At any given Symphony Center concert, you will observe some concertgoers dressed up and others dressed more casually. Many patrons wear business attire or casual business attire. We encourage you to wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

One reason orchestra managements give when asked why a dress code is necessary is that they want their musicians to present a uniform appearance to the audience. It's been customary to define that 'uniform appearance' to mean full formal dress: white tie and tails for men, and long black gowns or pantsuits for women.

Typical orchestra attire for audience members involves dressing in formal or semi-formal attire, such as a suit with a tie for men and a dress, skirt, or elegant pants ensemble for women, to complement the formal setting of the concert.