Dressing for the Opera

[kilted2000]

Recently there was a discussion on another clothing forum about dressing for the opera. Some said that a dinner jacket was only acceptable for opening nights. Others said black tie is fine for any performance. I agree with the latter. What do you think?
Does it matter if the perfomance is on the weekend or weekday?

[pchong]

I do attend quite a few a year...mostly in Sydney (Sydney Opera House, yes!!), in Dresden (Semper Opera House) and Saltzberg (Mozart hall), and sometimes in Covent Garden...only in gala performances in Covent Garden, Semper and Saltzberg, I have seen white ties being worn. Black tie is more common in gala and even regular performances, and I think always correct, but far from de rigeur.

I lament that these days, even in London (Covent Garden...not to mention other West End locales which are even less formal), few dress up to the opera. Sigh.

[Costi]

Perhaps white tie can be too much on an ordinary performance, but black tie is perfectly appropriate for the Opera or a symphonic concert hall anytime.

[radicaldog]

At La Scala black tie is de rigeur only at the Prima, and even then you do see quite a few men in dark lounge suits. White tie has all but disappeared. Not even the President of the Italian Republic wears it at the Prima. Black tie wearers at regular performances tend to be considered provincial by many Milanese.

[pbc]

As I understand, black tie, if not white, was traditionally worn to any theater event (or, indeed, any evening event, including dinner). Where I live, black tie is rarely if ever worn by anyone to any performance. A suit, or even a sport coat, is considered very "formal." So, naturally, I wear black tie to any professional performance (and a dark suit to semi-professional or amateur performances), all the better to be an ambassador for dressing well. When I have done so, I have seen many take notice. At the very least I have planted a seed, and looked good doing it.

"Overdoing it" only applies if I cower to modern (lack of) standards, and I refuse to do so. Why should I, whose meager knowledge is greater than that of 95% of them, wait until one of them stumbles into correct garb in order to follow suit at the next unknown performance (likely without that "inspiration" in attendance)? (It turns out Valentine's Day did bring a slight uptick in black tie at the theaters.)

As a counter argument to myself, it would seem that the same societal lack of knowledge and cohesiveness that leads to such poor dressing, may also allow for greater formal latitude. Perhaps those of you from other locations can comment.

Part of the mission of the London Lounge is to educate. Without application, what is the purpose of the learning? Another benefit of the Lounge is to inspire confidence in acquiring and appropriately wearing elegant and traditionally stylish clothing. For any evening outing or event, I look for an excuse to wear black tie, rather than not to.

pbc

[Guest]

black tie is a personal choice, since everybody seem to wear it, i don't.
i believe you can wear anything, as long as it's good looking.
people who wear tails, always look sort of ridiculous, always black and white, when there's so many beautiful colors to choose.
well i have to admit that coats with tails, and waistcoat seems to be the harder to fit. i can just imagine the hours of preparation, fittings, alterations, and then posing and gracing the crowd. it sounds exhausting. but in the end you can achieve that sculpture look.
it shouldn't be mandatory to wear black tie, all the waiters and servants do. un employees as myself should be allow to wear any color.

[Costi]

Santy dear, it is probably more exhausting to respond to pbc's coherent and argumented post the way you did, than to dress properly. Believe me, if you DO want to be different at any cost, you WILL wear your dinner suit, because everyone else DOESN'T. Although trying to look different for the sake of it (not because you know how you should dress for the occasion) is highly questionable. And don't fool yourself that the (temporary in your case) lack of a job brings you any closer to being a Duke or a Baron - "the servants", "the masses"... It is the substance, not the form, that makes a noble man.

[marcelo]

Perhaps white tie can be too much on an ordinary performance, but black tie is perfectly appropriate for the Opera or a symphonic concert hall anytime.

At any time, indeed:

[kilted2000]

[it shouldn't be mandatory to wear black tie, all the waiters and servants do. un employees as myself should be allow to wear any color.[/quote]

This is why my dinner jacket is midnight blue.

[kilted2000]

Perhaps white tie can be too much on an ordinary performance, but black tie is perfectly appropriate for the Opera or a symphonic concert hall anytime.

At any time, indeed:

Where is that from?

[Guest]

there's a scene on brideshead revisited where the two main character meet for the first time, on Charles apartment Sebastian throws up .
well the lads are seen wearing tails with light colored lapels, velvet collars and cream waistcoats and also some sort of green bow ties. they look really good. well that little scene made me realize how vulgar black and white can become.
i wonder what other possibilities can be tried. colors and different designs.
i know top hats can be made on any color and sizes.

[Pelham]

When a sportcoat is deemed "formal", you know you're in the wrong company!

[radicaldog]

the lads are seen wearing tails with light colored lapels, velvet collars and cream waistcoats and also some sort of green bow ties

I believe that is the Bullingdon Club's dress.