Appearance Intervention: A Night at the Opera

So, your significant other has just surprised you with tickets to the New York Philharmonic’s upcoming performance of Stravinksy’s Firebird. Or, perhaps, your boss is leaving town on business next weekend and you’ve scored his primo tickets to Rigoletto at the Chicago Lyric. Well, my friend, it would seem that some congratulations are in order! Why, you hypothetically ask? You may not know it yet but you are about to experience something special that too many in our society unfortunately never will. While it may be true that the sartorial expectations of an audience continue to lower with each passing concert season, I would argue that it still behooves one to dress-to-impress in such situations (when able). In today’s overtly-casual world, it is becoming increasingly easier to sport something as simple as a necktie and still wind up with accusations of being “overdressed” in the court of public opinion. The opera, however, is not one of these places. There are too few options these days for a gentleman to don a real dapper ensemble and make a special evening out of it. I urge you to take advantage of this fact and make the most of this upcoming opportunity which lies before you.

*Disclaimer: The suggestions in this article operate under the pretense of idealistic circumstances and you mustn’t let my pretentious musings deter you! In the end, as long as you make some sort of effort on your appearance and are not wearing a pizza-stained Budweisert-shirt and torn jeans you will still fit in with today’s concert-going society. That being said, here’s to a perfect world:

Style:

Tuxedo? No. Not unless you are attending an invite-only gala or are seated in either a private box or $450 orchestra seats. A standard-issue dress suit will suit you fine (get it?) with extra credit going to those in well-coordinated three-pieces. Tradition dictates a peak lapel for evening formal wear. However, today’s ever-loosening fashion environment allows one to look equally as smart with notch lapels.

Patterns:

Pattern? No. If you have the option, stick with a solid. If not, try to keep the pattern very subtle: thin stripes, simple plaid, etc. The same applies to your shirt. I would recommend solid white, but if you choose otherwise keep it modest.

Colors:

Unless the performance is a matinee, you will likely be attending this event during the evening hours. If you’ve ever seen the show 30 Rock, you perhaps may know that the character Jack Donaghy wouldn’t be caught dead in anything but a tuxedo after 6:00pm. Sure, this rule-of-thumb Jack abides by may be a bit tongue-and-cheek when taken at face value, but in the grand scheme of things there exists some real merit to this. As I mentioned before, a tuxedo would likely be overkill. However, when it comes to the color scheme, Jack’s adage is spot-on. This is all to say that when the day turns to night and all becomes dark, it is best if your suit does likewise. Black is the ideal choice, but navy or dark charcoal are other safe substitutions. I know this may sound ridiculous, but the last thing you want is to distract a patron sitting in the mezzanine because there’s some fop seated on the main floor wearing a suit louder than Leonard Warren.

Neckwear:

The rules here have relaxed a lot, so you should feel comfortable wearing either a necktie or a bowtie. Either way, a bowtie will not be considered “over dressing” and, conversely, a necktie will not be considered “under dressing.” Regardless, at least wear something. Drinks at that hip jazz club in Uptown may warrant a blazer sans a tie, but avoid sending your neck to the opera naked. If you show up with an undressed neck, shirt halfway unbuttoned with your chest hair flapping in the breeze you will be likened to that guy Vinny who runs that pizza joint down the street from you. You know the place. As for color/pattern, don’t overdo it. Symphony Hall probably isn’t the best place to premiere that novelty Looney Tunes tie your nephew gave you for your birthday this year. Choose a silk tie with something understated like a diagonal-stripe or pindot pattern. This will make the process of coordinating your other accessories much smoother.

Shoes:

The selection of shoes is going to be pretty straight forward and difficult to mess up if you just follow conventional wisdom. Coordinate appropriately for your color scheme (keeping in mind the 6:00pm “darker-is-safer” rule) and keep things formal: oxfords are preferred but bluchers are fine, and keep the brogues to a minimum.

Accessories:

Tie bar? Yes. Collar bar? Optional. Pocket square? Highly recommended. Make a smart coordination choice in color and stick with a formal fold: try a square-ended, triangle, four-point, or puff pocket square fold. Want extra style points? Try a boutonniere. No, really! Play it safe and get a single, modest, white carnation without all of the extra additives you find attached to a typical prom or wedding boutonniere. Chances are your date is likely to see you as a modern-day Fred Astaire. Now that’s dapper! 

Now that you are ready, don’t forget your manners and be sure to enter with an open mind. If you consciously attempt to make it a special evening for you and yours, it will certainly become a self-fulfilling prophecy. A night at the opera with great company is likely to be an evening you will look back upon fondly for many years to come. Oh yes, there’s just one more thing: please remember to silence all electronic devices. Few things can ruin a concert faster than a screaming baby or a patron with an incessant cough; an excerpted version of “SomebodyThat I Used To Know” amplified through a cellphone’s external speaker is one of those things. Enjoy!