Help! How do people dress for the theatre these days?

[Wandda]

I’m going to see a west end show in a few weeks. My dsis tells me that I should dress in full evening wear including heels etc but that’s so not me. I don’t think I have worn heels for at least 10 years but I don’t want to feel like the poor relative!

Very few, if any, people dress up in full evening wear and heels!!!! Some people will be dressed extremely casually. Most will be somewhere inbetween. Anything goes really. Has your sister been to the theatre lately???

You definitely don’t need to wear that!!! Some people might get dressed up (and if you want to great) but otherwise just wear what you would normally wear for a Saturday evening.

Last few times I’ve been I’ve worn jeans and a top, or a skater type dress and chunky boots (I’m early thirties) but I didn’t wear anything different just because it’s the theatre.

I saw Hairspray and BTTF in the summer. I wore a sundress and flipflops to one and jeans and a top to the other.
I don't remember seeing anyone dressed up in full evening wear.
There was a range from jeans/shorts and tops to nice, but everyday type, dresses.

Eh? How many west end shows has your dsis been to recently? It isn't the 1900's!

People just wear normal everyday clothes nowadays 😂

Same as I dress for anywhere else pretty much! Full evening wear would be ridiculous at a West End show I think, unless you are going to an opera? Or maybe a premiere? Even then heels and evening dress would be at the formal end!

No, you don't wear that sort of thing unless it's a gala with royalty present, or to something like the BAFTAs.

Smart casual is fine. Having said that, I've been to the ballet at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden wearing jeans, and nobody batted an eyelid.

Just wear normal clothes!

Unless there’s a huge drip feed coming and your sister is Pippa Middleton?

I go every week and wear jeans - I literally wear whatever I'm wearing that day

Only tourists dress up....

Phew! That’s such a relief, I was having a mini panic. No, my dsis hasn’t been to the theatre for many years.

Thank you all

September - dark jeans, nicer top; DH normally chinos and button down shirt. DD worse similar to me. We normally use the day to wander around London so comfortable shoes is a must.

December - same

next weekend - most likely same again.

I do see the odd tracksuit bottom and hoody and I think a bit more effort would be nice but it's ages since I saw someone properly dressed up for the Royal Albert Hall or any West End show.

DD wore, not worse. She actually dresses nicer than I do.

Your sister is having you on.

In the presence of a red carpet and/or television cameras, then full evening dress.

Otherwise, I wouldn't bother

Definitely not evening wear. What has she been watching?

I usually go in something smart casual, like cord trousers, a jumper, or a skirt. Jeans also ok, especially if you're not in the stalls. DH wears smart jeans/cords, shirt and jumper usually.

I wouldn't go in yoga kit/joggers or a string vest.

Last time I was at the theatre a couple of months ago I saw a few people who were obviously dressed up, like they were going to the evening reception of a wedding, and they stuck out a bit because every one else was more casual.

Your sister will look ridiculous! No one dresses up anymore !

I want to know if your sister is playing a prank on you, or is she going to turn up in a full on ballgown and be astounded noone else is?!

I go to the theatre regularly since dh is on the board of our local theatre. I wear the same as I’d wear going out for a pub meal or to the cinema

I have been to one film premier where I wire full evening attire. Otherwise I wear whatever I have been in for the rest of the day so something between jeans, tshirt & trainers to presentable business meeting.

Any old how no one cares

She's either having you on or she hasn't been in decades. Does she still dress up for flights? I generally go in what I've worn to work that day when going straight from work. Otherwise the same as I'd wear to a casual dinner or cinema.

I saw Jeremy Irons once at a theatre. He was wearing old jeans and a leather jacket.

Just make sure you don’t stink of strong perfume. I had to leave a play because of a migraine once .

The only time I've ever worn full evening dress to the theatre was to a special gala performance (and actually, that was an opera, which tends to be a wee bit more formal).

I go to the theatre a lot, and just wear maybe slightly smarter than normal day clothes (but only so it feels like a night out, if you see what I mean). Have been to a few performances in the west end recently too, and all very much as per.

Does your sister live in 1956?

Full hazmat suit!

Just kidding - it’s not really a dressing up affair. Smart casual is fine.

Your sister is having a laugh - surely?! Dress in what you'd wear to any other performance in the dark e.g. the cinema. Utterly pointless dressing up as no-one is looking at you, they're all looking at the stage!