shiuri

Hi Everyone!

I plan to stopover in Vienna in mid-late November as part of our trip to Prague and Budapest. I just have a quick question regarding evening wear. If we plan to go the Opera House for a performance, will it be ok to wear a pair very dressy slacks and a nice fancy top with heels or is more proper to be in a dress? Thanks!

kenderina

It doesn't matter at all, wear what you feel appropiate for you.

indiancouple

Just returned from Vienna. Did attend a concert at Musikverien. All tourists were dressed in jeans, T-shirts and Nikes/Reeboks. No one cares. Just be comfortable.

gruezi

We saw the Vienna symphony at the Opera house in April and people were definitely dressed up. Men in jackets, women in black and best jewelry. I had on dress black slacks and a dressy jacket as I don't wear dresses. I felt fine and not out of place but definitely on the lower end of the dressed up scale. My girls wore similar outfits and my husband was in the majority with a jacket on.
Can't recall if he wore a tie.

I respectfully disagree with those who say wear anything. If you care enough to ask, you'll care enough to not look under-dressed. I didn't see anyone in sneakers or t-shirts and believe me they would have stuck out.

We dress up for my children's youth orchestra as do most attendees!

I find Vienna a place where the locals do like to dress for this sort of thing.

gruezi

suze

Yes I would take a dressy outfit, but I wouldn't wear high heels. I just don't think they are practical for traveling, or worth packing for only a single wearing.

I think dressy pants & top with a nice jacket, costume jewelry or scarf, and flats would be fine.

I don't care what the other tourists are wearing, I'd never go in jeans, sneakers & tshirt myself.

GSteed

Dress to suit your party. Dress to high standard. Dress to casual. This is yoiur decision. What do you want others to think of you...What do you think of yourself? Slacks are never 'dressy', have you ever seen a Queen in them?

gruezi

Gsteed,

I actually have very dressy slacks.

I don't look good in dresses and slacks are more elegant on me.

The queen has knobby knees.

gruezi

november_moon

"Slacks are never 'dressy', have you ever seen a Queen in them?"

Heehee. Yes, we should all use the Queen as our fashion guide

goddesstogo

I wouldn't wear jeans and a t-shirt to the opera here and I definitely wouldn't do it when I'm traveling. Good pants and a nice blouse or top should do it. I wear jeans a lot but I don't understand why they're thought to be more comfortable than any other pants. As for heels, I always take a pair when I travel but I think any good shoes (e.g. not sneakers) would do.

molker

I agree with the comments made by gruezi.
The concert at the Musikverein mentioned an above above was aimed directly at a touristy mid summer market . Yes, there you find jeans and T- shirts and most everything else worn by a casual tourist attending.

I am not attepting to condemn this dress but this is not the general concert and opera season - September - June nor the same attendees.

November at the State Opera is a completely different situation and you will find much better dressed audience.They attend a world known venue , with very high standards and dress accordingly.
Most attendees do care about manner of dress and also the standard of the program.
They also have respect for the venue and the performers. To me it does matter what you wear.

Many ladies in good dresses and also good stylish slacks .
Shiuri- your choice will be fine .
most men in jacket and tie.

Above does not apply to standing Room where dress is casual.

DAX

I am in Vienna right now and I would say you should dress according to your age, if you're a teenager or early twenties, then wear whatever. If you are 30 somethings and up, Vienna is a more formal city especially in the evenings. Last night we were just eating in the hotel garden bistro by the Stadtpark, everyone was dressed up to the teeth except for 3 young middle eastern teenagers who looked like they're going clubbing.
That said, my wife only wears pants when she travels and she does complain about walking with heels on cobblestone (Prague & Vienna), so she wore those only when we're taking taxis not walking.

amp322

Slacks are fine, as long as you look like you've made an attempt to dress up. Some locals will wear evening gowns, etc, but that will not be the case with everyone. Some bling/jewelry, etc. can go a long way to dress up an outfit for evening without making your suitcase heavy.

Now to throw in my two cents for the folks who think wearing anything is OK. If you are attending a performance during the main season, you should dress up. As another poster said, summer concerts are attended by tourists who usually find out about the concert while wandering around the city. They will pop in after a long day of sight-seeing. As long as tickets are sold, and there is an audience, the promoters are happy. During the regular season, attending a concert in Europe is an event. A pre-planned night out on the town.

I remembering finding the Concertgebow in Amsterdam by "accident" one April night. I was not dressed accordingly to attend a concert (although I would have loved to go in). I decided to wait for another time, because I did not feel comfortable in my jeans and being loaded down with shopping bags from my day around town. It probably would have been OK to go in, but I, myself, am a performer, and I have too much respect for other performers, the venerable concert hall, and the rest of the audience, to go in underdressed.

JulieVikmanis

I think the opera is more dressy than the Musikverein, hence different responses depending on where people have observed concert goers.

The person who said "if you asked" you care, has a definite point. Regardless of what those who wouldn't think of asking will be wearing, you will feel more comfortable dressed as classily as you can muster given some other important considerations for you like a) you're traveling and don't want to waste precious space with heels that you might only wear once and possibly have problems walking in on some streets and b) you feel you look better in pants and are hence more comfortable in them. Classy evening pants with a very dressy top and flat shoes would be perfect almost anywhere I'd think. You'll look great.

BTW, I saw a picture in a French fashion magazine of Carla Bruni welcoming the Queen to France. Believe it or not, the Queen looked much better and more fashionable than the model. She had on a plaid coat trimmed in velvet (including buttons similarly trimmed) and a matching big hat and the old girl looked fantastic.

shiuri

Thanks for all the replies! All the info was definately super helpful! I think I am most likely to bring some dressy slacks and a fancy top. Gotta take into consideration that I will be there in late November! I heard from other fellow travelers that it is cold at that time of the year! Super appreciative of all the answers so far! ^_^

molker

A comment on evening footwear for concerts , opera etc.

During periods of bad weather - snow , rain or just not wanting to wear good shoes for walking any distance,.
Many ladies in Vienna will wear comfortable and/or weather proof shoes to the venue- carry a good pair in a small bag- change to good shoes after arriving inside and then check the bag with shoes along with coats.

You must check coats any way at major venues.

This is often done so no trouble involved.

pinkaurora

"It probably would have been OK to go in, but I, myself, am a performer, and I have too much respect for other performers, the venerable concert hall, and the rest of the audience, to go in underdressed."

I've played in orchestras and pit orchestras for operas and ballets up until I was finished with grad school. I never ever gave a hoot about what people in the audience were wearing.

goddesstogo

pink,
Being incredibly unmusical myself, I have tremedous respect for musicians and performers. They may not care that I respect them, but that doesn't change the fact that I do. And so I dress up a bit. Wearing good pants isn't any more difficult than wearing jeans and I feel better about the whole concert experience.

Bird

Last time I was in Vienna I was surprised by how many women wore nothing but a thong covered by a black pashmina.

yk

Doesn't it matter which section the OP will be sitting in?

DH & I were in Vienna in Nov 06. We attended both the Staatsoper and the Vienna Philharmonic at the Musikverien.

We sat in the highest row at the Staatsoper, and though we wore slacks and dress shoes, nobody would have cared. Behind us was the standing room section and those people were definitely wearing jeans.

Of course, if the OP will be sitting in the Loges or Orchestra level, they will need to be more dressed up.

What molker said is correct - all the venues require one to check his/her coat. No exceptions.

goddesstogo

"Last time I was in Vienna I was surprised by how many women wore nothing but a thong covered by a black pashmina."

And geez louise, those cheap velvet seats itch like a bitch!