If I have to dress up then I probably wouldn’t attend. And honestly, to someone who spends as much time as possible in comfy pajamas, jeans and a polo shirt is dressing up. I don’t care what other people wear and don’t pay attention, I do pay attention to the performers. That’s why I’m there in the first place and why I purchased my ticket.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I won't wear jeans to the Kennedy Center but I sure as hell am going to wear my mountain parka with a fleece underneath on the way over. I take it off after I get there so why should anyone care what I wore to get there?

A European transplant here. European theaters have coatrooms so you can check your coat before the performance; I was pretty shocked when I realized that at the Kennedy Center you need to hold your coat on your lap during the show (or have it on, as an alternative ).

FWIW, I went to the Kennedy Center in late October for a ballet evening, and people were reasonably dressed up. No cut-off jeans, to my knowledge.

pp here. Just went to the symphony last night and when I was leaving saw a long line to the coat check. So they do have a coat check. And no I'm not going to stand in line just so people who wear dress coats are not offended.

Must not have grown up learning manners and etiquette.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several wool coats: camel, black, and a gray wrap coat. This winter has been pretty cold though, so my knee-length down puffer is getting a lot of use.

I get that. But if you're going to a nice dinner somewhere and are wearing a dress, do you wear your puffer coat with it? Unless you walk everywhere, how long are you even outside? Just curious.

Well, we do actually walk more places than average, and yes, I wear my big puffy down coat because it's cold outside. LOL at warm coats being "trashy" and "low class."

I think if you wear it into the Opera House and put it on your lap because you don't want to check it, that is considered tacky and low class. That is the issue.

Except that it isn't an issue. I can't help but wonder if you're our baby troll trying to talk about things s/he knows nothing about.

I know the Kennedy Center. I go frequently for dance, symphony, opera and the wonderful evening millennium stage performances. Sometimes I attend directly from work (which is casual). Sometimes from home. I always dress for comfort and I fit in perfectly with the crowd on any given night. Yes, there are some people more dressed up and some less. But the vast majority of the crowd is dressed for comfort and for the weather and we all blend together all friendly-like. Besides, there isn't much of a chance to be all judgy when you're focussed on a performance in a dark theatre. Also, I've never seen anyone actually check a coat. Dressed up or down, most people hold their coats on their laps or stash under the seat, which affects exactly no one sitting near them.

Now, if you want to really lament the loss of manners in the modern age, turn your attention to the people who keep their cell phones on. That's a thing. Attire is not a thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several wool coats: camel, black, and a gray wrap coat. This winter has been pretty cold though, so my knee-length down puffer is getting a lot of use.

I get that. But if you're going to a nice dinner somewhere and are wearing a dress, do you wear your puffer coat with it? Unless you walk everywhere, how long are you even outside? Just curious.

Well, we do actually walk more places than average, and yes, I wear my big puffy down coat because it's cold outside. LOL at warm coats being "trashy" and "low class."

I think if you wear it into the Opera House and put it on your lap because you don't want to check it, that is considered tacky and low class. That is the issue.

I'm really enjoying being considered tacky and low class!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several wool coats: camel, black, and a gray wrap coat. This winter has been pretty cold though, so my knee-length down puffer is getting a lot of use.

I get that. But if you're going to a nice dinner somewhere and are wearing a dress, do you wear your puffer coat with it? Unless you walk everywhere, how long are you even outside? Just curious.

Well, we do actually walk more places than average, and yes, I wear my big puffy down coat because it's cold outside. LOL at warm coats being "trashy" and "low class."

I think if you wear it into the Opera House and put it on your lap because you don't want to check it, that is considered tacky and low class. That is the issue.

I wish there was a way to segregate the riff raff from the classy people.

You could just stay home, Scarlett O'Hara. And if you need to leave the house, bring your smelling salts.

I think it depends on the show. For Broadway shows in NYC, it is 100% fine to where jeans, shorts, etc. and I'd expect people to dress the same here for a musical at the Kennedy center. (e.g., Hamilton)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several wool coats: camel, black, and a gray wrap coat. This winter has been pretty cold though, so my knee-length down puffer is getting a lot of use.

I get that. But if you're going to a nice dinner somewhere and are wearing a dress, do you wear your puffer coat with it? Unless you walk everywhere, how long are you even outside? Just curious.

Well, we do actually walk more places than average, and yes, I wear my big puffy down coat because it's cold outside. LOL at warm coats being "trashy" and "low class."

I think if you wear it into the Opera House and put it on your lap because you don't want to check it, that is considered tacky and low class. That is the issue.

I wish there was a way to segregate the riff raff from the classy people.

People who obsess on "classy" behavior tend not to have a lot of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I won't wear jeans to the Kennedy Center but I sure as hell am going to wear my mountain parka with a fleece underneath on the way over. I take it off after I get there so why should anyone care what I wore to get there?

A European transplant here. European theaters have coatrooms so you can check your coat before the performance; I was pretty shocked when I realized that at the Kennedy Center you need to hold your coat on your lap during the show (or have it on, as an alternative ).

FWIW, I went to the Kennedy Center in late October for a ballet evening, and people were reasonably dressed up. No cut-off jeans, to my knowledge.

pp here. Just went to the symphony last night and when I was leaving saw a long line to the coat check. So they do have a coat check. And no I'm not going to stand in line just so people who wear dress coats are not offended.

Anonymous wrote:People don't dress up anymore to go to the Kennedy Center, unless they are 70+.

Indeed.

And last time I went, it looked like a senior housing facility, so great to hear they are now getting some younger traffic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several wool coats: camel, black, and a gray wrap coat. This winter has been pretty cold though, so my knee-length down puffer is getting a lot of use.

I get that. But if you're going to a nice dinner somewhere and are wearing a dress, do you wear your puffer coat with it? Unless you walk everywhere, how long are you even outside? Just curious.

Well, we do actually walk more places than average, and yes, I wear my big puffy down coat because it's cold outside. LOL at warm coats being "trashy" and "low class."

I think if you wear it into the Opera House and put it on your lap because you don't want to check it, that is considered tacky and low class. That is the issue.

I wish there was a way to segregate the riff raff from the classy people.

I don't think is new.

I remember going to broadway shows in the 80's and while my grandmother and I were in gowns -because that is how she rolled- there were people there in jeans; usually ironed jeans with a crease.

Now , at almost 50, we are season ticket holders at Kennedy Center and sometimes we dress up and sometimes we don't . Depends more on how we are feeling than what show we are seeing. I don't usually notice what those around me are wearing (unless it is extremely revealing or daring and I am amazed at the confidence it would take to wear ...)

Why does anyone at the KC care what others are wearing? Aren’t we all there to enjoy the artistry of the performers? Isn’t the goal to appreciate the performance? What you are wearing shouldn’t matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cold isn’t an excuse. I’ve seen people there in cut off jean shorts. It’s awful.

Also, why do young women think wearing slutty club dresses is appropriate wear to go to the Opera?

Us Americans have no class.

Class can't be determined by ones attire.

Plenty of low class people wear suit and ties every day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several wool coats: camel, black, and a gray wrap coat. This winter has been pretty cold though, so my knee-length down puffer is getting a lot of use.

I get that. But if you're going to a nice dinner somewhere and are wearing a dress, do you wear your puffer coat with it? Unless you walk everywhere, how long are you even outside? Just curious.

Well, we do actually walk more places than average, and yes, I wear my big puffy down coat because it's cold outside. LOL at warm coats being "trashy" and "low class."

I think if you wear it into the Opera House and put it on your lap because you don't want to check it, that is considered tacky and low class. That is the issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have several wool coats: camel, black, and a gray wrap coat. This winter has been pretty cold though, so my knee-length down puffer is getting a lot of use.

I get that. But if you're going to a nice dinner somewhere and are wearing a dress, do you wear your puffer coat with it? Unless you walk everywhere, how long are you even outside? Just curious.

Well, we do actually walk more places than average, and yes, I wear my big puffy down coat because it's cold outside. LOL at warm coats being "trashy" and "low class."