How to Dress for a Theatrical Event

Lavish theater settings demand more high-end fashion requirements.

Before deciding on your outfit for a theatrical event, consider the venue. While professional productions typically require somewhat dressy attire, small community or regional theaters may only call for business casual standards. While women may bring purses inside the theater, make certain to leave your cell phone on silent. Under no circumstances should anyone wear sneakers or jeans to a theatrical event.

Men

For a truly upscale event, such as opening night of a play or ballet, men should consider wearing a suit. Otherwise, business casual remains appropriate attire for most theatrical events. Such attire consists of dress pants, a button-down long-sleeve dress shirt and tie. For a smaller, more casual venue, men can wear khakis and even a short-sleeved collared shirt on warm nights.

Women

For a major theatrical event, such as a Broadway show, women may consider a jersey dress or cotton skirt partnered with a button down blouse. You can also dress up any outfit with glitzy jewelry or a handbag. On chilly evenings, add a shawl, scarf, cardigan sweater or dress coat. Women may also wear heels, ballet flats and open-toe wedge sandals. For an afternoon matinee, women may dress down a bit, wearing items like linen pants paired with a short-sleeve sweater or blouse.

Children

Children should dress up for theatrical events as well. During colder weather, young girls can wear velvet dresses with tights and a cardigan sweater. You can also add a wool jacket, hat and scarf for added warmth. During the spring or summer months, girls may consider sun dresses with sandals. Young girls should typically wear flats in order to avoid fumbling in heels all evening. Similar to men, boys may wear khaki pants and a collared shirt. Boys can add a sweater to their outfits during the winter as well.

Formal Attire

On limited occasions, theatrical events require formal attire. For instance, some opera opening nights, particularly in cities like New York and Los Angeles, require black tie or formal attire. For men, black tie typically means wearing a tuxedo while women should don evening gowns made of such materials as lace or satin. Some special theatrical performances, like New Year’s Eve concerts, require formal attire as well.