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What to Wear to the Ballet

Tailored blazers, silk shirts, pleated trousers, dresses, and leather shoes from independent boutiques for a night at the ballet or theatre.

Deciding what to wear to the ballet calls for tailored jackets, pleated trousers, dresses and leather shoes that feel considered without becoming stiff evening wear. The National Ballet of Canada in Toronto says there is no dress code at the ballet and that all looks are welcome. Dark shades of blue and black make a quiet base for sculptural folds and rich textures.

Homme Plisse Issey Miyake pleats its pieces after they are sewn, so they resist wrinkles through a long performance. Pleats Please Issey Miyake grew out of pleated costumes Issey Miyake made for Ballett Frankfurt in the early nineties. Sulvam, the Japanese label Teppei Fujita started in the mid twenty tens, reworks classic tailoring. Pair a suit or blazer with a crisp shirt, and add a fine wool coat for the walk between the theatre and the street.

WDLT117 in Toronto brings sculptural jackets, coats and pleated pieces. Due West in Toronto adds Mackage coats and jackets, and Utopia in Toronto adds Rick Owens, Louis Vuitton and Dior.

Common questions

What is the dress code for attending an evening ballet performance?
The National Ballet of Canada says there is no dress code at the ballet and that all looks are welcome. For an evening show, a tailored jacket with pressed trousers or a midi skirt is a simple choice.
Which fabrics work best for sitting through a long performance?
Permanent pleats and fine wool resist wrinkles through a long sitting. Stiff cottons and heavy brocades can bind while seated, so soft knits are a practical choice. The National Ballet of Canada notes that most ballets have at least one intermission.
Which designers specialize in comfortable tailoring for evening arts events?
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake makes pleated separates that are light, quick to dry and easy to wear. Sulvam, a Japanese label started by Teppei Fujita, reworks classic tailoring in a modern way.