AAcckkk!! Okay - so we're considering the Opera in Paris. Have NEVER BEEN TO AN OPERA!! Must I wear full ballgown? Will a simple black dress do (it is easier to pack)?<BR><BR>I really, truly did try a search for this but searching for wear/opera and dress/opera produced nothing. Tried just opera and got too many responses to navigate properly.<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR>~MaryC : )

Simple black is wonderful. Your accessories will help to dress it up quite alot as will your shoes and any cape or shawl you might wear if the weather is cool.<BR>There will be people dressed to the 9's there but you will not feel uncomfortable in a conservative but elegant "little black dress".<BR>Have a wonderful time!

My wife and I went to the Opera Bastille for a performance of Turandot.<BR>She had on what she would wear to a concert in Atlanta - a nice black dress with a necklace.<BR>We thought we were dressed just fine until we sat down next to a man elegantly clad in a formal black T-shirt. Then in my suit and tie I felt decidedly overdressed.<BR><BR>To give you a little better idea, we were sitting in the second most expensive seats in the house. There were a few very elegantly clad people in the most expensive seats, but not everyone sitting there was so attired.<BR><BR>I see no need to dress beyond what my wife had on. Just look neat and well turned out and there will be no problems.<BR><BR>

Oh Mary I am so jealous! Garnier or Opera House?<BR><BR>My mom and I went to the Opera at the Garnier in May and I was actually surprised at how "casual" I thought most people were. No ballgowns or even full lenght cocktail dresses. It was warm when we went. I wore a long black spaghetti strap dress with pearls, mom wore a black knee length dress, short sleeve with pearls. Basically I think if you wear pearls you are in! haha!<BR><BR>Most women had on simple dresses or skirts and blouses. Not all men wore suites but slacks, sport coats and tie. <BR><BR>We were sitting in balcony opera boxes (too fun!). Don't forget to have a glass of champagne at the intermission!<BR><BR>

I don't care for the opera that much, but have been to a few in various cities (London, Prague, Paris, some in US) and have never seen anyone wearing a ballgown, maybe a very simple cocktail dress on a few, but a nice dress or skirt and blouse or something will be fine. <BR><BR>The only people I've seen wear ballgowns to things like that are very rich people who have their own boxes and I don't understand what they are doing, but I think they just feel they have to dress that way for their public -- like members of the Royal family in Britain, they wear ballgowns to movie premieres which I think is very odd (at least Princess Diana used to do that).

Oh Wendy, I don't know. It's my best friend, Kristin, who decided last night that she wanted to see an honest-to-goodness opera in PARIS!! So I will let her decide. But I've warned her that I've started this thread and have urged her to get ideas from it.<BR><BR>Her grandfather was an opera singer in NYC several years ago. I've no idea how famous he is but I've seen the opera scores (?) that he sang from. I'll let her divulge his name if she wants to. I won't.<BR><BR>But I had been under the impression that Opera Garnier was for ballet?<BR><BR>Pam, Bob Brown, Wendy - thank you so much for your feedback. I feel more comfortable about this now. Am really excited about getting to go to/see the opera!<BR><BR>And yes, I must try the champagne during intermission. I feel as giddy as champagne bubbles right now!!!! Now I just need to get pearls!! Ha ha.<BR><BR>Pam, what other accessories do you recommend? I have a lovely navy blue wool cape. Would that suffice? Or are we thinking of a silk cape?<BR><BR>Bob, "a man elegantly clad in a formal black T-shirt". You're so funny!! : )<BR><BR>Can anyone provide differences between the 2 opera houses? Is one more expensive than the other? I believe the Opera House is, isn't it? Is there a big difference in what operas they offer? Thanks for your input!

Thank you, Christina. Our messages crossed paths and I didn't see yours before. Well at least I don't feel compelled to pack a ballgown! Thanks!!

I kid you not about the black T-shirt.<BR>It looked like a very expensive one.<BR>And he looked as elegantly as one can in a black T-shirt, with matching trousers and shoes.<BR>My guess is that if you pay money for your ticket, you can wear just about anything that would not get you put in jail. I would not want to test the limits of scruffiness, but I think any clean attire that looks neat would not cause you to be asked to leave. After the lights go down, and the overture starts, who is going to pay any attention to you any how?<BR>

Mary the Opera Garnier is mainly for ballet but they still house opera on occasion. I have not been to the new center but really have to say that the Garnier is just about the most beautiful place I have been inside! We went for the expereince more than for the opera and what an experience it was!<BR><BR>You two will have a fantastic time! <BR><BR>BTW as far as jewlery goes I have a friend who travels to Russia quite often and always buys large costume jewlery "diamonds" and "pearls" to take. She doesn't like travelling with her real stuff and says she likes to wear bigger stuff when she goes out! I think this would be a very fun way to accessorize!!!

Hey, go for it if you feel like it. We've seen people in tux and gowns. Of course you don't have to. Any dress outfit is fine. We've also seen guys in shirts and sweaters but rarely. For more Paris information e-mail me: [email protected]

Hi Mary~<BR>We went to the Garnier last year and saw a William Forsythe Ballet..it was faaabulous and so is the Opera House..I sort of felt like it didn't matter what I saw, just to go sit in that Opera House! I wore a dressy black pantsuit with no blouse-some jewelry-high heels..that got me through the few big deal restaurants that we went to also<BR>No ball gowns unless you are going to opening night gala...<BR>You will love the ushers who show you to your seat..ours came over to us at intermission and asked us how we liked it and gave us a mini tour - because he had gone to a camp in upstate NY !<BR>small world, isn't it great~c

www.parisopera.org---Try this~

I was at the Garnier in December and most women wore evening length dresses but not ballgowns. Most men were in sportcoat & tie or suits. There are certainly a few dressed very casually (to casual IMO). As stated above, a tux and ballgown would be more common at an opening. The black dress with a classy necklace would be perfect.<BR><BR>If you can pick a show at the Garnier do so. The Bastille is a wonderful modern building and a good place to see a performance, but it doesn't have the history and beauty of the Palais Garnier. At the Garnier one becomes a part of the performance when strolling up the grand staircase or around the foyer. Truely a magical setting.

We're seeing Hurlevent on 3/2/02 at Garnier; anyone else in audience that evening?

Darn it, Sue, I will be in Paris 3rd week of April. : (<BR>OKAY, Okay, okay - got it - no ball gowns! : )<BR>So GG and Wendy, I suppose since Jackie O got away with wearing those famous fake pearls for so many years it will be no great faux pas if I wear mine?<BR>Thanks Bob! Beat & Chic - how to wear the new elegant black t-shirt. Cool. And you're right, if I've paid for the tickets I really shouldn't care.<BR>C, does this mean I get to flirt with the ushers? Maybe if I flirt JUST SO, they will get my glass of champagne for me? ; ) But seriously, every time I hear/see WILLIAM Forsythe's name I think JOHN Forsythe!! And thanks for the URL.<BR>So it seems that most of the votes go for Garnier? Yes?<BR>

My girlfriends and I went to the Opera at the Garnier a few years ago. We actually just popped into see what the building looked like, when we were approached by one of the docents passing out pamphlets who suggested we buy tickets. We had on sweaters, black jeans and sneakers (yup, white sneakers, as we were walking all day and wanted to be comfortable). Anyway, we told the docent that we didn't think we were dressed appropriately, and she said not to worry about our attire. We never would have made it to the performance if we had to return to the hotel to change. So, yes, we went in jeans and sneakers and sipped champagne. It's marvelous when venues accept your money and don't have a dress code. No one looked down on us at all.

Thank you so much, Leslie!! White sneakers and all, huh?!? I feel immense relief at this!<BR><BR>Everyone, how is the champagne? How much is it? What type do they serve? Anyone remember? Just curious.

Sorry, Mary, I don't recall anything special about the champagne. It's cheaper to buy a split, but it's about $5 a glass. You would never see me splurge on a bottle of Dom Perignon, but I would buy Moet. Now, if you want to hear the story about the stranger that bought me a bottle of Moet for my 30th birthday and sipped it out of my black patent leather pump ... But he did introduce me to Chambord and champagne which is absolutely yummy. He didn't remain a stranger for long, we ended up living together for 7 years.<BR><BR>For that matter, I've found some excellent bottles of California zinfandels for $3 -- try Bare Foot, it's won a bunch of awards.

Seeing the ballet at Garnier is my favorite memory of our family trip to Europe two years ago. Our children were 9 and 11 at the time, and we had private box seats. Omigosh... It still seems a dream. The champagne... no idea how much it cost, but would've paid $20 a glass just for the privilege of holding it during intermission! As others said, your black dress will be perfect. No more "aacckkk!" Just enjoy!

MaryC-oui,flirt with all the French men, they are so appreciative<BR>My vote is definitely the Garnier, we wandered around all the rooms upstairs until time for the curtain to go up..the seats are wonderful,comfortable,look up!<BR>Any minute you will expect the Phantom to come swooping out from the curtains~<BR>Your simple black dress with pearls will be perfect.<BR>