What would be appropriate for 2 ladies of retirement age to wear to a matinee at the Opera Bastille next month???

I live just outside Paris and go to the opera relatively frequently.

Lamentably people don't seem to 'dress' for the opera anymore. Anything seems to go - even jeans. So I'd say just wear what you feel comfortable in. Of course you can 'dress up' if you want but it's by no means a requirement these days.

Shorts should be tailored.

Wear whatever you would wear to go to the Opera back home or any other major city.

Avoid the flip flops, but wear what you want. Glittery evening gowns and tiraras are no longer required.

I would do business casual. Wear the same thing that you would wear to afternoon tea at some posh hotel like Brown's or the George V. (Americans love to dress up to take 100 quid tea at posh London and Paris hotels.)

Kerouac, you don't wear an evening gown or a tiara to a matinee. That is ridiculous.

Even the Countess de Billy would only wear a simple Verdura brooch pinned to the lapel of her Chanel jacket to a matinee.

Tschuss,
Pepper

We don't take anything specifically for the opera. Wear what you would wear for a nice dinner out. We've usually gone in the evening and people are dressed mostly in what they have worn to work or very casually.

If you have black trousers (and what woman doesn't?) wear them with what is known as "a nice top." You don't need to be any fancier for a matinee. You don't really need to be fancier in the evening, but why not? It is an occasion.

People in the expensive seats seem to dress more formally than people in the less expensive seats. But that is a generality, and there are many exceptions. I have seen people in jeans in the front, and they don't get a second glance from the folks in jackets and ties.

Not that two ladies of retirement age would be wearing jackets and ties, however.

Thanks for all the input. Even in San Francisco people dress in all sorts of attire for the opera. Just didn't want to be an "ugly American" & underdress.