What to wear to The Ballet at Covent Garden – The Mariinsky Dances Swan Lake

My first memory of the ballet at Covent Garden was Rudolf Nureyev dancing the chief warrior in the Potslovian dances from Prince Igor by Borodin.  I think you can safely say that spoilt me for life.  And yes it was a very long time ago.
I’m not a ballet aficionado as opera is my passion, but last night I was lucky enough to be invited to see the Mariinsky Ballet Company perform Swan Lake.  It was a beautiful production, and it’s worth reading this review from The Guardian, and The Arts Desk, to get the expert’s opinions.  Swan Lake is a tricky ballet to make fascinating in my opinion and I wasn’t quite grabbed by this performance, but take a look at this production of Swan Lake in London in 1967 to see Fonteyn and Nureyev star in an iconic performance.  For Nureyev’s incredible solo go forward to 1.20.00

One thing I noticed, as I go to the opera as much as I can, is that although it was evening, and The Royal Opera House, and a completely sold out production at high ticket prices, most people dressed down more than they do for the opera. 

Why the ballet should be more casual than the opera I have no idea and I think it’s a shame to some extent.  It takes away from the glamour of the surroundings.  It’s not like Glyndebourne, where if you’re not in black tie you get frowned upon, and there is no dress code, but jeans, t-shirts and sun dresses just don’t work.  For me at least.  I wore a little black dress – as you do – with heels.  There were shorts in abundance too, smart, but….shorts?  Maybe it’s my age but I don’t think so. 

As a total dress addict I would suggest that one of these below would make the grade at Covent Garden, for any performance, any time or for any where for that matter.  And after all, who doesn’t want an excuse to buy a new dress?



These dresses will take you from office to ballet with no trouble at all, alternatively they’ll be your favourites to pull out of your wardrobe at a moment’s notice, knowing that sexy, form fitting and flattering they’ll do the job every time.  After all, who really wants to dress down for the ballet.  Dressing up is so much more fun.

Oh and by the way, the Mariinsky production has a happy ending apparently from the original version, which the Fonteyn Nureyev performance does not.