Do people still dress up

For the avoidance of doubt - no, it isn't an expected custom. Perhaps it might have been in times past, but that was probably when the people who could afford a ticket would have really dressed up for the occasion anyway.

Yeah most people make an effort here in Yorkshire theatres, it's really nice

Absolutely this. I also used to go to the ROH for ballet and opera on my way home from work on a regular basis, and was usually in jeans and Birkenstocks.

I always dress up for ballet, concerts and theatre. We only go once a year to each. We see it as a special treat, so dress up to give it a sense of occasion.

No need to avoid enjoying an evening at the theatre because of a perceived dress code. There really isn't one.

I wouldn't want to, so I avoid these situations.
😐

Dress up and enjoy!

As an adult I wouldn't because I think it's a bit sad (sorry) like you don't have a social life so it's a big important event in your calendar. But for an 8 year old, absolutely, it's part of the fun.

No ‘shoulds’. If an eight year old wants to wear a lovely dress to the ballet, absolutely she should. However, if someone contemplating going to a ballet for the first time thinks it’s ’not for the likes of us’ because of an imagined dress code stipulating formal wear, that’s a completely unnecessary exclusion.

Please dress up OP!

Unpopular opinion but we are becoming a country of scruffs!

Bloody leggings and puffers everywhere !

Drives me mental.

If you’re not wearing a pretty dress to the ballet where are you wearing them?

We did in December when we went to see The Nutcracker.

Ballet dancers work extremely hard and have gruelling schedules. I think it's polite to show that you respect this.

If you're 8 and you want to, of course you should!

It's a real mix and you can definitely dress up if you want to.

I went to see the Nutcracker (matinée) last Sunday. Not London but not far from London either. With my daughter and a big group (teachers, pupils and mums) from her ballet school.

There were lots of people in casual wear. Some people REALLY dressed up, especially mum and daughter pairs, in long glittery party dresses/evening dresses. There was even one lady in a ball gown. Then some people mid way between the two, wearing what you might wear to go out for dinner in a posh restaurant.

I went for the middle ground and wore a nice dress with a smart coat and smart shoes. My daughter (age 10) went casual in tracksuit bottoms and t shirt and fluffy jacket, just her preference.

Honestly, any of those options were fine, no one got pointed at or disapproved of. I loved seeing the mix. I think it's great people can go to the theatre in their comfies if they feel like it. I think it's great people can go to the theatre fully dressed up if they feel like it.

Personally I wear casual clothes a lot of the time, to WFH and run errands/taxi the kids about. I like the chance to get my nice stuff out of the wardrobe for an "occasion", in the same way i like wearing my traditional office clothes to the office even though most people don't, because it makes a nice change and it's a shame to have nicer clothes and never wear them. Fair play to the 100% casual folk who rejoice in never having to wear a suit or dress though. Anything goes these days!

I stupidly missed this was in Southampton. People will likely be dressier than London then.

She can wear a friggin tutu if she wants. How would anyone else be affected? Zero! Encourage her to wear whatever she wants, and to walk proud.

This thread is saddening isn't it?

Let dd wear whatever she wants. Who's gonna care? We went to see Nutcracker in London and massive variety of dressed up massively to very low key.

London is more casual than elsewhere i would say

Most people will be making a bit of an effort as it's big thing, outside London that is. Last time k went to the opera (regional touring) many men were in chinos and shirts (not suits) and plenty of dresses on ladies and a few younger girls in full on bridesmaids type dresses, I'm guessing an excuse to wear them. A few men were in dinners suits even but they did stand out!!! You can wear whatever you want but even my generally casually dressed dh puts on a proper shirt rather than a gig t shirt for the theatre. I wore a knee length work dress, he was in black trousers and a shirt (it was after work)

Sadly, you're already living in it. The existence of this thread proves it.

I don’t want to live in a world where people don’t feel like they can dress up for the ballet! Of course she should wear a lovely dress.

Well no, I didn't think it would, but I was trying to explain that unless people are made to dress up, most people will not.

In the past, social expectations made us dress up, now they are gone (except for maybe weddings and funerals), only dress codes make us dress up, when they are phased out, hardly anyone will dress up.

It won't have a dress code. It will be at an ordinary theatre. Very few people will dress up.

But obviously she should wear a nice dress if she wants!