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From: Margaret Harrison
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: OFF: Opera and classical concert attire
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Jessica wrote:

> This is very off subject, but, events recently have piqued my curiosity
> about this subject: what is common for men and women to wear in your neck
> of the woods at the opera? What about a classical concert - a big name, say
> Pavarotti or Bertoli, etc. - what types of things do you see men and women
> wearing these days? It seems the days of opera gowns is behind us... so
> what does the modern opera or classical concert look like where you are -
> or, does the opera gown still thrive and if so to what extent?

I just went to the opera at the Met in New York, and, at least on that snowy-day Thursday
evening, just about anything went! I was dressed much more casually than I normally would;
because of the weather I was wearing snow-suitable footwear, since I didn't want to carry
shoes around with me all day. To go with the shoes, I wore plain black dress slacks, and
a warm, simple nice-looking reddish top. I saw people in blue jeans, and I saw people in
formal wear, and in one famous box section of the house, every man was in black tie (it's
some type of opera club, I think).

Generally, I wear nice office-type clothes to opera or other concerts at the Kennedy
Center (since I'm usually going straight from work), and dress up more (sequin-type stuff)
if I have time or am in the mood. I was once at a production's opening night, and people
were in REALLY formal clothes. I even spotted Miss Manners (Judith Martin) wearing a
gorgeous, antique-looking long gown with a train! But I tend to dress more casually for
lower-cost venues or in the suburbs.

Peggy

--
Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
"Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile"
mailto:peggyh-at-ix.netcom.com