An edit

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.

Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Edge Pants Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Edge Pants Black
NOK 5,908
WDLT117
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Straight-leg Pleated Trousers Black at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Straight-leg Pleated Trousers Black
NOK 4,752
WDLT117
Undercover Prints Padded Jacket Grey Beige at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Prints Padded Jacket Grey Beige
NOK 18,746Last one
WDLT117
Rick Owens Outershirt Lodenette Wool Fawn, front view, at Utopia on within
Rick Owens
Outershirt Lodenette Wool Fawn
NOK 8,581
Utopia
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Basic Pleated Jacket Black at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Basic Pleated Jacket Black
NOK 8,581Last one
WDLT117
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Basic Pleated Jacket L. Grey at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Basic Pleated Jacket L. Grey
NOK 8,581
WDLT117
Undercover Kasuri Pants Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Kasuri Pants Black
NOK 7,063
WDLT117
Undercover Zip Pocket Cargo Trousers Black at WDLT117 on within
Undercover
Zip Pocket Cargo Trousers Black
NOK 6,271Last one
WDLT117
UJOH Rib Collar 4 Pockets Blouson Navy, front view, at WDLT117 on within
UJOH
Rib Collar 4 Pockets Blouson Navy
NOK 8,416Last one
WDLT117
Song for the Mute Daisy Worker Jacket Oat at WDLT117 on within
Song for the Mute
Daisy Worker Jacket Oat
NOK 10,231
WDLT117
Dior Sample Sorayama Silk Shirt, front view, at Utopia on within
Dior
Sample Sorayama Silk Shirt
NOK 11,881
Utopia
Sunflower Mohair Polo in Navy at Due West on within
Sunflower
Mohair Polo - Navy
NOK 2,079NOK 3,927
Due West
Song for the Mute Art Jacket Black at WDLT117 on within
Song for the Mute
Art Jacket Black
NOK 6,304
WDLT117
Song for the Mute Coach Jacket Navy at WDLT117 on within
Song for the Mute
Coach Jacket Navy
NOK 7,591Last one
WDLT117
Herno Mens Down Jacket Polar Tech Recycle - Absolute Black at Due West on within
Herno
Mens Down Jacket Polar Tech Recycle - Absolute Black
NOK 9,505
Due West
Masnada Tailored Jacket Black at WDLT117 on within
Masnada
Tailored Jacket Black
NOK 9,901
WDLT117
Louis Vuitton Black Damier Signature Crewneck Knit Wool Sweater, front view, at Utopia on within
Louis Vuitton
Black Damier Signature Crewneck Knit Wool Sweater
NOK 3,960Pre-owned
Utopia
A.P.C. Davis Cardigan Sweater in Black at Due West on within
A.P.C.
Davis Cardigan Sweater - Black
NOK 2,172NOK 4,125
Due West
PRONOUNCE Adjustable Length Half Button Jacket in Grey at WDLT117 on within
PRONOUNCE
Adjustable Length Half Button Jacket
NOK 4,482NOK 14,851
WDLT117
Song for the Mute Pleated Zip-up Jacket Sand, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Song for the Mute
Pleated Zip-up Jacket Sand
NOK 5,934NOK 11,188
WDLT117
UJOH Wide Open Collar Short Sleeve Shirt Chocolate, front view, at WDLT117 on within
UJOH
Wide Open Collar Short Sleeve Shirt Chocolate
NOK 5,677
WDLT117
Masnada Seamed Mix Mohair Sweater in Black worn by a model, at Due West on within
Masnada
Seamed Mix Mohair Sweater - Black
NOK 2,436NOK 4,587Last one
Due West
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake Basic Pleated Straight Leg Pants Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Homme Plisse Issey Miyake
Basic Pleated Straight Leg Pants Black
NOK 4,356
WDLT117
Rick Owens Mastodon Megacargo Pant Heavy Faille Black at Utopia on within
Rick Owens
Mastodon Megacargo Pant Heavy Faille Black
NOK 6,601
Utopia

Looks in this edit

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.