Fancy dress to a multi-hour movie showing?

December 15, 2015 8:48 AM

Seeing Gwendoline Christie wearing this dress to the Star Wars movie premiere got me wondering: How does she sit in the theater chair in a gown like that for the multiple hours of a movie?

What do the theater chairs look like in that theater? Are they bigger/comfier/more legroom/??? in order to accommodate ball gowns like this? Do the fancy-dressed attendees change into something more comfortable once they get inside?

From that Sex and the City episode where they go to LA, it sounds like everyone stays to watch the movie. So I assume that means that the attendees stay dressed up for the 2 hour plus film.

posted by jillithd to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (14 answers total)

Best answer: it sounds like everyone stays to watch the movie

That doesn't always happen. There's a back door with limos outside, though there might also be a stylist with the next change of clothes too. Anything is possible in Hollywood.

But the three theatres used for the premiere last night are all pretty nice places, and seating is a big deal here (seriously, the worst-reviewed places on Yelp generally get dinged for having "regular seats" instead of stadium or recliner seating). The seat arms lift up, if it's not recliner seating. And actresses tend to be the size of the average 11-year-old, so a good business class seat will hold three of them in normal clothes or one in a gown.

There's a certain amount of training involved as well, in my understanding. The people who fit those gowns (which are often loaned) usually test them for sit-ability, and drills are done to ensure the wearer won't split a seam, trip and fall, or turn wrong and have a boob escape.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:03 AM on December 15, 2015 [4 favorites]

Well, awards ceremonies like the Oscars go on for much longer than a movie and people wear even more elaborate dresses to those.
posted by mama casserole at 9:10 AM on December 15, 2015

More often than not "glamorous", "fashionable" female ensembles are just code word for uncomfortable. Several weeks ago, Beyoncé was in a thin purple dress and you can clearly see the paparazzi wearing winter jackets behind here. Yet she's smiling like she's not the least bit cold. Same goes for ridiculously high heels.

I guess the same could be said about men in tuxedos in the summer time.

They're expected to look like it ain't no thing. It's what gets them media attention. Like in this thread.
posted by Neekee at 9:11 AM on December 15, 2015 [2 favorites]

Lyn Never, Qwendoline Christie is 6' 3"! Those seats would have to be MEGA comfortable for someone that tall wearing the most comfortable outfit!
posted by scolbath at 9:30 AM on December 15, 2015 [6 favorites]

Mod note: A few comments deleted. Folks, the question isn't "what do you think about this specific dress", it's about how big dresses actually work with theater seats, and what attendees actually do in these circumstances. Thanks.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:35 AM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

People don't wear black-tie clothing in order to be comfortable, nor do they attend movie premieres in order to be comfortable. "Comfort" is not anyone's goal here.
posted by jaguar at 9:36 AM on December 15, 2015

Best answer: I've attended major premieres; the stars often leave and go for drinks/dinner rather than stay for the film. Or they stay and just feel uncomfortable; it's not the end of the world to be uncomfortable for a few hours!
posted by pseudostrabismus at 9:59 AM on December 15, 2015 [3 favorites]

Best answer: - Expensive couture is often more comfortable than you think. People scoff at fashion design, but this is what well done pieces are designed to do - look and feel great.

- Those particular theaters have seating designed for this. Including balcony seating. It's not multiplex seating.

- These particular theaters also have lobbies and lounge areas. Again, it's stage theater design, not multiplex theater.


Given Gwen's height, I'm sure she had preferred seating that was really really comfortable. I'm sure EVERYONE stayed for this particular premiere. Also given Gwen's height, I'm sure her dress was custom fit to be comfortable. I've definitely known fashion designers with good ideas, but lacking the technical skill make an idea fit/stay up/be comfortable for movement. In this case, a talented and skilled tailor or seamstress makes the design work.

I frequent these theaters because I live nearby. The seating is stage theater seating, not movie theater seating. The El Capitan is the most uncomfortable by far, I think. And a tall person in a gown would still fit comfortably there in certain sections.
posted by jbenben at 11:16 AM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

not all fancy dresses are necessarily uncomfortable - if it's properly fitted it should just glide over the body. I'm sure that that dress has been tailored to fit her perfectly. Even something like a corset can be comfortable if you have good posture.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:17 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

That dress looks totally sit-able. The butt part is smooth, nothing will get crushed particularly, and it looks like she could sit with her legs crossed even.
posted by vitabellosi at 6:18 PM on December 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

Hmm, that dress doesn't look particularly uncomfortable to me. Tailoring plus fabric with a bit of Lycra and I think it would be just fine.
posted by oneirodynia at 6:20 PM on December 15, 2015

Q: How does she sit for hours?
A: She doesn't.

Many of these celebs duck out of the event or even change for more paparazzi shots at subsequent parties. They're often at events only for the red carpet moments.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:04 PM on December 15, 2015

I don't see anything about that dress that would make it particularly uncomfortable to sit. Fancy clothes aren't comfortable the way pajamas are comfortable, but it's not as if they're painful to wear.
posted by desuetude at 11:24 PM on December 15, 2015

Best answer: Here's a short write-up in Vogue about the dress. It's actually two pieces, which makes things a lot easier. From the article:

"We chose separates, as they are more versatile; it definitely feels fresher than a classic gown,” says Copping.

“And will make sitting at the premiere easier,” chimes in Christie, already acquainted with Copping’s ability to undercut froth and frills with casual ease. “It’s so easy to move in—look at this!” She glides around the atelier. “It’s weirdly practical! That’s what I love about it.”
posted by taz at 11:37 PM on December 15, 2015 [5 favorites]