What type of clothing does one wear to a Broadway show?

Answer 1

There is no need to be dressy, but live theatre is certainly not the movies. Nice, dark-wash jeans and a dressy-casual top are acceptable. Both for aesthetic and practical reasons (it gets very cold!), it is a good idea to wear pants or below-the-knee skirts/cropped pants. To add to the above answer: I disagree with not dressing up. I also disagree that jeans are acceptable. I believe, and it is traditional, that people should dress up for the theater. Our society has migrated away from this over the years, but it is a sign of respect for the theater and the actors. I'm not saying you should wear ball gowns, which was the past norm, but you should dress nicely. This means no jeans, tennis shoes, t-shirt, etc. If you want to wear pants, wear slacks. Slacks and a nice top are always a good choice. Do wear comfortable shoes if you plan to be walking a lot (after all, it is the city), but do an alternative to the tennis shoe. For girls, Ballet flats may be more comfortable than heels. When picking out clothes, think "Sunday type dress." Look polished. I have even seen women wear cocktail or "homecoming" type dresses. This is a little formal for me, so if you do that and want to dress it down, perhaps wear flats, a belt, chunky jewlery, and don't carry a clutch. Or, if you do not want to be that formal, many women wear things like a cotton or knit dress with leggings and heels and a handbag. Men should do slacks and a jacket or a suit. Usually, dress is a little more causal for an afternoon show as opposed to the evening show. Just remember, whatever you wear, be sure to keep it classy! And yes, I do agree that you should have a jacket!