Have I mentioned I’m going to New York City for the first time in June? I’m looking forward to the movie tour in Central Park and to Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, the Met, and so much more. I’m also thrilled beyond measure that we’ll be seeing a performance every night that we are there. Which has led to a mad search online for the last several days and to the title of this post. WHAT should I wear?

In one sense, it doesn’t matter what I should wear. Our days are going to be packed from morning to evening with as many exciting attractions as we can handle (and then some). We’ll probably be stumbling into each night’s show with an extremely worn version of whatever we put on in the morning which will inevitably have been chosen for its comfort factor.

Still, I’ve searched for the answer anyway, hoping I wouldn’t learn that you get turned away from the shows if you’re underdressed on the casual/dressy meter. The answer was completely satisfying, and I’ve come up with a few tips for making it possible.

The short version is: You Can Wear Whatever You Want. People at a Broadway performance are likely to be found in anything from jeans and a t-shirt to the rare but occasional tuxedo. The generally accepted dress code is somewhere in between. Sort of dress-casual with men in slacks and sport coats, women in a dressed up version of work suits or skirts, summer dresses, etc.

The travel company I write for designs a lot of New York City educational student tours, and though the itineraries usually include a show, rarely do they include a block of primping time pre-performance. If you’re headed to a show after the sightseeing, consider these tips.

1. Consider your evening plans when you dress. Lots of casual clothes will look fine in a Broadway theater while some won’t. For instance – yes to khaki capri pants and a twin set, maybe no to the sweat pants. Yes to dark, classy jeans. No to faded jeans shredded by holes. Flats are good, flip-flops not so much. And don’t choose anything that at the end of the day will look like it’s been crumpled in the bottom of a suitcase.

2. Carry a dressier pair of shoes and accessories in your bag while you walk. Instant day-to-evening wear.

3. Don’t forget blush and lip gloss to freshen up after dinner. Or if you’re not the lip gloss type (guys for instance?), a small packet of facial wipes could go a long away toward cleansing the touring grime away and will give you just the right pick-me-up for the evening.

4. My coworker has perhaps the best and most thorough solution. Pack a summer dress in your purse or bag, one with a nice wrinkle-free blend, that you can actually change into for the show. Or, a similar fabric in a light jacket could almost accomplish the same thing with less changing hassle.

Follow these tips if you can, but remember the short answer most of all. If you’re fully clothed, you’re perfectly fine. After all, it’s not about what you wear in the seats, the Broadway experience is on stage. And you’re sure to enjoy that no matter what you’re wearing.

Photo by Dom Dada on Flickr.