Albert Hall on Saturday - what to wear?

[Champere]

We are seeing Swan Lake in the round or the RAH this weekend, with dinner at the restaurant beforehand.

Having gained a substantial amount of weight recently I’m not relishing the idea of having to get dressed up, but DH is planning to wear a suit?!

Any tips please? How dressy should we be? Heels or flats? Help!!

My taste is quite traditional and I don’t wear a lot of colour.

TIA

The RAH used to be horridly hot and stuffy if it was warm outside, so definitely layers. It sounds a lovely evening, so I would make some effort. Eg dress and cardi; comfortable trousers & top.

There's no need to dress up. If you wear dresses, then a cotton or linen day dress. No need for heels.

If your husband wants to wear a suit then a casual cotton or linen summer suit is fine. I've not seen ballet at RAH, but at Covent Garden you get everything from jeans to the occasional few in evening/ cocktail dress but nothing is wrong. I wouldn't go to evening or cocktail.

It’s not especially dressy at the Royal Albert Hall (for the ballet or at any other time) - honestly wear whatever you feel comfortable to wear. There will be a mix; so if you’d like to make an effort, you won’t look out of place if you’re smart casual, but you equally won’t look out of place in jeans. We are going on Sunday - hope you have a lovely evening!

I've seen an opera in the round at the Albert Hall and people were not dressy at all.

This is absolutely one of those occasions that you can wear what makes you happy, as long as seeing other people who have dressed much more casually sat next to you is not going to upset you.

I wouldn't wear heels just on the basis it's a long walk from South Ken if you are going on the tube.

Thank you so much! It’s reassuring to know there’s no pressure to dress up.

I’ve decided on a knee length, short sleeve dress that works well with flats. Apparently it’s 24/25 degrees tomorrow…!

Tbh your Dh may look over dressed!

Yes he’s decided on chinos and shirt rather than a suit thankfully. I was quite touched he wanted to make sure an effort though

I was there yesterday. People were in everything from leggings and jeans to sequinned dresses. I wore a cotton midi dress with sandals, because as usual I took the Tube and it was hot. There were even men in shorts.

No dress codes in London these days!

That's perfect, OP. It's quite steamy in London today.

Thank you for all the advice - absolutely perfect! We reserved a table at the champagne bar before the show, so I went for a maxi length loose shirt style dress in a summer print, closed toed flats and then a dressier bag.

I see what you mean about the mixture. Some full black tie sitting next to jeans and a jumper and no one batted an eyelid.