“What Am I Supposed to Wear?!”

Everything you need to survive performance season—without crying in your closet.

We’re in the midst of the “season”! You’ve got that gig coming up in three weeks…and nothing to wear. What are you going to do?

I dislike this part of performing. I’ve never cared deeply about clothes or what I wear, so it’s been a slog for me to understand this part of performing. Don’t get me wrong, I love having a reason to put on a fancy dress and feel like a princess, but I hate having to determine how fancy the event is, what color I should wear, getting outfits tailored in time for the performance, coordinating with other singers, putting all the pieces together, etc. Do these earrings work? What if I show up and the soprano is wearing the same dress (or same color, which has happened and while we looked lovely, it was definitely matchy-matchy)? Honestly, it just becomes stressful and it’s too easy for me to put it off until the last minute, which I do not recommend–at all.

Personally, I’m constantly on the lookout for anything “nice” I might wear for gigs. Almost all of my closet is secondhand or vintage, with a few exceptions. My mom is also a brilliant seamstress, and has made me a few dresses. I love the excuse to wear fancy clothes for gigs, but because my mom is a seamstress, I am a fabric snob. I also care deeply about something fitting well. And being the right color. Combine that with the fact that we live in a rural area with basically no shopping options without driving several hours to a big city, and you’re likely to find me doomscrolling the internet for concert clothes for months ahead, when I should be practicing. (Did I already mention I’m picky??)

So if you also find this process stressful, we have a few recommendations on what you should keep on hand so that come performance time, you don’t have to navigate the stress of it in addition to musically getting ready for your gig.

When you’re thinking about your concert closet, you need a few different types of outfits:

1. Choral work–basic concert black; probably ¾ or long sleeves and pants or a knee length/ankle length skirt

2. Church work–if you sing in churches that don’t wear robes; usually cap sleeves or longer, conservative neckline and knee length or longer hemlines. Many churches don’t have great temperature control, so be aware of whether you need a sweater or something that breathes to keep you cool.

3. Masterclass/audition clothes–may overlap some with clothes for church work; this category may also include statement pieces like a fun jumpsuit or sundress.

4. Recitals–may overlap with your most elevated pieces for masterclasses/audition clothes. I always like to consider the theme of my recital when picking a recital outfit.

5. Holidays–halfway between recital and gala options. People like a little more glitz around the holidays for a festive vibe.

6. Galas–your most “bling-bling” option. Think glitter/rhinestones, big prints and bold colors.

7. Colors–particularly for recital, holiday and gala outfits, when you’re thinking about maximizing your budget/ability to rewear outfits, we recommend starting with the following colors: black (obvi), in several iterations from “business casual” to formal; red, gold, silver, navy, dark green, or eggplant for the holidays–with the exception of the metallic colors, these colors can easily be worn throughout the year; signature color for auditions and recitals.

Ok, so now that we’ve gotten categories out of the way, where do you get said concert clothes?

1. Secondhand–

   1. Second Time a Gown–I recently discovered this shop in Richmond, VA; the specialize in gently used bridal and formal gowns (some still had the tags on!); most were under $200. If you don’t live in the area, see if there is something similar in your area!

   2. Poshmark and Thredup–great secondhand online stores; particularly great if I know exactly what I want, but need another size or color. (Protip–I also love rebuying the exact same style in various colors. Add different jewelry every time, and nobody knows the difference!)

   3. Pop-up vintage sales/consignment/secondhand stores/estate sales–consider that clothes can be tailored, altered, dyed etc. Ignore the size number–we know those numbers lie anyways! Bring a tape measure and know your measurements if there isn’t a dressing room available. Look for damage, but also keep an eye out for high quality fabrics like silk, satin, wool and high quality cotton.

2. Online shops

   1. Amazon–not usually my pick for lots of reasons, but I bought this dress in royal blue at a thrift store a few years ago. I wanted a dress just like it (yes, I know it’s giving “Monk” vibes) in black for concert wear, and behold, it was available on Amazon (also comes in several other colors). The black velvet looks great, has a forgiving cut, can be dressed up or down and also, is machine washable (and still looks great after several washes!) and feels like pajamas. I’ll be wearing this dress until it falls apart, but also plan to get the sleeves tailored to ¾ length for more seasonal wearability–also, I hate long sleeves!

      I agree that it’s not my top pick, but it has been great in a pinch, which was basically my entire first year of performing. I purchased my favorite long, concert black skirt from here. It has a bow in the back that helps elevate it, and it’s a great high-waisted option (this is a must for me so I have space to breathe). I switch out the top, sometimes pairing it with a black top if that’s the requirement (also from Amazon), or I add a pop of color with virtually any other top. It’s incredibly versatile and has pockets!

3. Eshakti–customizable styles at affordable options and offers styles like this dress with a dupioni silk skirt. I have dresses similar to this in both all black and black top with a pink and black skirt. They both still look great after years of wear, and I could get the exact style I wanted. These dresses can take a while to arrive, so don’t wait to order!

4. Etsy–tons of opportunities to shop vintage, custom-made or small businesses!

5. byVINNIK–I don’t have anything from this shop yet, but I have several friends that own pieces from this designer, and rave about them. Plus, Suzanne is an opera singer, aims for zero waste and pays her workers a living wage! YES! If I was going to buy something from this shop tomorrow, it would probably be a coloratura cape or this kimono!

6. JJsHouse - This has been my go-to for the fancier events (Bach Festival and music galas). I love this option because they have dresses of all different styles and I can order custom sizing. For a tall, plus-size girl like me, this is absolutely ESSENTIAL! While the dresses still usually require a trip to the tailor, I always love the way they fit and the way I feel in these gowns. They can be on the pricey side and take a while to arrive, so plan ahead and save up some money first!

When you’re starting to build your closet, it won’t be cheap (especially if you need a tailor–which we’ll talk about the importance of in the next article!). Expect to spend between $150-$250 for a fancy gown and between $80-$120 for something less formal, unless you’ve scored an amazing thrift store find. If you are purchasing a suit or sports jacket and pants, plan on spending $180+ for something decent, but you will also need less “options”. To maximize budget and wearability, we recommend starting with black and another color that can also work for holiday gigs (like red or eggplant). We also are fans of outfits with simple lines that can be dressed up or down with jewelry, shoes, a different colored shirt or pocket square. Building a closet takes time, but image plays an important role in perception of success, so pick pieces that fit you, fit the gig and help you look your best while allowing you to sing your best.

Where is your favorite place to source concert outfits? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Xoxo,

Sarah + Kaitlyn