Dressing up to go to the theatre?- Page 5

[D2]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 4:57pm

White linen.

I don't mean that sarcastically, either. While it does get wrinkled very quickly, and white isn't the best color to wear in the city, linen breathes and remains comfortable in hot weather. The light color reflects the sunlight, unlike hot colors which absorb the heat.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 5:41pm

I think we all just have to realize it's a sign of the times. Once upon a time, it was expected of all to go dressed up to the theatre. If that was still the case, I'm sure many of us who wear jeans and such to the theatre would not. But that has changed. It has become "acceptable" to attend the theatre in jeans and such. So with that in mind, of course people who don't like to dress up are not going to. Though one may argue that is because theater has become less of a special event, I personally think it has more to do with the trend of younger people going to shows. I mean, most of the older folks who attend shows still dress up.

There still are times and places though. I mean, when I went to Phantom's record-breaking performance, there was a father and son there in jeans. I swear, they were the only ones in the whole theatre dressed as such. When I attend events like that--opening nights, special benefit performances, etc--THAT'S when I make sure to dress up.

[AnythingCanHappen]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 5:49pm

unfortunately, i think Bway lost its 'dresscode' ages ago.

i would actually love to wear a nice suit to a show if i had the money, or it was 'normal' to do so.

but when i go i always wear a button up, nice shoes (no tennies, eww) and a good pair of jeans without any fading, rips or tears, and on occasion i have a velvet suitcoat if i want to be a little more dressy/trendy.

and i am a 'tourist' when I am seeing shows.

i think it depends on the person.

[Timmer]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 6:03pm

I was raised going to the theatre often and I always dress up. It's a nicer exzperience for me and for everyone else, and it is an occasion, even if you do it frequently. It's a little special.

I also dress up to go to church.

[Runner1B]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 8:44pm

I wore a tye-dyed Hefty bag to Sally Struthers in The Odd Couple in 1985. No one paid any attention to me.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 8:52pm

I personally always dress up for the theatre, because it's not exactly a dime-a-dozen experience for me right now. But I don't really care what others wear, because you never know what they were doing before. I was in SF, and my uncle surprised me by saying we were seeing Spelling Bee in a couple of hours, and I couldn't go change. I was wearing corduroys and flip-flops, which I would never wear to a theatre normally.

[BrunetteBombshell]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 9:01pm

I normally dress up when I go out to the theatre.

I think if you're seeing a matinee of a Broadway show, it's ok to wear jeans and a sweater with some nice shoes (not necessarily sneakers).

But to me, it doesn't matter what someone else is wearing, unless it's really distracting.

[javertjunky]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 9:05pm

I always dress up when I go to the theatre. Even if it's a high school show I look nice. When I went to see Rent and Les Miz, I was in kakis and a button down with a tie and blazer. I think people should dress up more when they see shows. I remember seeing two people in t-shirts and jeans at the Nederlander and thinking they looked trashy and out of place. I will always look classy.

[lucydee]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 9:54am

I think as long as you look
nice and neat. Jeans are O.K.
if they are dark no holes or
patches worn with a nice shirt
and heels.
Usually, I go to the theatre after work
hours during the week, so I am dressed
from being at work.
However, most recently I went to a
Saturday Matinee of Les Mis and I
wore Dark Dressy Jeans, nice blouse
and a Blazer.
I call this dressy casual. It looks neat
but not too formal.

Updated On: 1/24/07 at 09:54 AM

[Maile]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:20pm

"Whenever I see someone dressed up at the theater- I assume they are tourists- and usually I'm right."

Hardly! I dress up for regional theatre in my hometown too. Going to the theatre is like going to church for me...except I don't like church and haven't been in years.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 3:15pm

"dramaqueen, when are you sitting onstage in March?"

What does that mean, sitting onstage? Not literally, right?

[rflpfl2]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 3:31pm

Really- what does it matter what you wear to the theater. It's not church (if people dress up for that, I don't know); you're going somewhere to be entertained- that's it.

I'm curious as to why people think that there should be an unsaid dress code. Is it to make the theater experience that much more elitist and exclusive?

Is it that after paying $100 for a seat- you want to feel that you're somewhere more special than a movie theater, and therefore people's clothing should reflect that- and by wearing jeans with a hole in it someone is disturbing your experience?

I understand the idea of it being a special night for people and that's why they dress up- but to have this idea that other people are underdressed is so odd to me.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 2:24pm

Bump.

What does "sitting onstage" mean?

[Jellylorum]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 3:46pm

"What does that mean, sitting onstage? Not literally, right?"

Yes, you do literally sit on the stage. It's only in one show though, which is Spring Awakening. They offer a limited number of seats on the stage for the audience.

[faithanytwo]

Posted: 1/26/07 at 5:59pm

my standard has been the same, it was inflicted on me ever since I was very young. What I wear to shows, be it regional or Broadway, is what I would wear to Christmas mass, Thanksgiving dinner, or any event with my family -- nice shirt, nice khakis/dress pants, occasionally a cute unformal dress, but never jeans. i think it's just a matter of how people dress up, when i went to Broadway for the first time, I was horrified. I just expected everyone to have the same standard. Although I do go into the city as a tourist (gasp! not one of those... sorry, can't help it.) so I don't expect absolutely everyone to conform to what I wear based on time or comfort. I have the luxury to change into clothes after walking around at my hotel. Plus as one said earlier, it's an experience, I love looking nice and then going out to a nice dinner after. It's not something I do much at home.

[jaxel614]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:08pm

BUMP

So I know the attire question has been constantly asked, BUT wondering if shorts and a nice shirt would be okay for Patti LuPone's solo concert?
Updated On: 1/4/11 at 03:08 PM

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:31pm

Wear whatever you want. I've seen everything- from prom dresses to sweats.

[jaxel614]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 3:55pm

Thanks, over the summer when I see shows I typically wear shorts and fall/winter jeans, but I was wondering if this was different, especially for LuPone and with my local crowd being a bit different than the Broadway people.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:24pm

I think it's easy for men to look appropriate in nice shorts (khakis or something similar. No jeans or mesh), a dress shirt and closed toe shoes. As a woman, I personally have a hard time dressing up shorts, but I think men have it easier.

[Weez]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 4:26pm

Thank you so much for bumping this thread! I had no idea I was such a self-righteous little prig four years ago, I've had some good laughs at myself!

You show your respect by your behaviour - sit down, shut up, turn off your phone, forego non-essential refreshment, don't smell, and show your appreciation appropriately. Your dress has NOTHING to do with it.

In fact, people who dress up to go to the theatre are more likely to wear lovely accessories, which means they're more likely to have armfuls of noisy bangles.

Jeans ahoy, chaps! For Broadway, the West End, and the Royal bloody Shakespeare Company! XD

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 5:24pm

When my grandma was a kid, men wore suits and ties to go to a baseball game. Would you even think of doing that now? Times change, what people wear to different events changes.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 6:06pm

LOL Weez, when you said CHAPS I thought you meant the kind that I might've worn to The Eagle.

[broadwaybabytn]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 6:32pm

when going to a Broadway show, I think nice clothing is expected. It also depends on what show it is. Hair might be ok with your jeans, but ALNM might not.

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 7:03pm

Yeah, I'm one of the ones that doesn't dress up. If only because when I've been able to go to the theatre, it's been after wandering about in the city for most of the day and running out of time (or simply not planning ahead) to be able to change. That's not to say I'm going in ratty jeans and tasteless t-shirts, mind you.

[PlayhouseBeauty]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 11:03pm

For me personally I would never wear jeans and a tshirt to the theater. I grew up going to musicals at Paper Mill Playhouse and as a child my mom always picked a dress for me and then as I got older and I could pick my own clothes I was always told never to wear jeans. So I usually wear nice dress pants with a blouse, jewelry, and a sensible heel. I think Dressy Casual should be the dress code for theaters. When I see someone in a hoodie, jeans, and uggs I find then very under dressed. But again that was just how I was brought up.