Inside HGO: What to Wear to the Opera

[@dbetaki8846]

I hate seeing people going casually. There are so very few things left in this era we live in to be formal and remind us of earlier times, stop going to symphonies and operas with denim :/

[@martineyles]

@@mimisloupeidis686 You show your respect by paying for a ticket, paying attention to the performance and not making noise to distract those around you.

[@Karamelaki]

I am so sick of “ I wear what I want “ type of mentality. I went to a ballet and girls are out there wearing ripped jeans 🤣🤣 Like for real? Anyways... we are in the times where everyone has freedom to express themselves. I consider it laziness: yeah it’s not that difficult to wear ripped jeans and a big t-shirt and call it style.

[@martineyles]

@@Karamelaki I doubt ripped jeans are ripped through laziness. You generally pay more money for them new, which means you have to work hard to pay for them, or you take a knife to them in which case you're putting direct effort into it. I'm not personally a fan of ripped jeans, but as long as they're not revealing (and they generally aren't), I wouldn't suggest kicking people out of a concert for wearing them.

[@AL-eu8ro]

!!

[@YvonneFrindle]

I enjoy dressing up to go to performances (unless I'm coming straight from a day in the office, in which case it would be business attire). As you say, there are fewer opportunities to dress up nowadays. BUT… seeing other people dressing casually in no way diminishes my own pleasure in dressing up. And it certainly doesn't change the pleasure or otherwise I might get from the performance itself. If you like dressing up, go for it and enjoy! Other people being dressed differently shouldn't change your own enjoyment. So why would you hate on other people dressing in a way that's right for them? You don't know their circumstances. (Perhaps their neat and clean casual attire is in fact their best; perhaps they have an invisible disability or neurological condition that makes the wearing of formal wear uncomfortable or impractical; perhaps they're travelling; perhaps the opportunity to attend came unexpectedly at short notice and there was no time to go home and change; perhaps they just enjoy being comfortable in their clothes when they have to sit for three hours… so many reasons, none of which are anyone else's business.) Just be grateful that your casually dressed neighbours are attending at all. After all, poor attendance is what leads to performing arts companies folding. Better opera with diversely dressed people enjoying the performances than no opera company at all.

[@dnxls_]

Given how much effort and attention goes into an Opera, I think it's only respectful to dress up for it. i.e. I think it's disrespectful to rock up in a 'sport shirt' to 'just enjoy the music'.

[@maybewise]

Paying $130, just to see them, should be enough of a sign of respect. I'm a college student, who could just choose to "pay my age" ($21), for a seat up in the balcony, on finale night. Saving the money would allow me to "dress up". But BECAUSE I respect the opera, I'd rather pay the extra, to see the show that's nearest to my birthday, in a good seat. It'll be nice to see how the people around me dressed up. But no negative judgment should be passed on me, because I paid to see the opera; not to be in a fashion show.

[@candywhite7926]

@@maybewise That's like going to meet the president at his house but not dressing nicely just because the only reason you're going is to meet someone. If the musicians are dressed nice it is only respectful to dress like them.

[@maybewise]

@@candywhite7926 Paying to see them, and watching in silence, until appropriate, is the sign of respect. Especially since a lot of the more expensive seats remain empty. So if I want to pay a good amount to see them, but can't afford new clothes, let alone a gown, then I can do that. Being poor says nothing about my respect for people. I'm not gonna apologize, or hide myself away in shame, for not coming from old money, and having a hard time.

[@candywhite7926]

@@maybewise No one is asking you to come in a gown, sunday best is fine. I'm poor as hell but I can find a formal looking dress at thrift stores. Also, sitting quietly is an expectation when it comes to these events.

[@maybewise]

@@candywhite7926 You said that it was only respectful to dress like the people on stage. I don't know about you, but I've only seen women in operas wearing some fashion of gown. And I just said that I couldn't afford new clothes. Doesn't matter if it's from a thrift store or Hermes. I have barely enough for basic needs, and not enough for school. I just manage to scrape enough gift money together to go to the opera. And what was the point of that last sentence?... The reason it's expected is because it shows respect. So I don't know if you were trying to say that I'm wrong about that, or what.

[@bynniebg]

My husband and I always dress up for performances, and I will have my son do the same. The performers put their heart and soul into their craft and it is a nice show of respect to treat their performance as an important event becasue it is. I haven’t been on the stage in years, but it when I did perform it was always nice to see patrons dress in business dress and up. It felt like they were taking the performance seriously.

[@mariedrapalova7365]

Exactly! Its a gesture of respect. I will also dress my best

[@raywitkowski8547]

Always wear a tuxedo to the opera, always.

[@ihavenocontent9310]

Why? I mean, how do you expect the next generation of opera goers to care about our art if you insist that they spend hundreds of dollars on, not just a ticket, but a tux? I brought my friends over to a performance of Tosca and told them that they could wear anything they want. They rocked up in very casual clothing and the opera house staff and singers had no problem with it at all. As an opera singer myself, I really don't care about what people wear to my performances at all. So, I really don't understand what you are trying to insist on here.

[@dbetaki8846]

Joel F. Slattery he is right. It’s not just a sign of respect, its also one of the last things left in every day life where you can feel the beauty of dressing up. Everything around us to ripped jeans and horrible slutty trends and pure informality. If a banker wears a suit and his client wears a suit to show some seriousness and respect , I don’t see why an opera individual cannot comply either.

[@candywhite7926]

Thank you someone who gets it.

[@kyanhowe8777]

Wear White tie

[@syncrol]

i will never do . i also will never wear ripped jeans .

[@deelightful6124]

I’m going to the opera tomorrow evening… it’s my third time and most people on those occasions were kind of dressed up…. especially the ones with good seats lol. To celebrate my upcoming birthday, I splurged and bought a seat near the front. I decided to wear a simple burgundy floor length dress, modest heels with modest accessories . Looking forward to an evening of opulent music!

[@omgmono]

I think going in business casual and above is fine. I myself love dressing up in suit and tie and even tuxedos on opening night of the season. Keep in mind I’m not wealthy, just know how to shop.

[@michaelmiller1215]

I’m old school: If you’re going to the opera, wear the best clothes that you have!

[@Oktaviii]

Just classic Houston mentality: shorts and flip flops everywhere, even opera

[@DLee594]

I love seeing people in tuxes and gowns in the opera house. I love seeing folks in business casual. I enjoy seeing people in ripped jeans and short sleeve t-shirts. I love seeing people in the opera house, period. 😃

[@Karamelaki]

Let’s stop making formal attire a thing only for red carpets and celebrities. People look so beautiful when they dress up!

[@SarahRisu]

Well I hope to soon be attending my first opera since moving to Houston and I have gowns and cocktail dresses just waiting to be worn sooo yeah...I’m dressing up and hitting a nice dinner afterwards❣️

[@nmariejenkins2041]

2:22. What in the world is this??

[@lisac.brennen1832]

I'm glad to see a revival, if you will, in terms of interest in the opera...especially with younger patrons. But why not have some pride in how you look and respect for the performers? We attended a ballet and were the only ones in formal attire. Some patrons showed up looking like they'd spent the day at the beach, then rolled in. We were so disappointed but didn't let that stop us from enjoying ourselves. It is just a shame how some people have little or no desire to get the full experience.

[@maybewise]

Might not be a lack of desire, but rather a lack of funds. Your wardrobe is a petty thing. As long as you're dressed in clean, untattered clothing, you're fine. I'll be having the same experience as everyone else who paid $115+ for a seat.

[@omgmono]

Colors I saw when I went to the HGO, were black, white and red, business casual and above!

[@The_Wizard_Owlin_Celestial]

Its funny I studied music in college and a metal head who loves classical too. So I dressed like I was going to a metal show when I'd go to symphonies or operas. I had one classical music snob look at me funny and I walk near him and say so what did you think of that deceptive cadence during the 3rd movement😂😂😂

[@DFullerLisa]

We’re going to The Temptations with the Utah Symphony. Not going full formal but definitely making a night out of it and dressing up more than dressing down. It’s a sign of respect for the eloquence of the building the band and the symphony.

[@brianjackson8394]

I have never been to an opera before, but I would try it out and see if I like it.

[@bill99208]

From my earliest experiences with Classical music, I was taught that you dress formally for these performances. In high school I would wear the closest thing I had to a real tuxedo (including a tightly tied bow tie).When I passed into college and bought my first tuxedos, I would always wear them for classical concerts including wind ensemble performances and jazz band performances. I also wore full tuxedos when mixing sound for groups. I now have a number of custom tuxedos and I wear them not only for classical concerts, but also for church and whenever I want to. The point is that unlike most other gentlemen, I believe in dressing up in a suit/tuxedo with bow tie and cummerbund, braces and French Cuffs because I like to dress my best wherever I go and I believe that I am respected more for this than I would be if wearing denim. In fact, denim gives me the creeps and I just can’t stand wearing jeans. Mind you, if I am working on something that is a dirty project, the good clothes will not be worn but overall, I will be wearing a tux and bow tie and will look much better than many others I see in t shirts, jeans and backward ball caps. I would rather be dressed up than wearing something that I would be uncomfortable in. So, whether it’s work or the opera, it’s formal wear for me.

[@radmanblog8088]

Tuxuedo. Always. No Jeans, No casual shirts. Only Tuxuedo.

[@evantighe696]

Shame, poor bloke went to the effort of getting black tie only to have a notched lapel smh

[@MANSIKKAHILLO4099]

I WOULD LOVE TO BE ON OPERA AS JEANS.SWEATHER AND IN TUXEDO

[@mnmmnm6564]

go to an opera in europe....

[@alejandravargas4056]

Well...in europe you cant access if you are not dress appropriately

[@andrenewcomb3708]

Harry Winston & Iris van Herpen.

[@blurrydimensions]

Personally I wish they’d make it formal wear mandatory.

[@operamatthew]

white tie for opening night black tie for every other night

[@codingpineappl3480]

lol, those people dressing casual won't get into the opera when they are in Europe. They wouldn't get in no matter if they have a ticket or not.

[@mariedrapalova7365]

I find it sad when people wear jeans and sneakers. I am sure we all have at least a dress slack and proper shoes come on. You wear jeans everyday.

[@samueljaramillo4221]

Proper opera attire is evening wear, as in a suit or evening dress. Jeans and wrinkled shirts is not part of proper opera attire just because you purchased a ticket. Show some class and respect for the art form for goodness sake.

[@rdr2v1nce7]

This black tie Ensemble is horrible! Why tf are notched lapels on this tuxedo!

[@jcclassybro9426]

There should be a code... what casual, it's a Led Zeppelin show... Opera should be Black Tie Period.... where's the class and respect...new33 generations suck.

[@martineyles]

Led Zeppelin deserve as much respect as any other performers. Perhaps you should go rock gigs in Black Tie if you think that's how you show respect.

[@jcclassybro9426]

@@martineyles Why are you trying to be Moron... what does Black Tie have to do with Zeppelin, you wouldn't even tell the difference of Black k tie or not...everybody's stoned cold...I seen and been to those concerts...awesome but nothing to do with Class my friend...something maybe you don't have a clue of...

[@NothingToDismay]

@@jcclassybro9426 Ahh yes, all those Zeppelin concerts that Zeppelin play nowadays