Dress Code for the Opera

[PvtFreddy]

Hiya there,

As some of you might remember, I posted about a week ago about a book I'm writing at the moment. However, its coming on great, well, that is until now. I've hit a snag.

Let me explain:

I'm on a chapter here where my character and his mistress, if you wish to call her that, is at the opera. Now, the books on writing, and people I've spoken too, say 'write what you know/experienced about/on'.

And the opera ain't one of them but I need it to be an opera for this part of the story. It's a big part of the story, and I have no idea what type of dress code you need to be in male/female at an opera. Also if I've never been in one, a opera house, that is.

If anyone has any insight of this subject it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Freddy,

 

[I'm Cleo!]

Generally the opera is black tie, i.e., evening gowns for the ladies, tuxedos for the gentlemen. Gentlemen can sometimes get by with a dark suit, if it's not particularly formal (like a matinee or off night). I used to live a block from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, so I saw people all the time.

(Lord knows I could never afford actually to go to the Opera.)

Cleo

 

[Bigfoot3814]

Whatever you wear, be sure to get some of those little binoculars.

 

[Huayna Capac357]

You wear a tuxedo or something like that and have those little opera glasses.

 

[classical_hero]

Don't forget a monocle.

 

[Riffraff]

If it's a modern setting, I suggest you consider the average age of the viewer to be around 60. Womens dress can vary, dresses aren't as common as expected, men are generally all in suits with tie.

 

[Virote_Considon]

I'd definitely go in a Tux if it were me.

 

[GinandTonic]

Never been to the Opera but my dad used to go a fair bit. Only once the full black-tie IIRC. The black-tie being reserved for opening night/ very posh seats/ whatever.

 

[classical_hero]

You can even go to the Opera in just casual clothes, but of course this is a park setting rather than the Opera House. Of course the black tie is the look most people think of when they see people at the Opera, so it is best to go for that look so that it is easily recognisable to the reader.

 

[Masquerouge]

Going to the opera requires highly formal clothes. I dunno where you're from, but if you're from the US, think "prom" formal.
(And no, not the "I'm getting expelled" prom formal )

 

[aelf]

You wear a tuxedo or something like that and have those little opera glasses.

It's a lorgnette.

 

[PvtFreddy]

Hmm... I forget to mention sorry, the book I'm writing is fantasy based but I'm looking to base it on an era like the 17th and 18th Century. If anyone has read the Robin Hoob book series The Shaman Crossing, might have a good idea of what I'm talking about.

But thanks for the comments guys,

 

[Hygro]

Absolutely formal, as others said. Tuxedo, not suit. Evening Gown, not dress.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I don't know anything about opera, but I do know that the National Novel Writing Month website has a whole forum about this sort of thing, although I think you can't register until October.

 

[Firstlady]

Absolutely formal, as others said. Tuxedo, not suit. Evening Gown, not dress.

Bingo, this guy's got it.

Simply saying 'a dress' is very vague. There are different types of dresses like summer dresses, cocktail dresses, prom dresses, etc, etc. I'd definately agree with an evening gown being the proper attire for a lady.

 

[PvtFreddy]

Yep, I think I'm in over my head with this book, but I'm enjoying witting it and would love to get it right .

But thank you too all

 

[Perfection]

Depends ultra-absorbant.

 

[Bast]

First of all, to answer your question, men normally wear tuxedos and women wear evening gowns. But it depends on the location and the occasion. If you really want to make the point that they're going to the Opera I suppose just use tuxedos and evening gowns.

Second of all and most importantly, this should be coming from your imagination. So what if you haven't experienced it? Make it up, go around it. There are so many literary techniques you can use. Be creative.

You're not writing a book on how to go to the Opera, right? Use your imagination and don't be so pedantic.

 

[Bast]

Yep, I think I'm in over my head with this book, but I'm enjoying witting it and would love to get it right .

But thank you too all

Oh please! You should never think like that - "in over my head". You're enjoying writing it? What have you got to lose? Go for it.

 

[Red Door]

White tees and jeans halfway down yo' ass foo.