-Danielle Green looked perfectly polished for a night at the ballet.-

 

This sheep philosophy still doesn’t explain why dressing down (albeit acceptable) for a cultural event seems to be the norm. There are so few opportunities to really play dress-up and have an evening out on the town, especially if you are young. Make the extra effort to ditch your street clothes and wear a dressy-dress and a pair of heels, a great piece of jewelry or a wrap to attend a theater, opera, ballet or symphony performance. Dress so you feel good.

Visit Red Rose vintage clothing on 64th Street in Broad Ripple to find the perfect pair of kid gloves to finish off your evening ensemble. Though a must for women once upon a time, kid gloves now are a fun way to finish off and dress-up your look. Why not see if they have any vintage 1950s fur wraps, stoles or jackets to spunk a little black dress or transform jeans into evening wear. Or tell Grandma to give you hers because they’re back in style.

A vendor on the second floor at Midland Arts and Antiques (709 E. Michigan) also has a very nice selection, but wear with caution and finesse because you wear the clothes — the clothes don’t wear you!

“C’mon, it’s the ballet!” Danielle Green, 21, said of why she dressed up for Julio Bocca’s Ballet Argentino performance at Clowes Memorial Hall last Friday night, March 26. As a preschool and level one ballet instructor at Performer’s Edge, Green said that dressing-up shows respect for the performers on the stage. “I have so much respect for the dancers. I like to dress up anyway and this is the perfect opportunity … to watch greatness.” And as far as Ballet Argentino’s U.S. debut of The Man in the Red Tie, and other pieces performed that evening, Green said, “This just blew my mind. It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Green looked perfectly polished for a night at the ballet in a solid pale pink bouclé (woven or knitted pike fabric with irregular surface of loops or knotty surface) reefer style coat from Arden B located at the Fashion Mall. Black Beatle boots, black straight-legged dress pants and a black turtleneck gave her look an elegant sophistication, as did her red hair pulled back into a bun at the base of her neck exposing her chandelier earrings. She was also appropriately dressed for the dreary wet weather by wearing boots instead of heels, pants to accommodate the chill and her pink overcoat — a perfect match for the weather and the changing seasons. Because she didn’t overdo it with accessories, her gorgeous earrings really stood out and were the focus of her look.

Why not plan a special evening out on the town with friends by going to dinner and then a Clowes performance? The Butler Ballet will perform Cinderella April 16-18 and the Indianapolis Opera will perform Rigoletto May 7 and 9, with discounted tickets for students. Your ticket to Cinderella will be less than your weekend bar tab! How much did you spend on your last movie date? Visit www.cloweshall.org for ticket prices and to compare, or visit their box office. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster at 239-1000.