AIBU to ask the Hivemind how dressy to go to the ballet?

[mbosnz]

Taking DD to the Royal Ballet in London for her birthday - do people tend to dress up for this? And if so, how much? Any and all advice much appreciated in advance!

How old is dd? I ask because whenever I have been to the ballet, young girls dress in their best. And they look great.
Grown -ups, it's a mixed bag so down to personal preference.
I like to dress up because it's a treat.
Have a great day!

Some people get really really dressed up. I wear my best jeans, and plenty of people go in whatever they found in the wardrobe that morning.

Taking your DD to the ballet as a treat, you want to dress up a bit, don’t you? You could wear jeans and a fleece, or a very over the top evening dress, but whatever you would usually wear for a smart night out is probably about right. For me that would either be a dress and ankle boots or a silk blouse and trousers.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter, but there are occasions when it’s nice to dress up.

Meant to add, since it's dd's birthday, you'll want to make more effort than I do, but if you're clambering up and down in the balcony, sensible (ish) shoes may be in order.

A matinee is usually less dressy than an evening performance. Last time we went to a matinee and Dd wore velvet skinny jeans and a sequin top with pumps. I’d wear something like black jeans and a fairy smart blouse with a sparkly cardigan. Neither of us wore make up. We didn’t feel out of place.

I've always been the most outrageously overdressed at these things. I'm so disappointed that people don't take any and every opportunity to dress up.

Give it your best, if that's your sort of thing. Any excuse, me plus a hat if I can get away with it

Matinee or evening perfomance?
In my experience most people dress fairly smartly to go to the ROH but less so in the afternoon. I would probably wear something smart ish but not OTT. Office wear, rather than an evening dress. (Unless you've booked a box and want to make an impression )
But yes, as the PP said, little girls do often put on their best party frocks whatever time of day! What are you going to see and how old is your DD? (I'm guessing you are not taking a little one to see Manon!)

I agree that it varies.

For me, it's an opportunity to wear stuff other than my usual work or weekend clothes so I make a bit of an effort. However, I don't wear heels or dresses except to weddings.

As it's a birthday treat, it would be nice to dress like the occasion matters.

I saw Manon earlier this week. What are you going to see, OP?

As dressed up as you want to.

Please don't wear a hat though. Or pile your hair up on your head. That is extremely antisocial behaviour in a theatre.

Smart casual for you.
As for your dd? Whatever she wants (and is available). Whether that's a sparkly dress, ripped jeans and docs, a pantsuit.... 🤷🏻‍♀️

Last time I went to ballet matinee it leaned towards art teacher chic.

I went to see Romeo & Juliet in black pants and a H&M sweat floral sweatshirt. I wanted comfort and couldn't be bothered. Others around were very dressy. If you'd feel okay with that- go with whatever works for you.

We've been to R&J and Nutcracker matinees in the cheaper seats and wore jeans, trainers and smart tops.

I was amazed how relaxed the place was TBH. People ate their own sandwiches and snacks.

14 and 16, thank you so much!

I'd never wear a hat or pile my hair high, but at five foot nothing, I'm the one who invariably has the 6 footer land in front of me, lol.

I'm short too @mbosnz and it is indeed bizarre how often somebody huge has booked the seat in front of me! But people can't help being tall - it is the people who do avoidable things that annoy me. A while ago I was sat behind a woman in a theatre with a huge hairstyle who was wearing a massive fascinator. The ballet was Giselle but I think she had got confused and thought she was actually going to a wedding. It ruined the evening for me though. I had gone on my own so I couldn't ask anyone taller to swap with me really - normally DH gets the short straw in such situations.

I'd go fairly casual, DD (14) is a devoted jeans and hoody wearer and neither of us like dressing up.

Kids usually dress up more than adults for this, IME. You have very small girls in complete party get up, especially if it's near Christmas and the ballet is The Nutrcracker. But there are no rules or conventions at all.

LOL, I don't take offence or get annoyed when someone tall sits in front of me - it's not their fault I'm a short arse.

Instead we juggle between our seats so that short arse Mum has the best chance of a view - and any short arses behind us. . .

Pressed send too early - but if there's no chance of seatshifting, then I mutter reproaches to my parents for my shortarsedness and enjoy it anyways. . .

I had to settle for enjoying the music on this occasion as I really couldn't see anything. Unfortunately for me it was a full house or I would have tried to sneak into a different seat at the interval.

I do need to clarify that I don't wear a hat to the theatre/ballet/opera. Just to be clear.

Though I was wearing a kind of beanie hat for 6 months due to chemo - pretty close to me head, not tall (and neither am I tbf). 'Man' behind me at the theatre ranted and raved I should take my hat off. I couldn't be bothered to rip his scalp off so we moved.

The trials of being a short arse. . . we suffer, we really do!

When I went to the ballet at Christmas a few years ago most people wore ball gown/evening dresses. Little girls had party dresses on. I was impressed! I had a nice dress with some applique/embroidery on. Dressy but not a ball gown!

Dressing up to go to the theater/ballet was half the fun when I was a teenager. (Now I'm older and can't be bothered as much)