Outdoor Opera evening

[handsdownthebest]

We have an outdoor opera event coming up and am at a bit of a loss about what to wear.
There will be gazebos and a picnic.
How formal do I need to dress?
TIA

People will be wearing the full spectrum. The question really is how formal do you want to dress? Black tie is probably too much - but otherwise you should feel free to enter into the spirit if that’s what you want. Equally if you feel more comfortable in (eg) wide-legged trousers and a Nice Top that will be fine.

Where outdoors? Glyndebourne or local park? There's a big range.

Anyway, not that formal. I would wear normal summer dress with some sort of shawl or pashmina for when it gets chilly in the evening.

I wouldn't dress formally for this.
Unless there's a specified dress code.

It really depends on the venue, @handsdownthebest. Glyndebourne or Grimeborn?

It'll get cold so wrap up!

I agree that there's a spectrum. I went to see La Boheme in the grounds of a country house. I don't remember anyone wearing ball gowns (jeans and waxed jackets more like) but you had to bring a picnic and the people next to us brought a table, proper chairs and a candelabra!!

So take chairs if they don't provide them, because if you're on a picnic blanket you might not be able to see.

Coat, scarf, blanket, hot water bottle, big umbrella. (I work in outdoor/semi-outdoor opera every summer, and every time I watch people in thin summer clothes freezing their tits off once the sun heads towards the horizon)

Thank you. Am now def thinking wide leg trousers with nice top and something warm in my bag to cover up. We will have chairs etc
I love the outdoors but have to warm and comfortable.

I am going to go with the wide leg trousers and nice top and something to wrap up warm for when it gets chilly, which it probably will

Have you been to the opera yet, @handsdownthebest ?
Were you warm enough?

No not yet…it’s in a couple of weeks. Will be watching the weather like hawk 😁