The Clever Clothing Tip To Look Like A Local While Visiting Broadway In New York City

One of the best things about New York City is its diversity: Stand on any given street corner, and you might hear a dozen languages in the span of a few minutes. Passersby may be dressed in bellbottoms, turbans, trench coats, athleisure, saris, leather bombers, or dishdashas. You'll see every hair style and tattoo imaginable. New York is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country — not to mention a bastion for religious freedom and LGBTQ+ identities — so you can wear pretty much anything here and rarely raise an eyebrow.

That said, there's one traditional dress code many locals still observe, even if it's unofficial and old-timey: When they go out to the theater, New Yorkers tend to dress up. We're talking suits, ties, gowns, and dress shoes. Ticket-holders like to primp before they head out the door, because theater is a hallowed tradition in New York — and New York is one of the best cities to visit if you enjoy going to the theater – so a Broadway show calls for formalwear. You won't get kicked out of, say, the Booth Theatre for wearing tennis shoes, but you may also feel underdressed. Don't think of it as a chore: Attending a musical or drama, especially on Broadway for an evening performance, is a fun opportunity for New Yorkers to look their best. It's also an excuse to dine out at one of the best places to eat if you're seeing a Broadway show.

New Yorkers don't just gussy up for the theater, of course. Each weekday, about 180,000 people head to work on Wall Street, and you can bet most of them dress for business. The United Nations is headquartered in midtown Manhattan, where formal attire is expected, and 7th Avenue is literally called "Fashion Avenue" for its importance to designers and clothing trends. So if you're looking for a place to flaunt that elegant dress or three-piece suit, Manhattan is a solid choice.

That said, there are several tiers of theater in New York, which are officially known as Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway, and the further you venture from Times Square, the more casual the environment gets. New York is also a seasonal town, with hot-and-humid summers followed by cold-and-wet winters, and residents generally walk about three times as much as the average American, much of that distance outside. While many of us like to fit in — and look our best — there's no obligation to get fancy, and no one will begrudge your sensible outfit during heatwaves and snowstorms. In the meantime, as you're getting acclimated to the city, here are 27 underrated tourist attractions to add to your NYC itinerary.