"The Bible doesn't have anything at all to say about what to wear to the opera,which does happen to be the actual topic of this thread."
You are absolutely correct on that point. I wasn't going to post more on this thread but I had a thought come to mind that I just have to share. I pictured Jesus, long hair, in a robe and sandals, going to an Opera...in the year 2005, in New York perhaps...with lovely people such as yourself in attendance, wearing your "appropriate attire", which in your opinion shows respect for those who attend such things, and respect for yourself of course. I wonder how you would feel when someone writes an article in the New York Times about, "Nice robe. But should you really wear a robe to the opera?". Maybe my parents weren't wrong when they told me not to judge others lest I find myself judging God, who can walk among us. Perhaps Jesus himself sat beside you in church last Sunday...perhaps he was that young man wearing jeans, or the older woman (such as myself) wearing slacks and a well-worn sweater. Think about it....PRAY about it....
I'm stunned by many of the comments on this thread. Conservatives want to blame Hollywood for destroying our nation's cultural values yet refuse to take any responsibility for their own actions in coarsening our society. Dumbing down our dress code is no different than dumbing down educational standards -- it's just an easy way to get through life.
Jesus dressed appropriately for HIS time. Nowhere in the Bible is HE ever described as wearing what would be the equivalent of dungarees.John the Baptist was described as "the wild man",not Jesus! So why would he wear 2,000+ year old clothes to an opera today ?
And it seems that HE was pretty upset,at the wedding in Cana, that enough GOOD wine hadn't been purchased for the guest;which was the right and proper thing to do.
I always dress up for the occasion, suits, dress pants and shirt, no jeans and so on. But I would much rather be in your company than any of your detractors. I would never look down upon you or laugh or any such nonsense. Matter of fact I wouldn't even notice what you were wearing one way or the other. You seem like good people, don't ever change.