Broadway Dress Code- Page 2

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:39pm

Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer to wear something nice. Dresses/skirts, and dress pants are my common theatre attire.

It also depends on the show. I love costuming and I love doing themes. I always wore sexy black lace numbers for Cabaret, and for shows like Piazza and ASU, I wore full circular skirts and neck scarves. I'm thinking about wearing a black skirt and a blood red shirt to Sweeney.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:47pm

"I don't care if they wear a burlap bag -- as long as they're quiet during the show." bwayfan215

God Bless You for that. I personally like to dress up a bit, but that's me. I can certainly see where it sometimes isn't possible.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:55pm

I too long for the glamor of days passed when men wore black tuxedos and women fine Chanel gowns to the theatre then off to a late supper at 21 but unfortunately, that time is long gone. I personally couldn't care less what you wear for the most part. Certainly, I would hope that people would make some attempt to present themselves in an appropriate manner but if someone shows up wearing a sweatshirt and ripped jeans and sneakers that is okay with me too. Nowadays, jeans are not taboo to wear to the theatre. I personally pay about $150 for a pair of jeans and they are more than acceptable to go to the theatre in. Anyway, I care more about people being polite and respectful of their fellow audience members by refraining from talking and making unnecessary noise and making sure they don't smell horrid and I'm fine.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 12:56pm

Please, I've gone to broadway shows in sweats and a T-shirt. I've long since gotten over my "need" to dress up for the theatre. (i used to wear nice long pants and a dress shirt, then i realized, it didn't matter).

[freeadmission]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 1:00pm

Someone mentioned the luck of being a girl in the summer, with getting to wear a light skirt instead of Dockers or something. I'm a bit of asnob when it comes to theatre dress, but I think it's okay for guys to wear a nice pair of khaki shorts, a nice shirt, and maybe some docksiders (you wear sneakers and I'll KILL you . . .okay . . . probably not, but I would contemplate it) to a summer matinee. 2:00/3:00 is just about the hottest part of the day and forcing heat stroke on a person is just not nice.

But I've always worn a skirt or some dressy black pants to the theatre. If I owned a single evening gown, I'd wear that instead. I just like the almost nostalgic feeling of getting all dressed up for the theatre

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 1:13pm

Mabel, I was also very surprised. RENT is definitely not your traiditional Broadway fare and I did not feel at all uncomfortable with wearing my t-shirt and jeans. But, as we were walking up to pick up our lottery tickets I heard a woman (probably mid 30s) say quite loudly to her friend as we passed, "what, do they think they're going to see a movie? this is Broadway."

I should have turned around and asked her if she was sitting front row for $25.

Updated On: 8/19/05 at 01:13 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:21pm

I try to dress nice for the theatre. I have no problem with going in jeans and a nice shirt, though. Or I'll wear a skirt or a sundress. If I wear sweats, which I usually don't do, they have to be like super nice and matching, but if I wear sweats to a show ti's probably becaus eI didn't plan on going.

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:38pm

99% of the time I dress nicely for shows...broadway, tours or even community theatre. The only time I've never dressed nice for a show was this past May when i went to see producers...we'd just got settled in the hotel and it was around 7...my cousin and i didnt have plans to see any shows that night but we were walking by the st. james and i wanted to see what tickets were like for the following days....well we ended up doing rush...me in a track jacket, hat, shorts and tennis shoes...I know the theatre gods were not smiling on me that night, but I had a blast at the show...its in my top 5 now

[mabel]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:43pm

I should have turned around and asked her if she was sitting front row for $25.

You totally should have!

And I have to agree w/ whoever said they don't care as long as the audience behaves and is quiet. I'd rather have scrubby people and no cell phones going off than folks properly dressed w/ scattered ringing (got an annoying one at an inopportune moment at The Pillowman on Tuesday! Grrr!!!) Oh, and I'm right w/ you on bathing! I sat next to a ripe one when I saw Hairspray! Thank god I was on the aisle and I could lean out and away! Ick!

[Marlene]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:47pm

If I won the lottery, or did rush I'm certainly not going home to change. So I'll usually be in jeans/more casual lightweight bottoms/a casual skirt and a nice top. Frankly I don't know why anyone would have a problem with you showing up in jeans for Rent. With the whole concept of premium denim, it's practically made to be dressed up within reason.

It depends on the show, the time, the occasion, the circumstances of it all. Just be decently dressed, and use your disgression.

The fall/winter has to be the easiest to dress up for, that's what I think personally.

*hides* I do unfortunately wear sneakers to the theater during the summer especially if it's lottery. They are my lucky Purcells. I do avoid flip flops, anything that doesn't fit nicely, t-shirts (unless it's from the show), sweatshirts, anything heavily distressed (save your jeans with the premade gapping holes for elsewhere!), I can go on.

I've never got a snide comment before...so I'll keep wearing what I usually wear.

I honestly I rather have someone wearing jeans and a t-shirt that is quite and polite, and someone who is decked out, loud, and keeps trying to take pictures even though the ushers are all over them. (Oh so many Christmases ago...) Updated On: 8/19/05 at 02:47 PM

[mabel]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:52pm

See, I'll wear flip flops anywhere. (I guess I would have been yelled at at the White House a la those lacrosse chicks) I'll wear them everywhere/every day until it's too cold out to wear them anymore (and then I sadly mourne the fact that I have to put them away for the rest of the year). *shrug* To each his/her own. It's not as if there are any definitive answers here...other than shower, shower, shower!

[Marlene]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 2:55pm

The great flip flop battle. I just don't like when people wear flips flops that look like they belong in the shower. (Keep the plain plastic kinds at the beach or in the shower) Or those mesh chinese slides that were sooo popular last year. But, there are exceptions to everything.

The true meaning of it all...no matter what someone is always going to have a problem with what your wearing, or make some remark you rather not hear. Just remember you're there to enjoy the show, to embrace the performance; f*ck what some lady next you thinks. Updated On: 8/19/05 at 02:55 PM

[mabel]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 3:01pm

Yeah, I didn't really get what the big deal was w/ that lacrosse team. It wasn't as if they were wearing $5 flip flops from K-Mart or something. They were designer sandals that probably cost $150! And yeah, I never really got the big deal about those Chinese slippers...or Ugg Boots! Who decided a short cotten skirt looks good w/ big-ass wool lined boots?!?!? I saw some chick wearing them when I was in the city the other day, and I just wanted to slap her! It's 95 degrees out?!?! Why are you wearing boots?!?!?!? Freak.

Anyway, yeah...back to clothes at the theatre!

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 5:36pm

Did you call the fashion police? Ugg's are SO two seasons ago!

[Katecab99]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 5:41pm

i still like to be dressed up a little to go. the only time i'll go very dressed down is a) to RENT or b) if i randomly win a lottery.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:01pm

I'm sorry, but theatre is a bourgeois enough art form, no need to compound that by saying that everyone should dress in nice clothing.

Sometimes I'll dress up, sometimes I won't. I don't think it matters.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:03pm

I don't care what the show is, one should NEVER wear a t-shirt or shorts, and since I hate them I'll include sandals as well. I thinkk jeans are ok for matinees, so long as they are black or that really faded black/blue color. Blue jeans are tacky (especially when people tuck their shirts).

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:04pm

The theatre deserves as much respect as a baseball game. You wanna dress up, dress up. If you want to go in shorts and a t-shirt, and the theatre allows you to, than go. All this respesct can lead people to think theatre is out of their reach. Dress for yourselves. (please, just no fcuk t-shirts)

[Pinguin]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:07pm

Some people don't HAVE nice clothing or have any fashion sense or know anything about the theatre. Just be glad that they're showing up and have the ability to pay the money for the tickets.

No need to be snobby about it.

[mabel]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:12pm

WonderBoy, I totally should have phoned the fashion police. Blech! They're so wretched!

[Marlene]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:53pm

Threads of this kind will forever amuse me.

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:53pm

and that's why we post.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:58pm

The constant "I don't care how people are dressed as long as they behave" argument kills me. One has NOTHING to do with the other. The thread was about DRESS CODE, not behavioral code. Either you think people should dress up or you don't. Everyone here always agrees that we should all behave well/shower, etc. Why is it even a point of discussion?

[Demitri2]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 7:21pm

I've always enjoyed dressing up for the theater and for me it has always been part of the fun of attending theater. If I have great orchestra seats I'll take a little more time getting ready. For balcony I don't primp as much. All kidding aside though, I've seen this topic discussed before and my question is, "If you don't bother getting dressed up for the theater then when da f-ck do you get dressed up??? Weddings? Funerals? Attending cabarets and restaurants that still require a dress code? Or don't people in general enjoy the fun of wearing nice clothes anymore?

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 8/19/05 at 7:29pm

I really don't care what people wear as long as what they are wearing isn't something that would distract the actors or is so big (yes even hair) that it blocks the patrons around them. And if someone said something to me about wearing sweats to the theatre I would bitch them out until they got embarassed from the scene i was making at walked away. Cause honestly, it doesn't matter what people wear, it's no one else's business and everyone should just worry about themselves and stop inserting their ideas about what is proper and right into others lives.

Mind yo damn bizness.