Leave a face-framing piece of hair out of your ponytail and curl it.
Do a deep side part.
Wear your hair up in a knot or a dancer bun. (Make sure you have a lot of time to prepare--and a lot of bobby pins and hair spray.)
Just quickly brush your hair--a natural look is in!
Wear one bold (but not too bold) hair accessory with two small, complimentary hair accessories.
Tie your ponytail with a sparkly elastic.
Makeup
Reach for the highlight.
Put a red or berry water tint, balm stain, or lipstick on your lips. Alternatively, add clear gloss or nothing.
Go for a classic winged liner look with black, navy, or purple liner.
Copper eyeshadow makes a statement, but can be worn in the concert setting. Alternatively, go for a bit of green or purple if you're especially daring.
Smoke out that lower lash line.
Alternatively, wear no eye makeup.
Fill in your eyebrows sparingly or don't.
Apply mascara.
Clothing
Wear a shirt with a sparkly collar or wear a simple necklace.
Classic simplicity is in. You're in luck.
Wear a dress with a velvet top.
Go for dress shoes with laces or cute bootlets.
Good news: ALL BLACK IS IN!!!!!
Overall
Find your individual style while staying within the guidelines.
Err on the side of conservative, especially with such dramatic trends.
Do not wear ill-fitting clothing. Not only does it look sloppy, it impedes playing. In general, concert attire should not impede your breathing, cut off your circulation, or bunch in awkward places. Conversely, it should not fall off your body, look like you're wearing a sack, or feel like you're wearing a stage curtain.
Excessively voluminous sleeves are to be avoided. They will annoy you, block the audience's and ensemble's views, and just be a nuisance in general.
Measure yourself for your concert attire when you have eaten a full meal and have been siting for a while.
If you are able to fit two different sizes equally well, pick the size you think looks better on you.
Avoid clothes that have itchy seams or tags.
Wear undershirts under white shirts if necessary. There are certain things best left to the audience's imagination.
Winds
Do not wear corsets, binders, or other restrictive clothing.
Avoid clothes that are tight on the neck. Tie wearers, do not tie your tie too tight. Keep the area around the larynx clear if you can.
You can do fitted clothes as long as they are not tight.
Trumpets and flutes, avoid clothes that are restrictive in the shoulder area. Test your range of motion in a fitting room or study the seams in the picture if you are ordering online.
Reed players, get pants with pockets that can hold your reed case.
Double reeds, make sure to get a nice bag to put your reeds and reed supplies in.
Strings
Make sure you can bow properly in the sleeves.
Violins and violas, make sure you can move your neck and get your instrument into position.
Dress-wearing cellos, make sure your dress is long enough so you do not show anything while sitting down. The audience does not want to see your undergarments.
Cellos and basses, make sure you won't snag your kickstand on your clothing.
Harps, avoid clothes that drag unless you want death by harp. I can imagine, as a flutist, that death by harp is unpleasant.
Percussion
Wear clothes that allow you to move heavy objects.
Don't wear things that make noise when you move unless you were told to do so.
Make sure you can move your wrists freely.
Look into moisture-wicking clothes if you are going to move around a lot.
Floor-length dresses are a bad idea because of the amount of rolling equipment.
I have not used this product yet, so I do not know if it works. I just thought it was worth knowing about it.
I don't know if any of you have a "no-jewelry" policy, but you should know about these and why you should make an exception for what looks like an unusual ring.
Image Description: A cellist or bassist's hands playing their instrument. On the right, it shows the lateral support splint.
These "ring splints" should be treated like assistive devices and not jewelry because they are such. They provide an alternative to surgery and injections for management of hypermobility, misalignments, instability, trigger fingers, and other afflictions related to the fingers. You may even wish considering referring an ensemble member to a therapist for measurement and fitting.
Ring splints may be attractive, but they do serve a practical purpose in improving a finger's usability and decreasing pain. If you do not permit ensemble members to use ring splints, it is the equivalent of prohibiting the use of a leg brace or a cast. While there are more therapeutic-looking products available on the market, these ring braces are less conspicuous onstage and are custom made for the wearer's fingers.
Since these are rather expensive, let those who have them wear them during performances as playing a musical instrument usually involves much work of the hands. Cheaper, less aesthetically pleasing alternatives may not provide the proper support or fit awkwardly. It may have adverse effects on the performer's self-esteem if they have to settle for less due to a policy they fear breaching with an assistive device. (Hypermobility and anxiety do have some connection.)
Wear something under your marching uniform. It makes getting out of them much more convenient and you never know when you're going to need to unzip.
Bring water. Every other person says it and I will too. Dehydration impedes concentration and judgment skills.
Eat beforehand if your director does not allow you to eat in the stands.
Make sure your marching shoes are available for quick grabbing.
If you fall, get up and find your steps as quickly as possible. It looks better than running off the field in indignation. Expect to be trampled in the process.
Entirely forgo the makeup unless your director explicitly told you to wear it. It is likely to fall apart during marching band and feel tacky as well as distract from the uniformity of the band.
Breakouts? The RapidClear Stubborn Acne Daily Leave-On Mask works wonders. Apply it in the morning and go about your day as normal. The product is quite powerful, so I strongly advise doing a patch test.
Wear an antiperspirant/deodorant. If you get a rash, switch products. Tom's of Maine makes these aluminum-free and with natural ingredients.
I went to a rehearsal at Wildwood. My stomach hurt a little, which was normal as I had gorged myself in anticipation of the day to come. As the rehearsal progressed, the pain got worse. I just thought I had a hard time digesting until the lower portion of my chest felt like it was on fire. This made it difficult to breathe and sit correctly. Multiple people corrected my posture during this time. I complied, not wanting anyone to mistake me for a malingerer.
Every accent felt like fanning the flames. The rest of the rehearsal left me in some awful pain. I didn't care about musical quality at that point, just making it though the rehearsal without vomiting or making a scene. When the rehearsal ended, I had to lie down, drink water, and wait for it to go away since there were no antacids available. I ended up learning my lesson about listening to my body the hard way--and I learned to limit my intake of orange slices.
Musicians, please listen to your bodies. I regret not leaving rehearsal earlier. If you feel too sick to continue with a rehearsal, please ask for a break. You are not lazy or less of a musician for asking for a break if you feel ill. If it occurs during a performance, give yourself a moment during intermission or in between songs. Use your trusted remedies if possible. Drink water at your desired pace and make sure you are truly okay to get back. If you will actually vomit, get off the stage as discreetly as possible and and find the trashcan backstage. (There usually is one.)
Yes, this is a beauty blog, but beauty is more than skin-deep. Health is the foundation for beauty. If you do not take care of yourself, it will show eventually. Especially since music is a heavily body-related activity, you should take care of your health as much as, if not more than, a non musician. The same goes for your mental health as well, which some people often forget is a subset of your physical health. The brain is a physical member of the body that undergoes physical processes that control the rest of your body's physical processes.
It is easy to forget your health as a musician due to the nature of such a field. However, please realize that health is the key to many things. Without it, you will suffer many losses.
Peripera (Strawberry Juice):
Bright pink (Cherry Juice is close in color to Benetint.)
Flexible doe foot applicator
Very pigmented and buildable
Not super drying
Very few (if any) allergic reaction horror stories
Bright, sweet floral/candy scent
Does not transfer onto my flute
Ingredients are: Water, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Glycerin, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Glycolic Acid, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Disodium Edta, Methylparaben2, Propylparaben, Fragrance
$6-9 depending on the shade, but Candy Juice is around $25. (Prices vary from place to place.)
Benetint:
Sheer red
Nail polish applicator
Not as pigmented, but buildable
Very drying
Lots of allergic reaction horror stories
Smells like roses
Ingredients are: Water, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol,Sodium Hydroxide, Carmine (Ci 75470), Methylparaben, Fragrance, Tetrasodium Edta,Geraniol, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Maltodextrin, Benzyl Salicylate,BHT, N° 00n12802.
Does not transfer onto my flute
$30
I hope this helps you to invest in a water tint that suits your needs. Let me know which one you prefer.
I'm sure we've all had to wear something unflattering in a concert setting at one time or another. For example, I had to wear plain black separates (9782AA and 509AA on Formal Fashions) with an awkward slit in the back of the skirt. They were drab and many of my friends said they looked like nuns whilst in them. Not only that, they were tight in the shoulder area. I hated these clothes as did many of the other female ensemble members. However, I had a few tricks up my sleeve for dealing with it.
Commiserate with other ensemble members. Chances are it's not only you who hates the overall drabness, tightness in the wrong places, unflattering cut, or whatever you hate about the chosen attire. Venting your frustrations to your peers will most likely prevent you from taking them out on the director.
Accessorize--within reason. A pretty headband or an elegant necklace can make all the difference. Just make sure you check with your director on rules regarding accessories and don't go overboard.
Consider different sizes. If you can fit different sizes equally comfortably, pick the size that you feel looks best on you. You may like getting the skirt a size larger for the swishy feel it has with the extra fabric or getting the top smaller to define your figure a little more if you can get separates.
Remember your role as an ensemble member. You are not the director. Do well with what you have and, if you don't like it, deal with it. You do not have to like it, but you must comply with the director's rules. If you don't like them, leave the ensemble and find another one.
If there is a real problem, address it. There are issues that override the director's authority such as the health and safety of the ensemble and yourself. For instance, if multiple musicians are getting heat sick at an outdoor summer concert from performing in long-sleeved dresses and/or full tuxedos, voice your concerns to the director. Work out a compromise and, if your director is unwilling to do so, leave the ensemble and warn others about the director.
Display confidence. Good posture, eye contact, and a smile are your go-to accessories for every outfit. They can elevate every look--and I mean every look.
I was appalled at seeing shades named "Manic" (dark red) and "Psycho" (true red) in a Vice palette. However, it inspired me to think of some new shades. Who wants Urban Decay to make these a reality?
Anhedonia-A pale pinky nude that will make your lips look as dull as a lack of pleasure
Confused-Is it a plum? Or a fuchsia? Is it matte? Cream? Demi-matte? This lip color will baffle you and is universally unflattering.
High-Functioning-A true red that projects the confidence you wish you (still) truly had
Mindfire-An orange as fiery as what your head feels like with a million things swarming through it each and every day
Rolling Girl-A rather innocent-looking pearly pink to disguise all the inner turmoil
Heartbroken-The blue undertones of this red make it resemble blood...and the tinge of sadness now present in your life.
Irrational-A galaxy vamp shade (purple, gold metallic streaks in a dark brown matte base) that makes absolutely no sense, just like your current state
Fear of Failure-Vivid coral as fun, refreshing, and invigorating as everything you want to be, but can't
Not Just-This demi-matte brick red shade is not just a cream or not just a matte, just like how your illness is not just a bad mood.
Sheer Exhaustion-A sheer peachy shade which is more of a tint than a stick that will hide the fact that you're exhausted
Useless-Metallic brown/white swirl that looks pretty in the palette, but is utterly useless in reality
Internal Screaming-A very dark and matte metallic red to color your lips before releasing your tornado of problems
Alienated-A very out of place lavender demi-matte for this collection, the odd one out in the bunch
I Hate Myself-A deep satiny plum for the days when you want to look as unrecognizable to yourself as you feel
Diversion-A sheer, shimmery fuchsia for distracting you from your inner demons
Recovery-A fun, shimmery warmer-toned pink for good days
Use non-transferring products. Lipstain markers and water tints are always safe bets for this. From what I've heard on Bustle, the Topshop Beauty Velvet Lips lipstick is non-transferring. (Remove it with an oil-based makeup remover or coconut oil. You can use olive oil too.)
Set your lipstick with a powder. Just take some powder onto a brush and sweep it across your lips.
Baby powder is an inexpensive, easy solution for this. Your lipstick will look more pale, and the finish is a bit chalky.
Eyeshadows are a good option. You might wind up altering the color of your lipstick if you do not use an eyeshadow of the same color.
Translucent powder is the "best" option for a good finish that is true to color. If you apply too much, it will feel gritty on the lips.
Use a matte-ifier. Smashbox Insta-Matte works for this. (I tested it at Sephora.) However, it is rather expensive ($24.00 for 0.34 fl oz) and I understand that most musicians do not have huge budgets. The Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser is a well-known dupe for this as are other matte-ifying primers (basically, anything with dimethicone in it).
Do a "kiss test" to make sure you have eradicated all transfer. To do this, kiss your palm and press it into your face as hard as you can. Add more powder/matte-ifier until NOTHING comes off during the kiss test.
Now you have a perfect pout as well as a perfect part for your concert! Here is a picture of me wearing Benetint for an audition. (I used two coats to achieve the look below.)
Rclbeauty101 made DIY peel off lipstain using food coloring and school glue. Having fallen in love with the idea, I finally got around to doing it myself.
I created this with the intention of it being coral, but it turned out to be redder than I thought it would be. I call this shade Sinnamon Roll.
The stain does not transfer at all nor does it leave any sticky residue. This makes this DIY an excellent option for wind musicians that love lip colors. You can put lip balm over it, but you may not need to because it is not very drying unlike other lip products. (Generally, if it's not sticky, it's drying.) It comes off if you eat, but, otherwise, it creates a non-transferring, long-lasting stain.
Setting your lipstick with a powder prevents it from sticking to your instrument.
Hem too long? Just pin it up as needed with the latch side towards you.
Soak reeds in mouthwash to improve the taste.
Coconut oil is instant lip moisture and a gentle makeup remover.
Powder your hands if you get sweaty hands.
Take your instrument(s) and music in a tote bag.
For my vocalists: Tea with honey. Enough said.
Comfort grips work wonders for shoes that are too big.
Technically not a lifehack, but make sure your shoes have adequate arch support! If not, you will suffer from random foot cramps.
Since marching season is coming up, I thought I'd address how convenient a wearable water bottle can be. Chances are, you can use a carabiner clip or a rubber band to wear a normal water bottle.
Flutists, shake your hands out during rests if your fingers lock. It releases them like a charm.
A matte finish with little to no contouring suggests a desire to balance and blend with the ensemble without standing out. You know what you're doing and more confident than you make yourself out to be.
Intense contouring suggests a competitive, fierce spirit and initiative. You are a strong musician and know it very well. You pride yourself in your strength and competence and likely need to feel like you need to have control over something in all facets of life.
Moderate contouring indicates a desire to stand out and lead, but not come across as too domineering. You may not necessarily want to beat out every single person in your section, but it certainly would be nice.
A dewy finish with little to no contouring suggests that you are a bit shy and want others to lead you. You are likely loyal to your section leader and prefer deferring to others for important musical decisions.
A total lack of makeup suggests that you do not care how you come off to other people. You are individualistic and less likely to care about the ensemble as a whole more than what music means to you.
Blush
A neutral blush suggests that you are nonconfrontational and generally pleasant to be around. You are somewhat of a perfectionist as most musicians are.
A red blush conveys warmth, vigor, and alacrity. Likely, you are temperamental and somewhat irascible, especially musically.
A pink blush suggests that you are cute and bashful. You are shy, somewhat perfectionistic, and secretly want to be noticed.
A plum or mauve blush is a mark of individuality. For better or worse, you don't care what others think and enjoy.
No blush on an otherwise made-up face indicates excessive seriousness and an analytical mind. Either that or you did not have time to put blush on.
Lipstick
Deep red lipstick, as a classic color, indicates respect for tradition and at the same time initiative and expertise. You are classy and have naturally refined tastes, but you also like to have a little fun.
Bright red lipstick indicates that you are fierce, confident, and love the spotlight. You want all eyes on you and you're not ashamed of it. An assertive, fun-loving person like you probably gravitates towards faster, louder music.
Fuchsia lipstick says "fun" and that is exactly what you are. You are demonstrative, trusting, and are not afraid to express yourself. You do not necessarily want to control or be controlled, but you're fine with either as long as you can smile and go with the flow.
A pale pink is a cute, understated color and you are exactly that. You are conflict-averse, yet you are passionate about what you love. Even if it does not show on the surface, you are deeply principled and doggedly persistent.
Nudes convey normality or a desire to be normal. You may not be the most confident or outgoing, but you have a strong work ethic.
If you wear no lipstick, you are either a wind musician who has not yet found a trustworthy lip product or do not want to draw attention to yourself. You let other things about you speak for themselves.
Note:
I am not trying to copy JennaMarbles with this post. To be honest, I'm not much of a fan of her videos. Makeup personalities are fascinating to me and this is just my interpretation of things.
You don't need to wear concert attire. The key words here is "blind". Your audience will not see you. However, it is recommended that you wear something at least a step up from jeans and a T shirt. At least show up fully clothed.
Wear something that gets you into performance mode. If you need the full concert getup in order to perform well, please wear just that.
Dress for your instrument. Don't wear anything that adds unnecessary complications to your playing. For example, a flutist should not wear something that is excessively restricting in the shoulder area due to the nature of the instrument.
Wear outerwear if it is cold. You can--and should--be comfortable for a blind audition.
Your outfit should make you feel confident. You need all the confidence you can during blind auditions.
And now, some selfies from my latest blind audition:
First off, make sure you are allowed to do so in your ensemble(s). If so, here are guidelines for jewelry in a concert setting.
Make sure that it is not an impedance to your playing. I do not recommend wearing rings or bracelets as a flutist, but go ahead if you find that they are not problematic for you personally.
If you are a guest soloist, go for it with a statement piece like a large necklace. However, it is best to keep things elegant. Go for golds and silvers rather than colorful pieces if you are in concert clothes and, if you are wearing something special that is not traditionally concertable, wear something that coordinates with your outfit. Do not wear anything so heavy or restricting that it impedes your playing.
If you are an ensemble soloist, set yourself apart with a little more jewelry than you would normally wear at a concert. Pearl and metallic jewelry tend to go well with concert attire. As a rule, a long necklace should be thin with simple embellishments. Try not to be too ostentatious, but allow yourself to stand out a little if you want the audience to know who the soloist is.
If you are an ensemble member, either wear just earrings, a very plain necklace, or no jewelry at all. As a rule of thumb, do not try to stand out more than any soloists. If you wear a small piece that carries a great deal of personal significance, you can tuck it under your clothes so that only you know about it.
My band teacher lets us take off our coats and shakos in the stands during football games for health and safety reasons. Your director may not allow it or you may disagree with this policy. That is perfectly fine unless wearing unnecessary layers is posing a health hazard to the ensemble. We are allowed to not have our coats and shakos on both before and after we perform as a marching band.
As mentioned before, my band teacher is primarily concerned about our safety rather than our appearance. Wearing excess clothing in 90 degree (Fahrenheit system) weather leads, not only to discomfort and lowered morale, but to serious health issues. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are confusion, fatigue, headache, dark-colored urine, fainting, headache, muscle and abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pale skin, profuse sweating, and rapid heartbeat. The symptoms of heatstroke are a core body temperature over 105 degrees, nausea, seizures, confusion, rapid, sometimes weak heartbeat, rapid, shallow breathing, disorientation, and sometimes loss of consciousness or coma. (But you don't let anyone get to that point, right? RIGHT?!)
Taking off the jackets detracts somewhat from our appearance. So does irritability from heat exhaustion. You might worry about dirt stains on the band uniforms. Well, would you rather have vomit stains? Sometimes, things just happen, but heat illness is VERY preventable if you are willing to make a few small sacrifices. If you notice that a band member is more irritable than usual, encourage them to unzip and get them a sports drink or Pedialyte (Water will worsen salt depletion.). Alert the director or a section leader of what is going on.
I am not a doctor. I am just a concerned student. Safety is the first step to a fluteiful performance. If you are concerned about your band's performance in the stands on hot days, please PLEASE allow them to unzip. Try establishing a "temperature policy." For example, allow the band to take off their coats and shakos in the stands when the temperature is consistently 95˚F. Allow them to take off their jacket if they are feeling the symptoms of heat exhaustion. Demanding a certain appearance is, to a degree, necessary for performance, but it should never come at the expense of students' health.
As hard as it is to find concertable clothing, adaptive clothing in concertable styles is even harder to find. Disabled musicians should look as fluteiful and professional as the rest of the ensemble, but that is very difficult with the limited availability of concertable adaptive clothing. I have never seen any adaptive concert attire, so I figured I'd do a quick scour for concertable adaptive clothing. After a quick scour of IZ, I have only found one concertable dress shirt for men and one concertable dress shirt for women. Some of the pants appear to be concertable as well. There are no concertable skirts for women. Tommy Hilfiger's line of adaptive youth clothing includes one concertable piece, which is good for elementary and middle school boys. None of the girls' clothing was even remotely concertable.
I searched "adaptive concert attire" and I did not see the three words together in any of the results. Both concert attire and adaptive clothing are niche markets, but not as much as lolita would be. I am surprised that no one has brought up any access issues regarding concert attire. The concert dress I have is absolutely lovely. However, it zips in the back with a tiny zipper. This poses no impedance to me personally, but it poses impedances to even other able-bodied girls. Therefore, someone with fine motor skill difficulties or no friend to zip their dress may have to settle for something less attractive and that disheartens me. Professional appearance is a big part of being a musician, so, if anyone is forced to be less fluteiful, that is detrimental to their musicianship and to the group's appearance as a whole.
If you have experienced any clothing impedances as a musician, let me know. If you manufacture concert attire, consider releasing an adaptive concert attire line.
Open-ended concert attire can leave the women looking sloppy and at a loss for what to wear as stated by this cellist's blog post. However, there are few guidelines for women as to what makes clothing concertable.
As a rule, as pointed out in the original post, sweatshirts, jeans , and T-shirts are not concertable. However, cotton can be concertable as long as it is done well. I own a long, black skirt made of cotton that I use for concerts with open-ended dress codes. Even with open-ended dress codes, men have to adhere to strict guidelines as to what is concertable.
Generally, when I look for concertable clothing, I look for white, collared shirts and long, black skirts. When it comes to shirts, I look for a symmetrical collar and some degree of arm covering. Short sleeves are generally acceptable to me, but they might not be to your director. Longer sleeves give a more professional appearance, but they tend to be an issue in a concert hall that tends to be too hot. I feel faint and short of breath if I am too hot, which is an impedance to my flute-playing ability.
For skirts, I look for long, black, and relatively plain skirts that fit at the waist. Concertable skirts are neither voluminous nor body-conscious and fall at the ankles or to the floor. However, there should be no excess fabric dragging as this poses a tripping hazard. (Use hemming tape, some sort of sewing method or the services of a seamstress to remedy this problem.) They should ideally have only one or two layers, but some three-layered skirts are concertable.
As for makeup, I don't think ensemble musicians should all wear makeup. Some musicians are concerned about make up rubbing off on their instrument and others are allergic to makeup, don't know how to apply it well if at all, find wearing something on their face to be an impedance to their playing, and some just don't like it. These are all valid reasons not to wear makeup in an ensemble setting. The same goes for hair. Different people have different types of hair and not everyone wants to straighten it out to where it is stick-straight with absolutely no strays and then put it up in an immaculate bun. Wearing a bun can also impede playing by giving the musician a headache, which is distracting from the primary focus (the music).
Women in ensembles deserve to look as fluteiful as the men. I wear a specific uniform in my band. It is a black empire waisted dress with a sweetheart neckline, lace-ish cap sleeves, and sparkly details on the bodice. It is an absolutely beautiful dress and it is very flattering. (It's this one.) However, I have been in ensembles with open-ended dress codes and have not had a problem with the way females dress yet.
What do you think makes clothing concertable? Do you agree or disagree with what I have said or have any new points to bring up? Have I addressed your concerns or brought up new ones? Let me know when you comment.
Concertable: Clothing that resembles concert attire, but is not marketed as such, like "loliable" in lolita
Go to Target, Macy's and other common stores. They will sell concertable clothing at low prices and a decent quality. Their clothing items are more often than not comfortable, easy to maintain, and look good.
Look in department stores. If you want to make a larger investment, go to a department store. Their clothing items look better, but are more expensive and harder to maintain. However, your increase in professionalism may very well be worth the cost.
Go to Ross, Stein Mart, and other overstock or wholesale stores. Overstock and wholesale stores sell designer and department store clothes, but without the brand name. These stores will occasionally sell concertable items and tend to be very hit-or-miss. In my experience, I have not found concertable clothing at these stores.
Look online. If you do not like what is locally available and you have the time, look online for whatever you need. Double-check the sizing and read the reviews so you do not end up getting ripped off. I found my American Rag blouse online and love it.
If you are a lolita, you're in luck. Lolita blouses are generally very concertable.
Piece together your outfit. Just because you have two good pieces does not mean they will look good together. Coordinate your outfit to flatter your body type and personality. One of the benefits of open-ended concert attire is the ability to individualize your appearance to a greater extent than a specific uniform allows.
Concertable: Resembling what is typically worn as concert attire without being marketed as such, much like "loliable" among lolitas.
Target will frequently sell long, plain black skirts that are perfect for concerts. They are about $8-10 each, VERY comfortable, and they are machine washable. This is good for anyone who has to deal with open-ended concert attire, particularly college students. This lifehack can also benefit middle and high school students whose parents do not want to spend a lot on concert clothes.
For assigned concert attire, wear a small accessory (if your director allows it) to personalize your look. My favorite is a gold flute necklace.
Makeup
Benetint is how I get red lips that don't rub off on my flute. It also makes a good red blush and it is made of rose petals. You can apply more coats to get redder lips.
I use brown eyeshadow to contour my nose to create a more sculpted look. This strategy is good for high school students (and even some middle school students) whose parents don't allow them to get much makeup and for college students who don't want to waste their money on nose shadow.
In General
Dress like your piece. Adding a visual element to your music makes you seem more professional. The only "Don't" I have regarding this "Don't wear a beehive updo in an ensemble setting."
I get it. A lot of people are confused when it comes to what to wear or solo and ensemble, so I wanted to share tips. These are guidelines, not set-in-stone rules. These guidelines are in place assuming your director or teacher doesn't have something specific in mind regarding appearance.
At minimum, please be hygienic. This means brushing your hair, wearing deodorant, washing your face, and wearing clothes that don't have any noticeable stains or holes. You will seem more professional if you at least make an effort to clean yourself up.
Take your instrument into account. You wouldn't want to wear something floor-length if your instrument comes in a rolling case. Wind musicians should not wear very restrictive clothing. If your instrument has multiple large parts (Percussionists, I'm looking at you.), wear clothes that allow for the movement required to unload large instruments.
Take the nature of solo and ensemble into account. You will be (under the assumption that you are ambulatory), on your feet more than you think. If you wear shoes, make sure you can spend about two hours straight in them while being fairly active.
Keep it simply simple. While an accessory can elevate an outfit, your adjudicator is here to listen to your music. With that said, solo and ensemble is not the best time or place for a full-on Decora coordinate. Wear black and white and go for conservatively-styled clothing. In other words, something similar to concert attire makes a good solo and ensemble look.
It's not that kind of festival. This mainly applies to high school age females because this is where I see it the most. Please make sure that your dress or skirt is at least fingertip length and that your chest is covered to some degree. If you need to keep adjusting your dress so you don't show your undergarments, it's probably not a good idea to wear it. In the case of wearing white shirts, keep in mind that white shirts tend to be kind of transparent. Wear a camisole underneath if you feel it is necessary.
Do not show up in a T-shirt and jeans. I get that not everyone wants to get dressed to the nines to perform their piece, but do not show up in a T-shirt and jeans. This is very unprofessional. At least wear dress slacks or a nice skirt. I have seen some semi-casually dressed people at solo and ensemble and they still looked professional.
Be comfortable. Go for it if you feel like dressing to the nines. If you don't, wear your concert clothes. If you want an example, here you go:
