Why Don’t People Dress Up for the Opera Anymore?

I first started op shopping (thrift shopping) when I was at art school. My campus was located in a neighbourhood surrounded by second hand and vintage stores, so I had ample opportunity to scour them for treasure. Back then, fewer people frequented op shops, so I had less competition too. Oh, the stories of glorious discoveries I could dazzle you with!

Once such item was this vintage oyster satin opera cloak. I pounced on that with great excitement. Such rich gleaming fabric, falling in luxurious folds, and trimmed lavishly with embroidered ribbon! I couldn’t resist. It was $30, and I did not hesitate to purchase it even though even then I had a latent suspicion that I would never wear it.

That must have been precognition, for in over 20 years I have never once worn it, not even to a dress up party! It’s just so ridiculously melodramatic, and utterly impractical. I never went to the opera, so where would I wear such a frivolous garment? However, I have never been able to part with it, so it still hangs in my storage room. Nowadays I do go to the theatre often, and though very few people wear real evening dress, perhaps I ought to show them how it’s done.

(Photo: March, 2014)