Hammett's in McHenry Village already has had "quite a few" women come through and look through its racks of glittery evening wear, said owner Myrne Madonna.
"They're really confused because they don't know how dressy they should be," she said. "They always ask, 'What shall I wear?' "
The most posh event is the Sept. 27 opening gala concert featuring Broadway diva Patti LuPone and the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. The program is black-tie optional, meaning some men will wear tuxedos and others will wear suits.
"Women, I think they can do whatever they want to do," said Dianne Gagos, who is on the planning committee for the event. "I'm sure there will be some ladies in long dresses and some ladies in short dresses. But I think it's going to be festive. On the other hand, you know Modesto, and so we'll probably see a bit of everything."
With tickets priced at $200 to $1,000, the gala will be a lavish affair, with the concert in the 1,252-seat Mary Stuart Rogers Theater and a buffet supper, hosted bar and dancing outside on the plaza after the program. There will be a red-carpet entrance, trumpet heralds and spotlights beaming into the sky.
The center recently sent out some 3,200 keepsake invitations tied with black ribbons to donors and others who have shown interest in the project.
"It's a memento of this moment in history," said Sheila Carroll, who also is on the planning committee.
Patrons likely won't dress up quite as much for the rest of the grand opening programs, which will be much less expensive, will feature concerts only and won't have the other fanfare.
Performers are Cirque-Works Birdhouse Factory, a circus act (Sept. 28-30, 444-seat Foster Family Theater, $15-$45); Norteño band Los Tigres del Norte (Sept. 28, Rogers Theater, $38-$100); pop legend Tony Bennett (Sept. 29, Rogers Theater, sold out); country singer Rosanne Cash (Sept. 30, Rogers Theater, $25-$55); and the Joffrey Ballet (Oct. 2, Rogers Theater, $30-$100).
"You can dress however you want," Carroll said.
Sandy Loew, a member of the arts center's board of trustees, said she's purchased a black cocktail dress for the gala from Macy's in Modesto. She said she is excited to celebrate at last the opening of the state-of-the-art venue.
"It's one of the best things that ever happened to this town," she said.
Nicole Smith, a volunteer who helped prepare invitations for the gala, said she will get a black cocktail dress also, but will get it out of town -- either in San Francisco or Walnut Creek because of the bigger selection. "Hopefully, I won't get a duplicate dress with someone else," she said.
Volunteer Lisa Willming is considering a colorful dress. She said she'll probably pick up something in the Bay Area a few days before the event.
Modesto resident Toni Clark, who still is deciding whether to attend the gala, said if she goes, she will try to find something dressy at Hammett's.
"It feels good to dress up," she said. "I just feel it's a respect to the event you're attending."
But Jeanne Perry, who is on the grand opening planning committee, said people shouldn't get overly worried about the issue.
"The important thing is to have a good time," she said. "You don't need a new dress."
The Gallo Center for the Arts, at 10th and I streets in Modesto, will hold its grand opening gala Sept. 27. The center has two theaters: the 1,252-seat Mary Stuart Rogers Theater and the 444-seat Foster Family Theater. www.galloarts.org, 338-2100.
