Dress code in continental opera houses?

[gurnemanz]

We went to Bayreuth for the first time last year. I wore a DJ expecting at least to be in the majority but it was only about 50%. I never bother with a tie at ROH but always wear a decent jacket. I have occasionally sighted blokes in shorts and sandals there, which I would certainly draw the line at. We went to the Gewandhaus a couple of years ago and there was quite a formal atmosphere compared to UK. Most men were wearing collar and tie and couples were promenading old style in the interval. I hadn't even put a tie in my luggage and never wear one at concerts in UK. For me, concerts are a leisure activity and ties are for work (I was a teacher). I only wear a tie with a suit - births, marriages and deaths.

[DublinJimbo]

Experience in European cities I've been to suggests that smart casual is perfectly acceptable. Formal wear is virtually non-existent.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Wearing a suit or jacket without a tie looks rather slovenly, so I would suggest that if you don't want to wear a tie, wear something other than a jacket.

[Flosshilde]

If you wear the right style of shirt, buttoned at the neck, it looks far from slovenly. Lots of advice here -

http://www.fashionbeans.com/2014/men...oing-tie-less/

Let us know which look you go for, Dave

[vinteuil]

Wearing a suit or jacket without a tie looks rather slovenly, so I would suggest that if you don't want to wear a tie, wear something other than a jacket.

... does it now! Perhaps this is the rule in the provinces?

I have worn a jacket without a tie almost every day for the last twenty years. Not many people wd say I was slovenly.

[Old Grumpy]

I remember taking my children to the ROH and the woman sitting next to them asked if their footwear was what was known as trainers - it was.

I was once told off (by a colleague) for wearing "training shoes" to dinner at an hotel


OG

[Serial_Apologist]

I was once told off (by a colleague) for wearing "training shoes" to dinner at an hotel


OG

I would have replied: "But I bet you'd call this place A hotel"!

[vinteuil]

I was once told off (by a colleague) for wearing "training shoes" to dinner at an hotel

... anyone who says "an hôtel" has more than enough class to carry off 'training-shoes'.

[Old Grumpy]

... anyone who says "an hôtel" has more than enough class to carry off 'training-shoes'.

Why thank you Sir, you are too kind!

[Old Grumpy]

If you wear the right style of shirt, buttoned at the neck, it looks far from slovenly. Lots of advice here -

http://www.fashionbeans.com/2014/men...oing-tie-less/

Well, perhaps so, but IMV wearing a shirt such as the one in the first picture buttoned right up to the neck just looks plain ridiculous.

OG

[P. G. Tipps]

I don't like opera, I think it's all a bit silly, tbh.

As for the concert-hall it's always full evening-dress for Bruckner, a scruffy old t-shirt and jeans for Mahler, and if it's Brahms I don't bother going at all.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... anyone who says "an hôtel" has more than enough class to carry off 'training-shoes'.

That isn't class at all - just pretentiousness.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... does it now! Perhaps this is the rule in the provinces?

I have worn a jacket without a tie almost every day for the last twenty years. Not many people wd say I was slovenly.

I could not possibly comment, never having seen you, but if you can bring it off. . .

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, perhaps so, but IMV wearing a shirt such as the one in the first picture buttoned right up to the neck just looks plain ridiculous.

OG

(They all do)

[gurnemanz]

Wearing a suit or jacket without a tie looks rather slovenly, so I would suggest that if you don't want to wear a tie, wear something other than a jacket.

With jackets I tend to wear shirts with button-down collars with the top button undone for comfort. They keep the collar reasonably neat and non-slovenly. I wouldn't ever wear a suit without a tie.