Deciding what to wear to the opera may seem no different than any other special event. You can learn how to style for an opera by reading our post.
The Opera is a great excuse to dress up and (finally) bring home that one dress you’ve had your heart on since, well, forever. However, getting dressed for the opera can be difficult, especially if it’s your first time. “Exists a dress code?” “Am I looking dapper enough?” “Is this too much?”
Depending on how casual or formal you want to feel, here are some outfit suggestions for the opera.
What to Wear to the Opera: Outfit Ideas
Here are eight outfit suggestions.
An Elegant Gown
There is no wrong way to wear a classy gown, especially one without straps in a striking color, with delicate jewelry. A black dress is a better option if you prefer to keep things straightforward.
Feather Trims
Feathers will never fail to give any ensemble just the right amount of drama. Even at the Opera, wearing a chic dress with feather trim will almost always land you on the list of best dressed.
A Slip Dress
The slip dress’s beauty still lies in the fact that it can be worn everywhere. Choose the appropriate slip dress and accessories, and you’re ready to go, whether it’s for the opera, the red carpet, or the beach.
Sparkle and Shine
When used properly, embellishments can give your outfit just the right amount of glitz. If you are in a sparkly mood, then we suggest taking inspiration from influencers Dima Sheikhly and Dana Malhas on the art of styling embellished dresses.
Leather
Even though the UAE’s temperatures are rising steadily, you can still wear leather in the evenings. We particularly love Amina Muaddi‘s strapless leather co-ord piece. For a night at the opera, if you’re planning to wear all leather, we advise choosing delicate, understated accessories to complement the look.
A Fringe Dress
Any dress can quickly go from 0 to 100 with fringe. When in doubt, slip into your favorite fringe dress, et voila.
Suit Up
Nobody ever said that you have to wear a gown. There are no strict dress codes at the Opera, as we already mentioned. This means that, if you choose to, you can enter the hallways wearing a chic blazer or a strong pantsuit.
Gloves
Looking for an excuse to wear your exquisite gloves ever since you binge-watched Bridgerton? In reality, the only time you can wear elbow-length gloves in Dubai is when you go to the opera.
Read More:
How to Figure out What to Wear to The Opera?
The type of opera being performed as well as the location/city where it is being held determine how people should dress for it. Evaluate the opera before choosing your fashionable opera attire.
Are you going to an important opera? Or is it sold out after being mentioned in a notable publication? When people other than those you’re going to the show with are excited about it, you know it’s a big deal.
The location will be your next consideration after determining the opera’s popularity. We attended The Ring cycle at A little fancier than a neighborhood theater is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I searched the Kennedy Center website for any mention of an opera attire policy but couldn’t find any.
The majority of venue locations advise dressing however you feel most at ease, but that advice is extremely vague and leaves most people even more perplexed. “Wear what feels comfortable” can be difficult to decipher, so instead of leaving you without an answer here are some suggestions.
NOTE: Because I assist people in leading fashionable lives and write about fashion, I tend to advise wearing fancier clothing than the majority of people.
Simple Style Tips
Do not wear denim jeans. Even though they are very comfortable and you might adore them, avoid wearing anything denim.
When in doubt about a color, choose black. Black is easy to wear, flattering on the body, and is accesorized well.
If your outfit is simple, add a statement piece like large earrings or statement necklace to bring a wow factor to your opera outfit.
Business or business-casual clothing is what most people opt to wear. Think jersey or shift dresses, matching separates, pencil skirts, and blazers to complete the look.
A dress is a practical and wise choice. At the opera, I noticed lots of dressed-up women. Dresses ranged in length from floor-length gowns to shorter full dresses, like the one I’m wearing in this outfit post. A dress that is too short, too tight, too revealing, or too casual is inappropriate. Think cocktail dress.
To stay warm during the performance, layer on a blazer, cape, cardigan, shawl, or fur stole. A second layer will be helpful if you frequently get cold in theaters because you will spend the majority of the performance sitting and enjoying the opera.
Make sure your hair, makeup, and outfit coordinate. I created a unified look because my opera attire was simple and elegant. With a bright lip and minimal makeup, I pulled my hair back into a low, sleek ponytail. Keep in mind that the little things really do matter.
Dress up if you’d like to and the situation calls for it. Of the four outfits I wore to the opera, this was the fanciest. This was how I dressed up. The tuxedo cape and the gold accents give this outfit a fancy feel even though it wasn’t a floor-length gown.
Always wear what you feel comfortable in. My aesthetic is more traditional and understated. I prefer minimalist designs that don’t require much to stand out. I only needed to add gold accessories to this dress. The dress’s distinctive feature was its gold accent.
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FAQs
Is There a Dress Code for the Opera House?
There’s no real dress code for this event, you’ll fit right in wearing smart casual. But if you want to dress up, go for it! It’s a special occasion, and getting dressed up makes everything infinitely more fun.
What Should a Woman Wear to the Opera?
The best thing to wear to the opera is whatever makes you the most comfortable. No matter what you’re wearing—a dress, jeans, shorts, or even a little costume—we’ll be delighted to see you.
Can I Wear Jeans to Opera?
Weekday and matinee performances are generally where you’ll see more casually dressed opera-goers in business casual or jeans and a nice blouse or button-up.
