Dang, I CANNOT find the responses to this question I posted 2 weeks ago!

Any advice or experience regarding appropriate attire for my wife and I to see the Barber of Seville in Milan 9-28? We're on the main floor, and I don't believe it's opening night for B of Seville.

Thanks,

Al

You should wear serious evening wear.. otherwise you will def feel out of place. Men get away without ties in Italy, but not without jackets, I have found. Have a great time.

How can it be serious evening wear without a tie? Serious evening wear is a tuxedo or an evening dress.

Do you mean that he should wear a business suit - but no tie on his shirt (when did that become "evening wear"?).

For La Scala good seats I would do a suit/tie and some sort of eveningy thing (black silk pantsuit perhaps - with nice pumps). You can get away with less - if you want - and you well may see students in jeans. but most Italian adults would be more elegantly dressed.

We were at Tosca in Florence in May and people were wearing everything. Just dress nicely and don't worry about it--you're there to see (well, hear and see), not to be seen! Enjoy yourself.

If you wear evening wear you'll be very out of place. Times have changed.People only dress up for the opening of the season when politicians & famous people attend. the last time I was there I saw more jeans than anything else.

Wearing a tie for social events seems to be fading away, esp. for those under 40 (formal, black or white tie occasions excepted, of course). More and more, I see men in Europe wearing beautifully cut jackets (example: Zegna) and well made shirts, but no tie. They seem to be keeping ties only for serious *business* occasions. The company I work for is based in Milan and that's how the men there dress.

It also depends on the quality of your clothes--it's Milan after all. High quality casual wear trumps a mediocre suit.

It's all about the shoes.

My husband wore a jacket and tie to La Scala, but we sat in the balcony and no one up there was dressed up. He did not need to dress that way. On the main floor, I saw a lot of men in suits, but it was mid-week and they probably came from work. Dress as nicely as you can with what you have. It's an evening out with your spouse and you should look nice for each other. Don't worry about the other patrons. You'll never see them again.

Thanks for all the info. A bit common sense, eh? But experience often assists common sense, right.

Funny Desert_Sue: In college, we justified our outlandish behavior with that very thought- We'll never see them again!

I told my wife we'll shop for some cool clothes for her in Milan, so we'll be ready to fit in...

Mille grazie,

Alfredo