What Would You Wear?

Updated on November 20, 2014
M.H. asks from McKinney, TX
17 answers

I am taking my daughter to the Nutcracker at a fancy venue (performing arts center that was formerly an opera house). We should see some wonderful dancing and effects and I am excited for both her and me (I love ballet). :)

It's a matinee on a Sunday. She will be wearing very fancy clothes (her choice), something that looks like a mini-quinceañera dress.

What should I wear? I know will have to buy something new.

TIA!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the advice! I opted for this:
http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=94993...

I think the color is festive and it's not too dressy, per all of your recommendations. :)

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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes--like something you'd wear to a Christmas party.
The kids get really decked out--the parents look presentable & Christmas-y.

6 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Asheville on

I'd wear a sweater with a little sparkle and a pair of nice pants. Since this is a matinee, etiquette is a little more casual than with an evening show (for the adults anyway). :)

5 moms found this helpful

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Dress like you are going to a nice dinner, or a nice church service. Sadly some people come to these things dressed like they are going to the movies (I have seen grown men wearing shorts, ugh) but many of us still like to look nice and put together at the theater/ballet.
It's fun to dress up for such a special performance, and I think it's a sign of respect for the performers.
Have fun, I looooove the Nutcracker!!!

5 moms found this helpful
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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

I would wear something you would wear to a Christmas party. That way you guys will both look festive. Special time for Mom and daughter, enjoy!!

5 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Are you going to the Winspear Opera House? It is very nice!!!! You'll love it.

When my daughter and I went to Beauty and the Beast, we just dressed in nicer Sunday clothes. My daughter was a bit dressier but I just had a nice dress on.

Go shopping and have fun!!

4 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

dress slacks and a nice sweater. calf length skirt and sweater. something comfortable. Will she be able to sit in that type of dress for the length of the performance? Fancy clothing is nice. My granddaughter got dressed up when I took her to see Annie. She loved it.

4 moms found this helpful
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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

LBD is always a good choice.

3 moms found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

I would wear the same type attire I would wear to Christmas dinner (not the dinner party). Perhaps a pair of slacks and a sequin sweater. I don't wear skirts or dresses, my personal choice.

3 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i wouldn't wear evening finery. you want to be comfortable, as well as have a little pizazz for a special occasion. i'd go with a nice pair of slacks, or a longish (calf or longer) skirt with a festive sweater, or a nice blouse jazzed up with a sparkly scarf.
love the nutcracker! my husband won't do ballets with me (sniffle) but i did get to see it with my SIL and MIL a few years ago. have fun!
:) khairete
S.

3 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Dallas on

Just about anything you wear that's somewhat nice to the Winspear will be OK since you're doing an afternoon performance. You'll see pressed jeans and boots all the way to sequins and pearls. I usually wear nice black slacks and a blouse. Since your daughter wants to dress up, go with a simple black dress and a glittery necklace to jazz it up. She'll have a blast.

3 moms found this helpful
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K.F.

answers from New York on

I would dress comparable to my child. I would probably wear a extremely nice cocktail dress in a vibrant color to compliment my daughters dress so NO black.

Perhaps something like this:
http://www.thelimited.com/product/sequin-fit-%26-flare-dr...

Have fun.

3 moms found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I'm taking my daughter to see The Nutcracker at the Warner Theater in DC just before Christmas. We will both dress up, I'll probably wear a black dress and nude shoes, she will likely pick one of her many dresses.

We went to the Kennedy Center in July and we were shocked to see a range of tuxedo's and formal gowns all the way down to jeans and sneakers. I actually went to two shows in July, one was a Saturday afternoon and one was a Saturday evening - people were dressed the same for both.

So dress similar to her and have fun!

2 moms found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Cocktail dress. If your daughter is dressing, so should you. It is appropriate to dress up for the ballet whether it is daytime or evening.

As to the comment that many parents will be there and neither they, nor their children will dress - not true. We are taking our son to see the Nutcracker this season (first time) and we will dress - he will wear a suit, as will his father. I will wear a dress. Certainly some people do not dress appropriately. But you see people leaving church nowadays in old jeans - doesn't make it ok.

2 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Red sweater with nice slacks or longer skirt with boots is what I'd wear but I'm in Oklahoma and it's cold here....

If I was in a warm environment I'd wear a nice red or green dress, I might even wear a white or navy one too. Then deck it out with some Christmas jewelry. You could even wear the same color as your daughter and be sort of matching but not too much it's creepy.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

If you wear business casual you will blend it nicely. If you wear church clothes, you will be among the better dressed. But you will see plenty of t-shirts and sneakers, because people are just people. Since your daughter has opted for nice, I would too - it makes the event more special. Take some photos!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.T.

answers from Muncie on

Got a little black dress? A simple black dress and heels should be fine.

I saw "Phantom of the Opera" in Switzerland...our group were the only ones dressed up. Serously, people were in jeans and t-shirts.

1 mom found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

I think you'll see a wide range of clothing types. Yes, it's in an old opera house, but it's during the day. Also, there will also be many children there, and neither they nor their parents will all dress up.

If you want to buy something special that you can also wear again, go for it. But you'll see people in a mix of things from regular jeans/shirt to black jeans/top to dress slacks/sweaters to business casual to Christmas-themed sparkles. Dress for the weather and for comfort - if you have to park far away, consider what walking will be like in dressy shoes. Be sure that you have something comfortable you can sit in for a long period of time. Whatever you wear, as long as it's not formal, you won't be the only one.

Ideally, patrons will not wear noisy things like jingly bangle bracelets and so on! Nothing worse than noise over an orchestra!

Have fun!

1 mom found this helpful
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