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Original poster

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

69 replies

Wandda · 20/01/2022 16:50

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!

OP posts:
ENoeuf · 20/01/2022 17:54

Literally no one dresses up - range of joggers, jeans, dresses, suits (assume from work), smart office stuff (assume from work).
To be fair at the ballet I don’t see ppl in joggers but I’m probably not looking hard enough.

Aposterhasnoname · 20/01/2022 17:56

Well don’t wear a sweater dress, fleece lined tights and boots like I did last week. I was melting!

Riverlee · 20/01/2022 17:59

In the summer, people turn in shorts.

As it’s a night out, I prefer to dress up a little, so I’d say smart casual.

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toppkatz · 20/01/2022 17:59

@ENoeuf

Literally no one dresses up - range of joggers, jeans, dresses, suits (assume from work), smart office stuff (assume from work). To be fair at the ballet I don’t see ppl in joggers but I’m probably not looking hard enough.
You need to look in the cheap seats at the ballet students. They wear all sorts, especially if they've just come from class.
ENoeuf · 20/01/2022 18:00

^^ said I wasn’t looking hard enough 😂

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 20/01/2022 18:07

You get two types of people at normal West end theatre shows. Those who have been sight seeing all day and doing touristy things and dressed very casually. Those who are probably there for a birthday, anniversary or other celebration who had probably been to a nice restaurant before hand and are dressed smarter.
Unless the queen is there nobody is wearing evening dress. I suppose you should dress similarly to the rest of your party so smart flats or boots if you don't like heels instead of a pair of converse.

Digestiveenzyme · 20/01/2022 18:12

I went to see a show just before Xmas. Wore jeans and ordinary top.

There were two girls there dressed in full evening wear and heels - looked completely out of place

nancy75 · 20/01/2022 18:15

Wear something comfortable, a lot of the west end theatres have quite small uncomfortable seats.

MeatyRvita · 20/01/2022 18:22

Yeah don’t turn up wearing a full evening gown.
I’ve been to the theatre every week for about 6 years and used to work in the industry. You will see people mainly in casual street wear and even a few super casual in hoodies/tracksuits, most wear something like you would wear to the pub/a restaurant/ a nice bar for the evening (made a bit of an effort but no where near formal evening wear)
Can’t go wrong with jeans & a nice top, or a dress with tights and boots in my opinion.

00100001 · 20/01/2022 18:24

Definitely just wear casual clothes.

Original poster
Wandda · 20/01/2022 18:28

My sister is obviously clueless! I’m going to show her this thread.

OP posts:
gogohm · 20/01/2022 18:34

Whatever you were wearing during the day normally. The opera is a little smarter but still not evening wear unless a gala performance. The exception is Cabaret which I'm told people are dressing up for in period clothes often (well and Rocky horror show but that's more lingerie!!!)

gogohm · 20/01/2022 18:36

It's been pretty casual since I've been going (mid 80's)

SamMil · 20/01/2022 18:55

I usually dress up a little, but only black jeans & a top, not full evening gown Grin

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 20/01/2022 18:56

Your sister sounds either hilarious (let's dress up ridiculously glam for a laugh), or seriously out if touch.

I'm at a West End show at the weekend and I'll be in jeans, top, flat shoes.

llanfair11 · 20/01/2022 18:59

Not dress up at all in my opinion.

Just please remember a face covering.

PrincessPaws · 20/01/2022 19:01

@Wandda

My sister is obviously clueless! I’m going to show her this thread.
Clueless or winding you up! I usually wear jeans and trainers
PattyPan · 20/01/2022 19:06

Your sister is definitely having you on. People just wear normal clothes. Even at the opera most people just wear their normal clothes now.
Just don't wear a hat or style your hair in a massive updo!

maddiemookins16mum · 20/01/2022 19:07

They don’t anymore. Scruffy jeans and fleeces are the norm, bit like a cheap 2 for 1 at the Cinema these days. It’s no longer a smart, dressy night out.

Howshouldibehave · 20/01/2022 19:09

No, my dsis hasn’t been to the theatre for many years

Maybe take advice from someone else then Grin

Fizbosshoes · 20/01/2022 19:11

I went to the theatre last week (admittedly matinee) I wore a M and S jumper, black jeans and boots. (It was smarter than I would wear to go shopping and I put on nice jewellery and make up!Grin) I definitely didn't feel inadequately dressed.

NannaMcPhoo · 20/01/2022 19:13

All the time. It is usually drafty and turning up naked is probably frowned upon.

Runmybathforme · 20/01/2022 19:15

Funny you should ask this OP. We were at Sadlers Wells recently, and I wistfully remarked that no one dresses up for the theatre anymore. Back in the 70s, evening dresses were common in the theatre. Not saying it was better, but made it more of an occasion. Considering two tickets for the stalls can cost nearly £200 , it should be bloody special. Anyway, I'd say smart casual now, but plenty of people wear jeans.

ShirleyPhallus · 20/01/2022 19:15

I'm at a West End show at the weekend and I'll be in jeans, top, flat shoes.

I read this as “jeans, tap shoes”. Thought “wow that’s a little OTT but ok….” Grin

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 20/01/2022 20:09

@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!
Dh and I were at a central London theatre just last night - your sister is talking rubbish. You can honestly go in (clean) jeans. Most people nowadays will go in smart-ish casual, or casual-casual.

It wasn’t the theatre, but a Classic FM concert at the Albert Hall a couple of years ago. It was packed, and everybody but two late teens/early twenties girls were dressed as above,

Those two were wearing evening dresses, high dressy heels, etc.
I felt sorry for them - they must have felt so overdressed, , but had evidently thought you needed to dress up to the nines for a classical music concert.