try to wear something that is classic with a little bit of a twist, since I heard the staircase and lounge is very high style, which is where we will be hanging out.

 

[Federico]

What opera are you going to hear?
In Europe (well, I don't know if in the whole Europe) everyone is in black tie for the "prima", but for the following shows most are just in a dark suit (white shirt and black shoes included).
How do people usually dress here for operas?

 

[wmb]

don't wear a tux -- a suit and tie is fine.

 

[photoguy]

You can wear whatever you feel like wearing. I go fairly often and usually sit in the grand tier. Tuxes are a minority; mostly the NYC old money crowd. Lots of guys in suits with or without ties. Up in the cheap seats, you see a lot of people dressed very, very casually.

BTW, the Grand Tier restaurant is pretty good and tends to draw a pretty dressy crowd.

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

I hope that you checked your wallet.


- B

Lols, this was when I was just out of law school, so he would have gotten nothing but a driver license and a maxed out credit card.

 

[photoguy]

As an addendum, given the declining quality of the productions at the Met under Gelb, you might want to consider rose-colored glasses.

 

[comrade]

An Opera Cape to start. http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/im...pe-0607-lg.jpg

 

[Sazerac]

Black-tie if it's a premiere, or if you just feel like it.

But otherwise a suit, nothing less.