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Thursday, July 7, 2016

How to Rock Horrible Concert Attire

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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. 
  6. 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. 



2 comments:

  1. They do elevate every look [posture, eye contact, smile]...

    Different sizes are good especially with separates.

    Two of your solutions involve leaving the ensemble.

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    Replies
    1. I am firmly in the camp that if you signed up for something, you signed up for all the inconvenience it brings.

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