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An hour outside London, in the heart of the Sussex countryside, flocks of well-dressed lovers of theatre and music descend to a certain manor house. Glyndebourne may just appear to be an English country house but it's actually home to world-leading opera. Delivering performances to some 150,000 people over the summer months, the Glyndebourne Festival is a true experience everyone should enjoy at least once (although the allure to return is often too strong to resist). Besides watching the world’s best in opera, a key part of the Festival is the 90-minute interval where guests can picnic in the garden or dine at the on-site restaurants.
Read on to discover Tateossian’s edit of what to wear to the Glyndebourne Festival.
The history of the Glyndebourne Festival
Founder John Christie had a passion for theatre production and after he inherited the Glyndebourne estate from his grandfather, he had big plans for the manor house. He modified the interior of Glyndebourne so that he could host amateur opera performances for friends and family. While holding a production of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Christie was approached by a singing teacher who suggested Audrey Mildmay sing the role of Blonde in the show. The young soprano was a Canadian-English singer who was building a reputation across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. John was instantly taken by Audrey. Their shared love for music bought them together and the two wed on 4 June 1931.
When they returned from their honeymoon, the couple was inspired to remodel Glyndebourne and upgrade it from an amateur opera. John had previously completed alterations to the house, adding the Organ Room, which almost doubled the length of the south facade of the house. This room contained the largest organ in the country not situated in a cathedral. But John and his wife decided against expanding the Organ Room and chose to dream bigger. They constructed a theatre that could seat 300. It was their quest to bring professional opera to Glyndebourne. This quest was fulfilled when, in 1934, Glyndebourne held its first two week season. The Festival was an instant success that had the public and critics raving.
Glyndebourne has ridden its wave of success since that very first Festival, halting only in times of crisis. But even world wars and pandemics couldn’t stop the Festival from regathering. Glyndebourne has always sprung back quickly as to never leave audiences without the transforming power of music for too long. To accommodate the growing attraction, the theatre was modified in 1977 to seat 850, but even this wasn’t enough. A central auditorium that could seat 1,200 to better serve opera-goers was constructed in the 1990s. This new area opened with a performance of Mozarts’s Le nozze di Figaro. The celebratory performance was quite deliberate, as the early years of Glyndebourne entirely revolved around Mozart’s extensive collection of operatic works.
What to wear
As a way to show respect to the singers and musicians, John Christie encouraged the audience to wear formal attire. The tradition has persisted and today, many make an event of dressing up for the Festival. The official dress code is black tie, but variations are always seen in the audience. An evening gown is a common choice for ladies and, for the warmer afternoons in the gardens, cocktail length dresses are also acceptable. And unless you want to lose a heel to the lush gardens, wedges or low heels are the suggested footwear. For men wondering what to wear to Glyndebourne, a dinner jacket will serve you well. Although lounge suits, tartan trews and kilts are not uncommon sights.
No matter which performance you are choosing to attend (evening or afternoon), it’s always a good idea to bring an extra layer and an umbrella. The performances are enjoyably long with no expense spared for theatrics, so ensure you’re comfortable for the extended periods of sitting. It’s also advisable to leave the Avant-Garde headpieces at home unless you want the person behind you ruffling your feathers to view the stage.
Tateossian style guide for Glyndebourne Festival
The Glyndebourne Festival encourages sophisticated individuality – attire that respects the performers’ time but doesn't restrict your own unique style. For the dinner jacket-laden gents, this is the time to break out those designer cufflinks that you’ve always wanted to wear (or invest in). For something that has all the opulence of the opera, the Rotondo Guilloché cufflinks in rose gold or rhodium will be your main act. These cufflinks were inspired by the Guilloche pattern used in classical Greek and Roman architecture. This decorative technique of engraving is enhanced when decorated on a disc of white mother of pearl, creating a shine behind each line and curve when held to the natural light. Alternatively the encore-worthy London Eye cufflinks with ruby and goldstone will subtly sparkle like the stars on the stage and bring a timeless elegance to your look.
If you want to upgrade your cufflinks, shirt studs were made for events like this. The Precious Button cufflinks stud set has a dark appeal with its black mother of pearl face and blood-red rubies rimming the edges. Paired with a black jacket, this cufflinks and stud set will have your outfit singing melodically. If you were already a fan of the Rotondo Guilloché cufflinks above, they are also available as a set in the same rose gold or rhodium finish.
A splendid pair of cufflinks or stud sets aren’t the only pieces you should be considering. This Festival is the time to put your best dress shoe forward and experiment with a luxury accessory you don’t often have the occasion to wear. Lapel pins and brooches have had a massive resurgence and were seen all over the red carpets this season. Whether you’re more inclined towards a classic finish such as the Fern lapel pin or opt for something with a pop of colour like the Thistle pin with enamel, it’s a great way to bring that sense of individuality of style that Glyndebourne demands.
Keeping track of the time during the 90-minute interval is easy with a watch to complement your look. The Rotondo Guilloché watch will pair beautifully with the cufflinks or stud set above, and you’ll make sure you’re back in plenty of time for the next act. And never the accessory to be upstaged, complete your Glyndebourne outfit with something marvellous – diamonds. More specifically the diamond Baton bracelet. Fitted with 99 single-cut white pavé diamonds, this bracelet captures the whimsy of the Glyndebourne gardens with its hand-wrapped macramé chord as well as the luxury of the experience. Although this unisex bracelet comes in a range of colours, black is the leading choice for the opera’s dress code.
