What to wear to a Ballet?

[McConkeysPlate]

At the Royal Albert Hall, I dress very casually, dungarees DMs etc. I want to dress appropriately but need to be comfy for walking about too. I don’t want to overshoot and be dressed up to the nines!
Thank you for any advice 😄

Just wear what you like. I might suggest not dungarees, but really anything will be fine. I go frequently to the opera house to see ballet, and I wear just my normal office clothes, as I am normally en route from work. Some people may dress up a bit, but lots don’t.

Whatever you want - I don’t think other people will be that dressed up. I’m going to the Royal Ballet at the weekend and I’ll probably wear a casual dress as it looks like it’ll be warm. I’m more concerned that my friend tends to pick naice restaurants and I need to dress for that, rather than the ballet.

I went to the Royal Opera House pre-Covid to see a ballet and there was a huge range of outfits, some were dressed up to the nines and some really casual. I wore black skinny jeans, my purple DMs and a black jumper and didn’t look out of place.

I like to dress for ballet
Or theatre as it's more of an occasion

I'd say a casual dress or trouser top combo is fine but if I were going I'd wear a nice dress and coat

That’s all very reassuring thank you. We have a lot of travelling to do to get there and no chance to change beforehand. I am very excited!

Is it Car Man? I think that will be a less posh crowd than ROH, and would wear jeans and one of my smarter jumpers. Trainers, too, though it’s not that far from the tube.

@DustyTulips Yes it is, thank you so much.

Enjoy - love going there - I am a dress person so would wear that plus my white trainers but if I was slim enough it would be trousers and a linen T-shirt or top. When I've been there it's everything from super casual to very elegant

Hope you have a great time

If you have a tux trousers or wide-leg floaty trousers in your wardrobe, those with white or cream silk shirt and pointy flats would be comfortable and appropriate attire for the occasion.

I wore a tea dress and cardigan, a few weeks ago, the last time I went to a ballet.

You don't see so many wearing ball gowns now, but really anything goes and you wouldn't look out of place dressed up in evening wear or casual in jeans.

I was at the the Royal Albert Hall recently and most were causal to smart-casual, and I didn’t see anyone dressed formally. I did read online before that it can get very hot, so I took clothes with layers if I started to get too warm.

I dithered about what to wear at xmas to see the Nutcracker, royal ballet.

There were women in dresses and sparkly wraps, there were women in jeans and trainers and there were women in basic dresses and heels (like me).

I WISH i'd gone for trainers because rushing from the carpark to the venue and then teetering up and then down all the bloomin' stairs to my seat would have been so much easier than in the heeled boots i chose

You're all so squeezed together (unless you're in a box!) that you can't move around in your seat much so you need to be in comfy clothes or it's hellish

I'll not dress up next time.

I go to the ballet a lot and the ROH is great because there's such a huge range, everything from jeans to evening gowns. Most people are sort of smart-casual or business-casual but I do tend to see perhaps one or two people in full on gowns, which I find sweet and nobody side-eyes them.

So dress up if you like!

I also can't wear heels so I tend to wear nice loafers (I have some gorgeous suede Prada loafers) or maybe low heeled/wedge sandals in summer, with a knee-length or mid-calf length dress.

I don't think you have to worry about being overdressed unless you're literally wearing a ballgown.

I’m a scruff bag and wear jeans/jumper to the ROH regularly. It’s the most conservative of the London venues IME.

if I’m feeling very smart I might chuck a blazer on top….

I wear my skinny jeans, T-shirt and white trainers - lots dress the same. It’s not somewhere I dress up for.

The last time I went to the ROH we had spent the day in town beforehand at the V&A. I wore widelegged culottes with a short sleeved t-shirt and ballet pumps. Something smart but comfortable to wear all day.

All the things that used to be formal in London are much less so now. Most of the patrons with have been "touristing" all day so they'll be wearing what they wore for that.

clothes

Royal Albert Hall is a very disappointing venue. It's not posh at all outside the hall.

I'd definitely go casual.

Dress and trainers should be just fine. Everyone in London dresses for comfort these days.

There will be a range but I would never wear jeans to the Theatre, no idea why it just seems wrong .
I am very jealous, I love all things Carmen so this would be great - too far for me though so hopefully it will tour

Thank you all so much! Really great and appreciated advice 😊

OP, after the last two years the performers will (still) be even more excited than you. They won’t care what you wear, as long as you’re sitting in your seat!

Pink tights / leotard and a tutu.

Maybe a little tiara.

And those shoes you can stand on the toes with ribbons all up your legs.

And remember to extend, sweetie.

You'll look lovely.

@moofolk I would look like Mavis Cruet 😆