Date sent: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 23:15:45 EST
Subject: Re: Choir Dresses
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

In a message dated 01/20/2000 3:52:13 PM Central Standard Time, SSzy1-at-aol.com
writes:

<< VBIGELOW-at-aol.com writes:

> We are looking for appropriate attire for a classical collegiate choir.


Please, I beg of you - don't choose something with big puffy ingenue sleeves
and a full skirt! Not only is it extremely limiting (not too many figures
look their best in this style) but it certainly is inappropriate for anyone
over the age of 16 or so. Another bad choice is sleeves attire. I'm all
for
something classic in a long or 3/4 length sleeve, rounded neck and simple
silhouette, preferably in a dark color. >>

I often think of the Paul Hill Chorale's pale pink dresses with an empire
waist and a Peter Pan collar ... blah!!! Or what we in the Bel Canto Chorus
call "the shroud" - cheap black polyester, no shape tunic and unflattering
length skirt - also called "the Equal Opportunity Offender."

I have a dress from the Washington Bach Consort that I still wear for choral
gigs from time to time - polyester, but not too cheap, in black with a kind
of blouson top. Very classic looking - although another group in DC has the
same dress in cobalt blue and it looks really cheap ... stick to black!!

Chris Thomas
Mezzo-Soprano
Wauwatosa, WI

"I love to sing-a, about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a"