A guide to Choir Uniforms: Do's and Don't | Stage Accents

 

Do's and Don't

As any parishioner can attest, getting into a choir and getting a uniform is an important aspect of the choral experience. I realize this may sound depressing, but I've never seen a choir outfit that I adored. But, I believe, that's the point: choir dresses black should not be judged on a personal level, but instead, as a whole because the overall effect of a uniform choir is what matters most.

Do:

• Select a cut and style that looks fantastic on everyone. One of the most difficult tasks!

Colors should be simple like black.

•  Although bright orange is your favorite hue, an entire choir dressed in brilliant orange may cause discomfort to the audience. Black is the traditional musician's color of choice.

• Uniforms must fit well in order to appear professional. I appreciate (and have worn) that church robes are hung big at best, but if you want to look international, it's all about a trim silhouette.

• Find uniforms that are easy to transport. One of the most common problems with a choir uniform on tour is wrinkles...or learn how to arrange your uniform to avoid wrinkles.

• It was all in the basics when it comes to uniforms. If possible, this involves hosiery (I've seen a wide variety of black tights throughout my choral years) and shoes. The disparity between one chorister wearing black platforms and then another dressed in ballet flats is enough to draw attention.

Don't:

• Exaggeratedly expose your flesh. That's not the show you're putting on. Simply mix and match your accessories. There are some guidelines to follow. You'll get a lot of various red colors if you advise everyone to just accessorize with red.

• Less is frequently more. Extensive makeup, nail polish, and accessories were required to be removed in my more serious choral experiences since the audience was there to listen to choral music, not be distracted by your tuxedos for choir.

• While a choir concert may appear to be an ideal setting for displaying your diamond choker under the glare of stage lights, it has no home in a choir because it is a group performance rather than a solitary one.

Nutshell

What matters most is that the outfit is the last item on the audience's mind. Something is incorrect if the uniform receives too much attention. Even before they sing, the uniform establishes the choir's first impression and tone.

As a result, when a choir appears polished and put together, it naturally affects how a listener or judge perceives and hears it. I'll write about some of my personal choral fashion adventures in a future post.