Your Turn
Tell me what to wear for the Germanic, 1820s version of Beatlemania at Benaroya Hall. Please.
Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 28, 2009 at 11:00AM
8 Comments
Okay, it’s your turn. I need you to tell me what to wear to the symphony. Perhaps more to the point, I need to know what dudes in this town wear to the symphony.
My husband and I are going to Benaroya Hall next weekend to see a performance of a Franz Liszt piece that we love. Do you know Liszt? That’s him there. He had giant hands—all the better for playing the piano with—and was a heartthrob/rock star back in the day. Really. He made women hysterical, like the Beatles would so many years later. We have the most amazing red vinyl Liszt LP that we play at the end of long wonderful weekends at home … devastatingly beautiful stuff.
At any rate, we were talking this morning about where to eat beforehand, and what to wear. Having not been (shameful, I know) to a Seattle Symphony Performance before, I don’t know if I should expect tuxes or jeans. This being Seattle, I am thinking I might see both, and everything in between. But if you could let me know what you’ve worn, and what you’ve seen, I’d really owe you one.
And of course I’ll report back—with pictures!
The last time I went to the Seattle Symphony was a couple years ago. My date and I dressed up, not quite knowing what the expect either. I wore a simple, teal jersey dress with a swingy skirt. Clean jewelry as well…just a silver pendant necklace and earrings I made. Oh yeah, and a belted, 3/4 grey tweed coat. Shoes were simple, too…I think they were just some black booties.
My date wore slacks and a jacket, no tie. In general I felt a little overdressed because there were so many people there in separates (for women) and Gap khakis and cotton button-downs….but an older, sharp-dressed couple next to us complimented us and said that it was nice to see some “younger folks dressing up for the symphony these days.”
Most helpful information, Venividi. Thank you very much. I love that whenever you are slightly overdressed in life there is bound to be a delightful little old couple who’s got your back. I think we’ll get pretty dressy… I mean, you get so few excuses after the holidays, and really, I think Liszt and the symphony warrant it. Seattle can be a very casual place, but that has been changing these last few years, and I’d rather be part of the solution rather than part of the problem!
I agree completely! I love getting dressed up, and as you said, there are very few saucy occasions after NYE to do that in Seattle. Have a great time!
Great topic!
What is this world coming to when you attend the symphony, ballet, 5th Avenue, Opera and there are people there in jeans, khaki’s, cordoroy, fleece jackets, Teva’s with socks, hiking boots, tennis shoes and vests.
I believe this is disprespectful to the performers and the institution itself.
Women should have something nice on. A dress or very nice pant outfit. None of the above! Men should have a coat and tie on in the evening at least a coat and dress shirt during the day.
If you don’t dress up for these events, what do you dress up for?
There should be a dress code.
Cheers!
One of the Good Things in Seattle is the lack of a dress code at events.
That said, and putting aside the need to encourage — really encourage — more people to attend arts events, I would start with good business clothes for the Symphony and then move up according to level of celebration you will be enjoying as a couple.
Opening nights are always a wonderful excuse to unleash the dazzling outfits. However, if the woman dresses up, I fully expect the man to match her outfit. None of this Her looking like a sparkly million dollars and Him looking like a 10 a.m. bank meeting. I don’t care how expensive that bank meeting suit is; unless it’s an Italian cut beauty, it’s inappropriate. And boring for those of us who will be looking at Him as well as/instead of her.
I would recommend, though, that the sparkly and sharply cut outfits be comfortable. You’re going to be sitting for long stretches and wiggling and readjusting and tugging would really annoy the people sitting next to you, in back of you, and possibly in front of you if you end up kicking their seat.
Have fun!
great feedback from Maggie and myopinion
- thanks so much. I’m not sure that I’m ever in favor of dress codes, but then I’m an idealist with idealistic anarchist leanings and I want to believe that folks can figure it out, and that those that can’t or don’t will eventually self-correct in some other fashion (no pun intended) before giving the rest of us too much grief. And I can really get behind the idea that a dress code would ultimately keep people out of the arts. And fashion being an art, well, it just doesn’t sort out-not in my mind. And yes, the comfort factor is always an important consideration. No one should wear anything anywhere that they don’t feel comfortable in. It’s impossible to look good in something that doesn’t feel right, and at that point it’s equally impossible to get your mind blown by transcendent piano keys or anything else, so you’d be better off at home with some sweatpants and a sitcom or two. That said, it’s completely possible to feel comfortable in a suit and tie, or in a high-waisted black silk taffeta skirt, which is kind of what I’ve got my eye on at the moment (I’m currently shopping my closet, as they say here in the recession, but I"m just a payday + a lunch hour away from hitting a couple of sales…). Comfort is all about fit and fabric, and fit and fabric are all about quality, and quality, not quantity, is a place I’d love to see all of us return to. So where does all my rambling leave me and the Mr. in terms of next weekend’s attire? Well, I’m not totally sure, but I’m sure I’ll let you know when I figure it out.real anarchists are not allowed in the building
Dress code? Are we really still there? I don’t own any dresses or “nice” pant suits. Why? Because it’s simply not my style. Do we really still think only prissy people are worthy of enjoying the symphony.