Going to the ballet, what does one wear? Are there rules?

[Jjb2]

Evening. I am going to see the nutcracker on Sunday and am starting to panic as I am really not sure what to wear. I have never been to the ballet before. I've been to the theatre before and usually dress smart casual but this is usually at matinee performances. I think I went once in the evening and noticed a biiiig divide in what people were wearing - there were some very formal and some very not so! Is the ballet like this or is it stricter? It's for a special occasion and I don't want to let people down!

Which venue?

Frankly, people seem to wear all sorts these days. Who will you be with, and are they traditionalin outlook? What is your short list of clothes?

Wear what makes you feel happy and special on a night out.
I have been to the ballet a few times in London and people wear whatever they want really and no one take notice.

If you're seeing it at London Coliseum then you'll be watching the company I worked for, for the last 10 years.

These days anything goes dress wise. I would say majority of audience will be smart/casual. No fancy headwear or big hair up-do's so you don't spoil view for others but that's about it.

For Nutcracker there will likely be children too but they will mostly be in sparkly dresses !

Absolutely anything you like goes in London . Jeans are fine.

I might wear a knitted or otherwise pretty casual dress and boots but certainly wouldn't advise going OTT .

Was at the Coliseum for the ENB Nutcracker on Tuesday. As Mrs Peacock says, pretty much anything goes - a smartish top and jeans would be fine, as would a nice dress. Not at all strict, and no dress code as such. I wore a belted black dress from Zara with a slightly sparkly pewter cardigan over the top - bit of a nod to Christmas, but nothing too dressy.

Enjoy the ballet - been to various different Nutcrackers for three years running now, and for me it always marks the 'proper' start of Christmas!

Anything you like! Although, I went to see the Bolshoi Swan Lake in Covent Garden this summer and lots of people were in suits and short, evening-ish dresses. I wore a summery dress and flats (and bare legs!) because it was 34 degrees But mostly you'll just get a range of outfits from casual to slightly dressy, same as theatre.

I can tell you what not to wear! Full ballet kit!!!

I went to the ballet with my daughter last year and lots of little girls had come in leotards and ballet shoes and tutus etc. All very sweet (was a matinee). There were hundreds of them all in big groups, probably ballet school outings.

But...some of the mums were also dressed in full ballet kit! Yes. Hair in a bun, leotard, flimsy ballet skirt thing, tights and ballet shoes.

I am all for self expression etc and couldn't give a toss what people wear usually, but even I found this a step too far. It felt like they were desperately hoping the prima ballerina would fall over and break a leg and they could step in and be star of the show.

I wore smart trousers, boots and a nice top BTW.

We went to see the Nutcracker at the ROH in Covent Garden last night. Very mixed regarding clothes, some in jeans, some men in suits, lots of women in sparkly dresses. DD wore a party dress and sparkly cardigan and I wore a green dress.

It was lovely, we were both knackered but it was so beautiful, I nearly cried!

Wear whatever you're comfortable in - whether it's jeans and a t-shirt or a dress, but I wouldn't go overdressed.

I think it would be hard to be overdressed as the variety is so vast so if you fancy wearing a posh frock I would go for it. However when I take DD she will normally be in a dress and sparkly cardigan and I wear smart skinny jeans (not blue ones as that feels too casual) and a nice top and neither of us has ever stood out.

I went a couple of weeks ago and wore a nice dress. I noticed that less people were dressed up and was shocked that people were wearing jeans. So I think anything goes now, I was at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

Clothes, definitely clothes.

I went to something at the ROH earlier in the year, and people were in all sorts - some very dressed up, some in business suits, I was in smart casual, having been at work first (so, dark trousers, blouse.) Others were in jeans. So I'd probably dress for whatever I was doing first (e.g. work, posh dinner, general day out, though probably on the smarter side than otherwise.)

I can't quite imagine wearing jeans to the ballet, because of how I was brought up (we always dressed up to go to the theatre or ballet), but plenty of people do these days - and in any case, most of the time it's dark, so who's going to see, other than those you're with?

I agree with the previous posters. I am going to see The Nutcracker tonight at the Coliseum & am v excited! I go every year - either to the ROH or the Coliseum. It always marks the start of Christmas for me too. Being a SAHM, I have too few chances to wear smart clothes as it is so I generally wear a dress or skirt/trousers + sparkly top. But you will see all sorts - everything from suits to jeans. I would say most people probably dress as you might for dinner at a smart restaurant - so not very formal but still a bit dressed up.

And if you have the cheap seats at the top of the royal opera house then wear layers/ light clothing!
It gets really really warm

I wore a maxi skirt and smart top.There was a bit of everything (last year)

I went with my sister but must go again with DD,it was wonderful and the girls I saw wore beautiful dresses I was quite jealous