Is this okay for tea at the Ritz and ROH?

[DieDreiHexen]

We visit London quite often, but mostly supper in Marylebone, picnic in the park, the theatre, lunch by the river, an exhibition or Ronnie Scott's (or work!) Basically, nice stuff but nothing fancy, just wear jeans or a day dress. This outing is unusual for me...

We are celebrating DD's 16th birthday in January with a trip to Mikimoto for pearl earrings, tea at the Ritz and Onegin at the Royal Opera House. We are overnighting at the Ritz (already looking forward to breakfast!)

DD has an amazing Sister Jane dress.

Would this dress do for me? How do people dress for ROH? Is it better in black or cream? (I'm a Deep Autumn apparently) And what shoes might work? I was hoping I might get away with loafers as I hate heels.

Any ideas appreciated!

I'm glad it's not just me... I don't like either outfit. The last time I was at The Ritz it was all smart casual... same at the theatre.

The Ritz is not 'smart casual' for what the OP is doing there, this is copied from their dress code:

Gentlemen are required to wear a jacket and tie (jeans and sportswear are not permitted for either ladies or gentlemen) for Afternoon Tea and for lunch and dinner in The Ritz Restaurant and Terrace.

The 'nobody dresses up in London' narrative that exists here doesn't reflect my experience at all. I find the clever, creative and playful use of colour, texture and shape I see day to day on the tube inspiring. If you're looking for confirmation bias of dull and basic you see only that, if you're looking for creative and beautiful then that's what you'll find.

That's so true.

You don't understand fashion

The idea that someone might wear jeans! It's absurd.

I love clothes and fashion. I like seeing people dressed up for the opera. I don’t go OTT but am pretty smart. However more and more people now dress casually. I went to see Carmen earlier this year, and some people were in tracksuit bottoms! I realised I had an inner snob who tutted to herself…

I'm not mad on that cream dress - it'sa bit Cher from Clueless. It also looks like it would be quite warm.

Must say I think the green dress is rather stunning. Will look great on a 16 year old.

I'm wondering if the people seeing lots of jeans and so on are thinking of the Coliseum rather than the ROH? It's another beautiful venue (and I go there more often), but definitely less formal and I wouldn't think twice about what I was wearing to visit provided it was clean.

Sorry, that's no help to the OP at all! I do like the green dress

Ime you can go as formal or not as you like to either. The only opera houses I've been to with explicit dress codes are the European ones.

OP did you book an interconnecting room for DD or do they put a wee sofa bed in with you and DH?

You really think I am getting confused? I am in my fifties, live in London and have been countless times to the ROH, less frequently to the Colosseum. Why can’t you believe people like me have been to the ROH, sat in the stalls, and seen people in jeans and joggers? It happens these days, more than it did 20y ago certainly.

I've been to both the Ritz and the ROH recently - there's a real variety in what people wear at both places, ranging from really casual to super smart.

What's most important is that you wear something for your visit which feels wonderful - it sounds as though this dress is something which would feel really special for you personally, so that's what you should wear.

For what it's worth, I would choose the version of the dress in black - it feels more appropriate for the season.

Re your shoes, I wouldn't wear loafers, they would look slightly out of step - I would find some really special low-heeled courts in a black suede.

No, not you specifically because I have no idea who you are or what you posted; there are numerous posts in a ten page thread stating that people don't dress up for the Royal Opera House, which is just not true. I didn't say that this has Never Happened Ever, just that it would be less unusual at another, similar venue just around the corner.

I am also in my fifties and live in central London. Mostly I go to Sadler's Wells 😁

I imagine people know which venue they mean 🙄

Have been to both ENO and ROH frequently, in jeans. OK we can't afford the stalls but on every occasion I'm far from the only one in them.

Sorry if I'm letting the side down and everything but it's far from absurd.

Nope, I definitely know where I was. I haven’t been to the coliseum in years, generally just go to ROH and Sadler’s Wells.

I think only one poster was saying “nobody ever dresses up, you’ll look tres gauche, or even worse Northern, in anything smarter than a onesie”. Most people are saying “don’t worry about what you are wearing to the opera house, there’s a wide range right down to leggings/jeans”. OP’s dress is fine. Jeans are fine. She won’t get dirty looks either way. The Ritz sounds like the bigger issue here than the opera.

Another regular to the ROH for both ballet and opera and can safely say I've seen outfits across the spectrum. The OPs outfit choice won't look over or underdressed in any way - there will be a few ladies there in full evening dress and a few in jeans and everything in between! My favourite place to sit for a good view of the audience (and what they are wearing) is the front row of the stalls circle.

I'm not that keen on the OPs dress (and definitely don't wear it in cream with black loafers!!!) but that is more a matter of personal taste rather than it being wildly inappropriate.

You'll be one of the smartest ones there, if not the smartest

I still like to dress up to go out to the theatre or similar. I'm not really bothered about what anyone else is wearing. I'm not saying I'm in a full ballgown and tiara, but personally I do enjoy a sense of occasion.
I love both of the frocks. Have a lovely time OP!

I assume that's supposed to be sarcasm? I didn't say people don't wear jeans. They do- what is absurd is the statement that people routinely dress down.

I have to confess I really don’t like the cream dress. Me&em have some quite interesting clothes but that dress looks a bit dated. And in general I am not a huge fan of too much white or cream in winter ( unless it’s a blouse or jumper) - it just looks a bit tacky. But that’s just my opinion!

No not sarcastic. just can't imagine wearing jeans to something like that when it's an opportunity to wear a fabulous dress

Not everyone wants to wear a fabulous dress. I’m going to listen to music in a darkened auditorium, nobody is going to see what I’m wearing. Lots of us are coming straight from work, and would look a bit silly prancing around a hospital ward at 8am in a fabulous dress.

I have no issue with anyone wearing a fabulous dress if they want to, but plenty of people do wear jeans, leggings and other casual clothes.

Some of the comments on this thread are so unpleasant.

As a Londoner, I enjoy dressing up to go to the theatre and restaurants, as do my daughters.

OP please make the most of the occasion and save your leggings and jeans for walking the dog or every day shopping.

It's not really that good an opportunity for a fabulous dress.

For us we are travelling into London so usually combine it with something else. So I have to wear something that is going to be OK for a train journey, a museum visit, walking around London in whatever weather and dinner. Or I've travelled down straight from work in the evening. Opera is just one bit of the day.

Then opera is in the dark, in theatre seats.

Also some people really really like opera. We go a lot. If we aren't going to the opera at the weekend, we'll watch one being streamed. If you see that much opera it stops being a dressing up occasion very quickly.