Overview

• Teatro alla Scala has tightened its rules and now denies entry to patrons in shorts, flip-flops or tank-tops.
• Bayreuth Festspiele maintains no formal dress code but asks guests to honor the festival’s festive spirit.
• The Bayerische Staatsoper openly welcomes jeans, jumpsuits and unconventional outfits without imposing attire guidelines.
• Festivalgoers at Bayreuth and Salzburg have increasingly paired summer dresses and flats and skipped bow ties, reflecting a broader casualization trend.
• Fashion experts argue dress codes protect an event’s ambience, while critics warn stricter rules may reinforce class-based exclusion.