Chantal,
This is another of those posts that takes me back to my earlier days my first interaction with others of our community at a support group meeting. I can't remember if I wore a patterned crossover dress of skirt and blouse combo but I do remember wearing a pair of strappy white kitten heeled sandals that weren't the most comfortable as if memory serves they were a size too small.
Subsequent visits I stuck with smart casual and definitely more comfortable shoes, still heeled of course.
Going to the theatre is on my bucket list and were it to be a play or music performance then again smart would be the order of the day. I would love the opportunity to go to a gala performance and put on a few more sequins, something full length and figure hugging. Just need a years notice (at least) to get more weight off.