What would you wear to the ballet...?

Hil

We are going to see the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre tomorrow night performing Swan Lake and I am pretty excited... but what on earth to wear? I honestly haven't a clue!

Please give me ideas of what you would wear - I am hoping it triggers some ideas for my own wardrobe!

12 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

Sanet

Active Member

I think you will probably see a little bit of everything as there will be older ladies who still dress very smart for outings like this, younger girls who don't and everything else in between.

What Angie wore here http://youlookfab.com/2012/10/.....lack-lace/ will be super perfect, but you don't have to look this smart.

I think even smart dark jeans will be fine. Wear comfortable shoes in case you have to climb stairs or you are parked far away.

Enjoy!

12 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

We had season tickets to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for a number of years and I almost always wore a dress that was a little less formal than cocktail but a little more dressy than office wear.

Sanet is right. There was always a range of clothing from very dressy to jeans.

12 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Going to the opera, concert or ballet is one of the regular occasions where I can dress up a little bit. As a student with a very casual life that means a dress or skirt, dressier shoes and bag and some of the real jewelry that was passed on to me. I never wear cocktail dresses though, just one of my everyday dresses or skirts. But there are people who do evening wear, just as there are people who wear jeans, sneakers and a tee.

12 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Hi there, here you get the full gamut too, from yoga pants (not meaning to be judgy, but really? to the ballet???) to full-on evening. i think somewhere in the middle is perfect - a simpler dress in an evening color,or dress pants and a smart top with a few evening-ish accessories to keep it from looking corporate. I'd probably go with black or your favorite dark.

I agree with the comment, even dark-wash jeans would probably be fine if that's your preference, if you dress up the other pieces.

Just nice to make it special, I think. Enjoy!

12 years ago

Anonymous

I'd wear a kimono style topper over a plain sheath dress. A kimono could also go over a column of black pants and top.
Another thought is a tuxedo suit or at least the jacket. I would layer a colorful or white silky or sequined top under the jacket.
In both cases, small heels only since I can't wear high ones

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I enjoy dressing up a little bit more than the norm - don't forget a wrap or a topper, it can get chilly!!

12 years ago

ClaraT

Veteran

Dressy from the waist up; comfy (for sitting and walking) but polished from the waist down. Err on the side of elegance.

12 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I would dress up. Maybe black skirt or pants and a sparkly top. And awesome shoes.

12 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

How exciting! I think the common theme here is that you'll feel appropriate if you dress "up" a bit but not necessarily a lot. There are all kinds of ways to do this--with accessories, a dress, a dressy top--what do you have in your wardrobe that's a bit dressier?

12 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

In my 20's I might have worn a tutu with a cropped tuxedo jacket and boots (yes there was a lot of parental cringing in the 80's). But seriously now I would go for a dressy elegant look, probably black. These days anything seems to go;)

12 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Wear something that makes you feel great. What about your new blazer, some straight leg pants & a dressier tunic or top with great shoes & evening bag?

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Silky shiny things. Jewelry!

12 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I always wear something I don't get to wear anywhere else. Time to dig out the fantasy-life clothes! One performance I attended, I wore a basic black Ann Taylor business suit, with a pink satin and black lace cami peeping out from underneath, high heeled pumps, and these stockings. I love these stockings and never really have any other occasion for them, besides playing dress-up for ballet or opera.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VICTOR.....-18-00-/30

I also have a nude-colored Michael Kors pencil skirt that is entirely sequinned, that I wear with black tights and a black turtleneck, and heels. And a purple silk 50's type skirt from Anthropologie that is beaded all over, and has several layers of tulle underneath. Again, I wear that with a simple black turtleneck, and sheer black backseam stockings and heels.

I have two more fantasy-life outfits waiting in the wings: a black Tracy Reese beaded suit - pencil skirt + jacket. The skirt has a very discreet pleated pink ribbon trim around the bottom. I haven't worn it yet, but it's waiting for the next fancy dress-up occasion. And a vintage Lillie Rubin cream-colored, long-sleeved, knee length, 60's dress, with a heavy nude mesh cutout/insert at the waist, that is beaded and spangled all over with heavy rhinestones and jewels. It looks kind of like something you would wear onstage in Vegas, or an episode of Mad Men and I'm finally small enough that it fits. (It took five years to get to this dress!) I plan to wear that to the Brian Setzer concert in December.

Sorry for the long post. Can you tell I get really excited about fantasy-life clothes?

p.s. - my general rule of thumb for these occasions, is that one item gets to be the 'show pony' of the outfit, and everything else has to blend or fade into the background as the supporting cast. Otherwise, the potential to look like a crazy, costumed person increases exponentially.

12 years ago

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