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My wife and I very much enjoy culture and arts and regularly attend various performances or visit museum exhibitions. Going to a classical concert, a show, a dance performance, a musical, or a museum is a welcome opportunity to elegantly dress up En femme. Me being a crossdresser, I of course specifically seek out those opportunities to dress, which is why many of my days out and about end at various cultural venues. Dressed for a full day out typically means a more leisurely outfit during the day, coming back home in the late afternoon, changing into a more formal outfit, changing jewelry, redoing make-up, and then heading out for the evening. Living pretty much in the center of town makes this very easy.
In terms of dressing up, one of the best occasions to do so is visiting the opera or a ballet performance. There are distinct differences between opera houses that we have visited in terms of spectator appearance. At some of them, you can wear jeans. You might be one of a few, but no one will be upset about it. The opera and ballet in Munich, the “Bayerische Staatsoper,” founded in 1653, is fantastic and that counts for its performances, for the building it occupies, and for the spectators, in the way they dress and behave themselves.
In November 2022, Franziska attended William Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet” as a ballet performance at “Bayerische Staatsoper” in a floor-length black dress with a dark blue bolero, dark blue 8 cm heels and a black clutch handbag. It was a blast! And while Franziska enjoyed a glass of Champagne before the performance, a handsome middle-aged man appeared next to her and with a great smile on his face–said “Sie sehen todschick aus!” (“You look absolutely smashing!”).
The visit to “Bayerische Staatsoper” was part of the program of a 4-day trip to Munich, the second all-En femme trip Franziska had taken in 2022. Please also (re)visit my article “Why I love traveling En femme” ( https://www.crossdresserheaven.com/why-i-love-travelling-en-femme/) posted on 23 March 2023.
Following a 3-hour ride on the ICE high-speed train from Frankfurt to Munich, Franziska checked in at a hotel in walking distance to Central Station. After a change of outfit, she headed out to dinner at a fantastic restaurant in a nearby five-star hotel. The program on Friday included some shopping in the city center, lunch at a famous beer house, and the visit to see “Romeo and Juliet” described above. The program on Saturday included a visit to the art museum “Alte Pinakothek,” lunch in “Schwabing,” the center of Munich’s “Schickeria” (loosely translated as “the Munich jet-set”), and a performance of “Dracula” at “Deutsches Theater” in the evening. How to dress for Dracula was the question of the day. As with the last trip to Stuttgart, the four days in Munich–with all outfits and activities–are currently being covered on Franziska’s out and about blog. I will also share some more public pictures here on CDH in the coming weeks.
Which cultural events have you visited En femme?
Did you ever go out to a cultural event like opera or theater together with your wife, while you were crossdressed?
And if so, how did you deal with the potential issue of somebody recognizing your wife, coming over to talk to her, and wondering who you might be?
Love,
Franzi
You are fortunate that you have your wife going out with you and doing high brow cultural stuff and en femme. I just would not go to opera and ballet. .
I went to some theater with my dad when I was younger. It was ok, but would get excited over it. My lack of enthusiasm over it got me the title of cultural barbarian from my dad. I would rather go to movies or best of all ballgames(baseball, football , basketball) wiedeI get your point - the high brow environs are one of the few places where you can wear elegant attire. I love to wear dresses and evening gowns - note my picture as an example. But there is no where to go wear them. Auf Wiedesein for now(one of few German expresssions I know). A question - are you from Frankfurt West Germany?
Dear @aliceblack, Thanks for your comments and for sharing your experiences. Everyone has different preferences and that is good. Love, Franzi
Oh Franziska to be in the higher echelons of culture! My cousin is a Jonas kaufmann groupie, even at 70 + years of age. She has been to Munich and Italy to see him in opera and living near London she is a frequent visitor to opera houses there.. I would love to go with her but commitments seem to clash.
I have been to smaller provincial theatres and seen ballet or contemporary dance performances but not opera. Alas dressing as you did is not really in keeping but dress nicely and make an occasion of it by having a meal first. I have been with female friends and family for an enjoyable experience.
I have the dress and live in hope that just maybe Cinders will go to the opera one day.
Dear @ab123, Thanks for you message and comment and for sharing your experiences and plans. Sorry for my late reply. I am currently travelling on business. Love, Franzi
Thanks so much for this post! I agree that such events are especially enjoyable, as one can find a way to fit in while wearing one's finest. I take every opportunity to go to such events. Symphony is sufficient but opera is better, as it tends to be even dressier. I have even invited theater managers to join me. Occasions are preceeded by dinnfer in a fancy restaurant and perhaps followed by dessert or coffee. I have gone with my daughters and with my partner and other crossdressers. But the venue is in Atlanta, where I need not fear recognition. If anyone has interest in joining me, please PM me. My next event is at Cobb Energy Center Sept. 8, where I plan to see comedian and crossdresser Eddie Izzard... not necessarily dressy, but dressing up is always fine at such a venue.
At one event at Symphony last year a few CD friends joined me... 4th row orchestra. I heard the ladies in the row behind me talking about how they pitied the men who were stuffed into tuxedos and lacked the variety of options women have. I turned to them and noted that such is always a choice as long as one is dressed to the nines!. I figured they would deduce that the row in front of them was filled with crossdressers, but I could see they did not detect this, which made the experience even more enjoyable for me. When departing by elevator to the garage level a woman next to me sized me up, apparently noticing something a bit abnormal- likely my height- but she could not put her finger on it. She commented on my beautiful dress, and asked me how tall I was. I answered 5'9". She replied "Same as me...must be the heels." I was about to whisper to her that I was a CD but the doors opened and I chose not to risk making a scene.
Dear @rhondalee, Thanks for your wonderful comment and story. That would be a fun event to join in for me as well. I am happy to hear about your positive experiences. Sorry for getting back to you so late, but I am currently on travel. Love, Franzi
I love meeting folks like you who, when they get all dressed up, want to find someplace to go!
Lovely as always . So great to live where you can see and be seen in a venue like a ballet performance. So happy for you
Wonderful - simply wonderful
Dear @gerda, Thanks for your comment and compliment and sorry for my late reply. Franzi
What a great article thank you so much for sharing! My do you ever look elegant in that photo! Like a touring Princess!
I pray for the courage one day to attend an event fully dressed. if I do I will definitely share with the lovely ladies here.
I so admire you Franziska. Hope your enjoying your Saturday girlfriend!
Dear @rickiwicki, Thanks for reading my article and for posting a comment and for your wonderful compliments. Franzi
Like you Franziska, I LOVE getting dressed way up whenever possible. This December, a group of us, ten crossdresser friends, are going to Lincoln Center to see Wagner's Tannhäuser opera. We are all going to wear long evening dresses or gowns and we will be going to dinner as well. I can't wait!
BTW, I agree with that gentleman - "Sie sehen todschick aus!"
Dear @d44, Thanks for your nice comment and compliment. Your Tannhäuser plans sound wonderful. I'd love to join you if I were anywhere close by. I went to see Lohengrin in Bayreuth a couple of years back (in drab with my wife and friends). At this venue EVERYONE was dressed up in tuxedos and floor-length gowns. Love, Franzi
I prefer ballet to opera. There's some events coming my way soon, but I'll probably go with someone for which dressing femme isn't possible 🙁
You really do look smashing! So appropriate from hair to shoes! Old-world gorgeous! Someone else may be a lazy luggard and wear jeans, but you are allowed to have the fun of putting the right outfit and look together!
Dear @smartina, Thanks for your wonderful comment and compliments. Dressing up is so much fun. You have great pictures btw. I love them. Franzi
I'm not really into ballet or opera, but I have gone a few times to Broadway, New York City en femme. I have been dresssed nice, but not in formal wear.
My first time was when my wife and kids were out of town. I spent the day in New York, then went to the half price ticket place in Times Square. I ended up getting tickets to Hair.
The next time I went to see Casa Valentina, a play about Casa Susanna, a place for crossdressers to be themselves in the mountains north of New York City. My wife was supposed to be away working out of town, but ended up coming home early. I went anyway, and left before she got up. She questioned me when I came home, but eventually gave up.
The last time I went with my daughter to see Kinky Boots. I wore 4 inch heeled boots, and we went to a museum beforehand becaause of an assignment she had. My feet were killing me very early on in the day. Later she learned her friend and her mom was coming in by bus to see a different play, so we went down to the bus station to meet them for dinner. We had dinner together (her friend's mom knew I was a crossdresser but didn't realize I was my daughter's father until my daughter was texting her friend when we were both on the way home) before heading off to the theater. I got a picture taken with one of the actors. My feet hurt all the next day, but it was worth it to wear kinky boots to Kinky Boots.
Dear @alison-anderson, Thanks for reading my article and for posting a comment. Broadway en femme sounds wonderful as well. Frankfurt's "Alte Oper" is a house that regularly plays musicals and I have been to several of them en femme. You can find picture thereof and of all my other adventures en femme in my "out and about blog". If you don't have the address, feel free to send me a private message for it. Franzi
Thanks for sharing. I love going to these kinds of things and always want to do so dressed up, but my wife isn't a fan so I have to go in drab.
Dear @raven188, Sarah, Thanks for your comment. When accompanied by my wife, I also go in drab. You have some great pictures in your profile. Franzi
Beautiful story Franziska.
I have never been out dressed En Femme. My wife does not have issues with my cross dressing. One of the rules is I am not allowed to play the female role out in public. Yes I would love to dress En Femme and go out in public. Then again I at least get to dress up at home and be myself.
I am allowed to go out dressed En Femme on Halloween. My costumes always scream Man in a dress. I wear a full beard to help keep my face warm at work since I work in a temperature controlled environment. I work in 38F/3C degrees everyday when working.
Love and (((HUGS)))
Dorothy
Dear @hbrinson, Thank you very much for your reply and your background. Happy to hear that you get your share of dressing at home. Franzi
What a wonderful post. You look stunning in that outfit. Very well done in every aspect. I love it. This post is very inspiring. I live in a small town but frequently travel to cities for work. Next trip i take I am going to look into going to a ballot show as you did/do.
Thank you for this post.
Dear @heathershirly, Thank you very much for your wonderful comment. I am happy to hear that my article inspires you. That is why I share my experiences here and in my out and about blog. Love, Franzi
