Divas meet Divas: What to wear to the opera?

NOVEMBER 13, 2009

Our co-worker Jonathan is a true Renaissance man: a body builder who plays saxophone, speaks Croatian and, I recently learned, sings opera! Recently, Jonathan invited me to hear him sing bass in a performance of Lucia Di Lammermoor.Deal Diva Letitia is coming, too, along with both our husbands.

The show is Nov. 20-22 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Regularly priced tickets start at $29.50, but by using the code BRIDE when you register, you can get $69.50 orchestra or mezzanine seats for only $15.00.

So I'm going to the opera for the first time. Whatever shall I wear? No seriously, what do people wear to these things? Gloves? A church hat? A cape? Or should I take my cues from Flava Flav?

Perhaps not. Opera singers are the original Divas, so I want to get this right. Here's what five celebs wore to the Sept. 21 season opening of New York's Metropolitan Opera.

Actor Leelee Sobieski showed off her baby bump in this red-hot number.

If Forever 21 and Chico's had a baby, the result would be this flowy frock worn by actor Joy Bryant.

New York socialite Julie Macklowe looked like she was going to a birthday party... for Pamela Anderson.

Martha Stewart got into a fight with her glitter pen. And lost.

Opera soprano Renee Fleming, who must know a thing or two about dressing for these occasions, chose a black and white gown. I think I know where I can find something like that.

Deal Diva Dalia

(Photos: Getty Images)

Posted by Times Editor at 6:00:00 am on November 13, 2009 in

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THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

As a sullen teenager, Emily Nipps refused to wear anything but black, olive green or burgundy, preferably ripped. She has since added color to her life but still experiments with her dark streak. A product junkie, she has tried tons of overpriced face creams and hair products but loves drugstore brands that work the same. She's an Aries and a bassist in a punk band. She has a pet pig, seven chickens, three cats and a rabbit. And just as many lip glosses. She can be reached at (727) 893-8452 or nipps@tampabay.com.

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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