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 😄

Everybody's favourite fat fairy!

Seriously though. I went to a classical concert once, many moons ago, and got really dressed up to look 'posh' and fit it.

Big mistake.

It's not special for them

You should read this Twitter thread about a millennial visiting the Royal Ballet for the first time, responding in memes - answers lots of questions about what people wore, what happened etc, very funny. I think they invited him back to see an opera later, as part of outreach to show that it is meant to be accessible and for anyone.

mobile.twitter.com/BoyAndPen/status/1001143132090699776

You really do not need to wear anything special to the ballet - wear whatever makes you comfortable and can walk in!

Two weeks ago I was at Covent Garden to see Swan Lake, in expensive seats, and as far as I could see everyone including my friend and I was 'smart casual' which I know is a catch-all phrase but true, nothing fancy in sight.

I am so glad I asked about this. The twitter thing is great!

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.

That's what I like about it. You can wear a ball gown and it doesn't raise eyebrows, or just jeans and a t shirt, the same. It's been years since I've seen a ball gown, though, and not at the ROH but in a smaller theatre. It was silk tartan with a silk wrap.

I dressed down my tea dress with a cardigan and flats, but I'd wear it with a light knitted wrap and small heels for other events.

I was at a show last night, at a very lovely theatre in London, and most of the women in the audience were wearing midi dresses with trainers or flat shoes, but there were plenty in trousers and a nice top/jacket. Not many looking scruffy tbh.

Just wear what you are comfortable in. I would expect there to be plenty of people wearing dungarees and DMs in the audience. There's not likely to be too many twinset and pearl wearers at this particular production! (Well if there are, they will be clutching their pearls very tightly, that's for sure...)

I went to the Bolshoi to see the ballet in Moscow on a summer day and I wore a long black pleated midi skirt and a black sheer blouse with a vest top underneath and flat shoes