We are spending a month in Europe this fall - mostly to attend operas in Palermo, Bologna, Parma, Vienna, Dresden, and Berlin. We are wondering what the appropriate dress is these days in Europe for the opera - especially in the aforementioned opera houses. It seems in the USA nowadays "anything goes" as far as dress is concerned. We certainly don't want to be branded as the "ugly American tourist" this fall. Can anyone help me out?

Would you like to wear "anything goes"? Because I think if you think you look okay and dress the way you feel appropriate for the opera, that should be fine. You don't need to wear ballgowns, if that's what you are worrying about.

I wore a knee length, V-necked, sleeveless black dress with a scarf around my shoulders, and flat black "dressy" shoes. The basic black dress with work anywhere - you can dress it up with a scarf you buy there! I'm envious - enjoy the opera!

I went to the opera in Florence and dressed business casual. I think that is your safest bet. Or, a little black dress is always perfect for any occassion. I agree with Christina - no need for ballgowns.

Dress pants, a nice top, decent shoes is all you need.

Plenty of Europeans show up to operas (esp in the cheaper sections) in jeans, though they are nice jeans paired with nice blouse or button-down shirt. No t-shirts or shorts.

And for Berlin, of course the Staatsoper-goers are more dressed up than the Komische Oper crowd.

Having said that, last Fall we saw a couple - both men - at Staatsoper. One of them was wearing a ball gown.

At Komische Oper, the crowd is a lot younger and lots of jeans, even in the orchestra section.

Dresden & Vienna Staatsoper are a bit more dressed-up, more "stuffy" I'd say. The men in expensive sections tend to have coat & tie on. And of course, if you're going to La Prima at say, Vienna Staatsoper, most patrons would be even more dressed up.

I saw a performance at the Staatsoper in Berlin this past November and just as I have seen in the opera houses in Barcelona, Milan, Venice, Paris, and London (that bastion of so-called "decorum") there was EVERY degree of dress on view..from people who were doing everything possible to glamorize bad skin and hair to those who looked a little better than rolling off the street. Formal wear, what many would call "business casul" and on.

For the women, especially those of a more mature age, there seemed to be a greater tendency to dress "up"..lots of men (in Berlin) in full business suits but there were Dockers and the like also.

I realize what you are trying to accomplish but realistically, if you dress in a way YOu feel is apprioriate I am certain it wil be. Forget what you've seen in the movies...that stuff seems to be more and more that of long-lost fantasy than today.

Thanks to all. This is a big help. I certainly wasn't intending the "ball gown" idea, but was expecting a basic black dressy dress and coat and tie for my husband. Since we fit the "more mature" group, jeans etc will not be our style. My husband was questioning whether to take up suitcase room with his tux, but now I can tell him no.

I'm in the 'younger' group but I find that going to plays, operas, and concerts (the classical kind) is such a special treat that I just have the urge to dress up a little bit and just be a girly girl (if you're a girl, that is). But I'm with Dukey, "dress in a way YOU feel is appropriate"

HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!!!

If we have good seats, my wife likes to do the black dress but with a more fashionable accessory, and i wear a business suit (no blazer). If we are in the first few rows, i like to wear a tuxedo, although not everyone does, and my wife wears something more fashionable but not colourful.

When we are stuck in the back, i protest and wear shirt and jeans even though wife will not and she will act as if she doesn't know me.