Winter opera and winter ballet outfits for everyone who spends her evenings at the opera house instead of reading a book dressed in cosy knits and leggings by the open fire – here. But also winter ballet outfits and winter opera outfits for everyone who is counting the days till the next opening night and posing to the photographs for the exclusive feature in the local press. And yes, we are dressing up for the opera house again this winter!

OGLAS I get a commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.

Now, you might be surprised why I wrote again in the introduction. Well, here is the thing: contrary to popular belief, there is no rigid dress code for opera or ballet performances. Not even for the opening nights, and even less for the Nutcracker that marks the beginning of the holiday season.

Forget the “old money” winter extravaganza and classy winter white tie attire for the opera in 2025. It is unlikely you will see ladies wearing a proper white tie gown with opera gloves unless you strictly adhere to the invitation for the opening night.

Instead, expect to see denim, sweatpants and leggings. I know I might be ripping your expectations and a vision of your perfect night at the opera house, but I don’t want to fool you into wearing a white tie attire while knowing you will be the only one wearing gloves and a gown.

By the way, you can learn all about white tie attire and black tie attire in the dress code guide published on Brunette from Wall Street Substack – exclusively for Brunette from Wall Street Substack paid subscribers. Subscribe/upgrade to paid if you are not on the exclusive tier yet.

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I do, want you to dress up for the opera this winter. Do it for the plot.

Bring a fresh perspective to the opera house with one of these charming winter opera and ballet outfits I put together for you. These winter ballet outfits and 2025 winter opera outfits come reimagined in new silhouettes while the right mix of sequins and tulle make the effortless transition from smart casual to black tie and white tie dressing.

Also, this is what I wear for the opera/ballet in winter.

THE BEST WINTER OPERA AND WINTER BALLET OUTFITS

By the way, all my winter opera and ballet outfits presented in this article are hyperlinked and available for immediate purchase via links – click on the underlined copy. To shop for your favourite winter opera outfit, click on the item you need to recreate the look. Your click will take you to the online store where you can buy that item immediately.

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Now scroll down to see the best winter opera and winter ballet outfits for winter 2025.

Alternatively, you can fill out this form, and I will put together more opera/ballet outfits just for you – within your budget and style preferences.

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CLASSY WINTER BALLET OUTFITS FOR THE NUTCRACKER BALLET

We can hardly tell it’s winter without the proper beginning. Nutcracker marks the beginning of winter and holiday season.

Bring extra brilliance to the ballet with midi dresses in an array of styles.

1 RED DRESS WITH A TIARA HEADBAND AND BLACK PUMPS

Imagine the crisp winter air touching you as you step out of the taxi, the glow of the opera house’s lights radiating a warm invitation on the chilly night. You feel a flutter of excitement as you step out of the car, wrapped in your elegant black coat. You catch a glimpse of your reflection in the window, and you smile at how stunning you look in your red dress, tiara headband, and black pumps. You feel like a princess, ready to be swept away by the music and the dance.

You walk into the opera house, admiring the grand architecture and the festive decorations. You see a large Christmas tree in the lobby, surrounded by sparkling lights and colorful ornaments. They are in burgundy red this year. They know the trend.

You think you smell the aroma of hot chocolate and gingerbread, and you hear the chatter of other guests, dressed in their finest attire (hopefully!).

With an elegant twirl, you slip off your new long coat, revealing the vibrant red of your red dress beneath. You hand over your coat to the cloakroom attendant, who gives you a numbered ticket in return. You put the ticket in your purse, and walk towards the auditorium.

Ps. Worry not you won’t be cold in the dress. This dress is heavy and warm.

SHOES: Aquazzura slingback pumps – I bought them last year and are already sold out. But these from Amina Muaddi are similar. Ps. If you prefer Aquazzura – these Aquazzura slingback pumps are W too. Or even better, get these Aquazzura black pumps – if you are not size EU36! I want to buy those for myself.

COAT LouLou Saison Borneo long black coat – buy here. It is made of 90% wool and 10% cashmere and the sleeves are longer than on other premium coats – but this is the designer’s choice.

DRESS: red Self Portrait dress – I bought my dress some time ago, and it is sold out. But there is this dress I would buy today instead. To be honest, I prefer this dress to mine. I really dislike the sleeves on my dress. And the skirt on this dress is spectacular. *For a dress with sleeves – get this one.

HEADBAND: tiara headband – I got this one for my 18th birthday, but you can shop for a similar tiara headband here.

BELT: crystal belt – shop for similar here.

2 MIDI GREEN DRESS WITH A TIARA HEADBAND AND BLACK PUMPS

You make your way to your seat, feeling the anticipation build up as you wait for the show to begin.

You smooth the pleats of your midi green dress, as you sit down. The tiara headband adds a touch of whimsy.

As you glance around, your eyes meet those of a dapper gentleman across the aisle (by the way I usually sit on the orchestra balcony or in the first row – my favourite seat for the ballet. And, I have never used the opera glasses, the opera binoculars from the picture above – I bought them merely for a prop for the photo – I have never seen anyone using binoculars in real life. But, you can buy them here for the plot.). His gaze lingers on you for a moment, and a genuine smile graces his lips. His eyes light up as he extends a compliment, “Your dress is absolutely stunning, a perfect choice for this enchanting evening.”

The lights dim, and the orchestra starts to play. You recognize the familiar tunes of Tchaikovsky, the composer of the Nutcracker. By the way, the ballet was first performed in 1892, in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, a German writer of fantasy and horror. The ballet tells the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a Nutcracker doll as a Christmas gift from her mysterious godfather, Drosselmeyer. She falls asleep under the Christmas tree, and dreams of a fantastical world, where her Nutcracker comes to life and battles the evil Mouse King. She travels with him to the Land of Sweets, where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and other delightful characters. *Sugar Plum Fairy resembles Clara’s mother. In some adaptions, Clara is the Sugar Plum Fairy.

You watch the dancers on stage, mesmerized by their grace and skill. You see Clara and the Nutcracker Prince dance a romantic pas de deux, expressing their love for each other. Point of view, I shouldn’t tell you more about the ballet. Also, there are different Nutcracker productions. Bringing it back to the winter ballet outfit you will wear to the Nutcracker in 2025, watch the video below.

SHOES: Aquazzura slingback pumps – shop for these Aquazzura black pumps.

COAT LouLou studio Borneo long black coat – buy here. It is made of 90% wool and 10% cashmere and the sleeves are longer than on other premium coats – but this is the designer’s choice.

DRESS: green Self Portrait dress – I bought my dress some time ago, and it is sold out. And even if it weren’t, I would point you to shop for this dress instead. It’s just stunning. * Leave size 0, I’m buying it for myself, next. *It took me ages to find another dress – for everyone who prefers sleeves – but in the end I found this dress (bought it for myself, too) that is so exceptional.

HEADBAND: tiara headband – shop for a similar tiara headband here.

3 MORNING SUIT WITH PUMPS

If you are going to the ballet during the day, a daytime formal morning dress or a morning suit will be more appropriate. For a 5 o’clock Nutcracker, bring a pop of purple. A morning suit with a black blazer and a midi purple skirt will be perfectly matched for the occasion and the hour.

SHOES: Aquazzura slingback pumps – shop for these Aquazzura black pumps.

JACKET: Pinko black blazer – I bought mine a while ago, but you can buy a similar one here. Unfortunately, the difference is in the buttons (and the brand), but I guess you can always change the buttons by yourself. And the brand is one of our favourites.

SKIRT: full midi purple skirt – buy skirt here. This is one of the most affordable skirts in my dressing room. I loathe it for being an object of interest of despicable vermins, but the quality is exceptional. The fabric is heavy and it falls beautifully. I had it taken in, because I’m skinny (I’m 74 cm in hips), but the size is true to the label, so take your normal size.

4 MORNING SUIT WITH DESIGNER PUMPS

For a 2 pm Nutcracker, you can bring brighter colors to the mix. Think red or even pink.

Pov you can wear the same red dress as you would for the night. All in all, it is still the Nutcracker. But paired with the blazer it will be dressed down for the day.

SHOES: Aquazzura slingback pumps – shop for these Aquazzura black pumps.

JACKET: Pinko black blazer – buy a similar one here.

SKIRT: red midi skirt – shop for a full red midi skirt here.

PERFUME: Chanel N°1 – buy here.

MAKEUP: Dior red lipstick – buy here.

5 PINK COAT ON TWEED JACKET AND TWEED SHORTS WITH BLACK TIGHTS AND PATENT LEATHER MARY JANE PUMPS

In the orchestra’s absence at 11 am, Nutcracker calls for a more relaxed outfit. Point of view, the orchestra might be absent in the afternoon, too, but the early hour alone is the breaking point for a more relaxed dress code.

While I beg you not to wear denim, leggings, sweatpants or denim to the Nutcracker ballet (or any ballet), tweed shorts are occasion appropriate for girlies and their little ones.

Style with a tweed jacket and patent leather Mary Jane pumps to make the occasion more special.

SHOES: mid heel patent leather Mary Jane pumps – shop for similar here.

COAT: pink double-breasted short coat – my RED Valentino coat is sold out already – not surprised at all – I bought it a while ago, plus it’s the prettiest short coat yet. I did, however, find a short light pink double breasted coat you won’t be able to say no. See/buy here.

BLAZER: green wool double breasted blazer – I bought mine a while ago at Sandro Paris and they currently don’t have any similar blazer (and yes, I have checked their second-hand store, too). But, I found an equally exciting wool jacket at Ralph Lauren.

BOTTOM: Sandro Paris tweed shorts – mine are sold out, but you can find similar tweed shorts here.

TIGHTS: Falke opaque black tights – buy here.

FORMAL WINTER OPERA OUTFITS FOR THE OPENING NIGHT

I don’t know about you, but my Thursday evenings are reserved for the opening nights at our opera house.

Channel thrill and anticipation in a new evening look – preferably a white tie. A new gown and opera gloves set the scene for the occasion.

6 WHITE TIE WINTER GOWN WITH LONG OPERA GLOVES AND TIARA HEADBAND WITH HEELS

Admittedly, you might be the only one wearing the opera gloves. Sorry to tell you that, but I don’t want to fool you into wearing a white tie when I know ladies don’t wear white tie to the opera in 2025.

Honestly, I don’t know if I will wear this outfit to the next opening night, either. I might opt out of the gloves and layer with a black tux blazer instead. I have done that earlier in winter as well.

All in all, opera gloves are highly impractical. We always have food and drinks backstage after the performance (it’s not for the crowd, I’m invited) and I don’t like taking off the gloves if I don’t sit. We are standing and my clutch is too small for the opera gloves. Also, I don’t like the Mousquetaire gloves. I think they are ridiculous.

On the other hand, I might do it for the plot.

SHOES: Aquazzura slingback pumps – these Aquazzura slingback pumps are similar.

DRESS: Self Portrait – but it’s sold out. And this dress is more precious anyway.

GLOVES: black opera gloves – buy here.

BELT: black rhinestone belt – buy here.

PERFUME: Dior Miss Dior Eau de Parfum – buy here.

HEADBAND: tiara headband – shop for a similar tiara headband here.

7 BLACK TIE WINTER DRESS WITH DESIGNER PUMPS

Sparkling and sensual, this black tie attire brings a rich allure to the opera house. Shimmering threads capture the exuberant mood of the evening while precious pumps pair perfectly with a sleek updo and a bold lip to match.

SHOES: Gianvito Rossi – shop for satin Gianvito Rossi pumps here (I bought mine around the same time as the dress and they haven’t remade them in the same colour yet – you can, however, shop for Manolo Blahnik satin pumps in the same hue – here).

COAT LouLou Saison Borneo long black coat – buy here. It is made of 90% wool and 10% cashmere and the sleeves are longer than on other premium coats – but this is the designer’s choice.

DRESS: sequin gown – I bought my sequin gown a while ago and it is sold out, but I found this gown that is equally spectacular.

BAG: Jimmy Choo – buy here.

SEMI FORMAL WINTER OPERA OUTFITS

Step into the opera house without giving up on comfort. Luxe metallic threads and sheer tulle craft a vision of modern glamour.

8 COCKTAIL WINTER TULLE DRESS WITH DESIGNER PUMPS

For a look that is less formal, but equally enchanting for the opening night, bring some tulle into the mix.

You will feel the eyes of the people on you, admiring your beauty and style. You will hear the whispers, the compliments, the envy. You might enjoy the attention, but you are not here for them.

SHOES: Gianvito Rossi – shop for satin Gianvito Rossi pumps here (I bought mine around the same time as the dress and they haven’t remade them in the same colour yet – you can, however, shop for Manolo Blahnik satin pumps in the same hue – here).

BLAZER: black boyfriend blazer – shop for similar here.

DRESS: sleeveless midi black tulle dress – mine is Self Portrait and I bought it a while ago. But this one is similar. And it comes with adjustable straps.

HEADBAND: tiara headband – shop for a similar tiara headband here.

9 LITTLE BLACK DRESS WITH A LONG COAT AND PUMPS

A warm coat is an essential part of your winter opera outfit. Especially if you, like me and my company, discuss about the opera/ballet long after you have left the house.

Picture this. You are still under the spell of the opera/ballet as you step outside the opera house. You feel a chill in the air, but you don’t mind. You are warm with the memories of the music, the drama and your long coat. You look up at the sky, and see the stars shining brightly. You wonder if they are the same stars that the lovers in the opera saw, before their tragic fate.

You are not alone. You are with someone who shares your passion for opera/ballet, someone who understands what you have just seen. You turn to them and see their eyes sparkling with emotion. You smile, and they smile back.

You share your thoughts and feelings about the performance. You agree on some things and disagree on others. You debate, you argue, you laugh. You learn from each other, and you challenge each other. You enjoy each other’s company, and you listen to each other’s voice.

You talk about the composer, and his genius. You talk about the cast, and their talent (or lack of it). You talk about the story, and its meaning. You talk about the music, and its beauty. You talk about the opera/ballet, and its power.

You talk until the night is over, and the dawn is near. You realize that you have spent hours talking, and you don’t want to stop. Thank me you are wearing a warm coat and comfortable shoes.

SHOES: Gianvito Rossi – shop for satin Gianvito Rossi pumps here (I bought mine around the same time as the dress and they haven’t remade them in the same colour yet – you can, however, shop for Manolo Blahnik satin pumps in the same hue – here).

DRESS: Self Portrait elegant cocktail dress – buy here. They are almost identical.

HEADBAND: tiara headband – shop for a similar tiara headband here.

ELEGANT WINTER OPERA OUTFITS FOR OPERA NIGHTS

Or take the more is more approach when the evening calls for extra glamour.

10 ELEGANT COCKTAIL WINTER DRESS WITH DESIGNER PUMPS

Let me present you my favourite winter opera outfit.

Point of view, I could wear it more often, but we only have one opera house here and it is always more or less the same public. And they always remember what I wore the last time they saw me. On top of that, all my looks from the opening nights are captured and published online and in print.

While we pose for the photos upon our arrival after we give away our coats, make sure your coat complements your dress.

SHOES: Malone Souliers high heel mules – buy here. Make sure you size up. I bought mine in size EU36.5 – I’m size EU36 for pumps, but always go half of size up for backless shoes. Anyway, in the right size, they are super comfortable to walk in. They give the best support for your ankles, which is super important with heels so high.

DRESS: Self Portrait – my dress is sold out already, but this dress is similar. And I’m obsessed with it.

ACCESSORIES: Boho headwear headband – order here.

MAKEUP: Gucci mascara – buy here.

PARFUM: Dior Miss Dior – buy here.

FAQ WINTER OPERA OUTFITS 2025

If you are feeling overwhelmed by choice and can’t decide on the best winter opera outfit for your next opera night, fill out this form, and I will put together more opera/ballet outfits just for you – within your budget and style preferences.

CLASSY OUTFITS FOR WINTER

Up next: classy winter outfits old money wear in winter.