Choir dress code is back in fashion. Let’s face facts, I suppose its always in fashion.
But this week dress code appeared in The Telegraph newspaper. The same story aired on BBC Breakfast Television.
Dress Code in the News
Dress Code in the News
A recent report by the Social Mobility Commission stated:
“The wearing of men’s brown shoes with a business suit would not go down well with an interview panel for a job with a British bank.”
Not only brown shoes but men’s ties also appear to be back in fashion. But the tip of the tie should touch the waistband of the trousers.
Our choir dress code conforms with black shoes with black trousers.
The length of our ties also conforms as we now wear tie clips.
Dress code is also topical as many school pupils will be changing schools this month. A new dress code and school uniform accepted with a sense of belonging.
Choir Dress Code in Uniform
The traditional choir dress code for male voice choirs is to wear a choir uniform. There is an alternative view.
The prolific and respected choir blogger, Chris Rowbury, hates choirs in uniform.
“When I see such choirs performing I wonder why I am there.
Why not simply listen to the choir on the radio or on CD?
There is nothing to look at: everyone looks and sounds the same.
Many choirs dress identically when they perform.
I had occasional requests from my own choirs for some kind of uniformity when we perform.
Unfortunately for them, I really dislike identically dressed choirs!”
In similar fashion our guest blogger, John Griffith, also takes a similar view. That choir blazers create a barrier to potential new members.
“They seem to say ‘we belong and you don’t’. And though you know your choir is forward looking and friendly, it doesn’t look that way from the outside.”
Choir Member Gron Wynne (Centre) showing the Choir Dress Code
Stating our own case, we like our uniform. We receive many positive remarks about how smart we look in our choir uniform. It always shows up well with stage lighting.
However, a further dress code article appeared in The Guardian :
A receptionist claims she was sent home from work at a corporate finance company after refusing to wear high heels.
She was told she had to wear shoes with a “2in to 4in heel”.
In an ever changing fashion conscious society that particular Dress Code will never catch on for Male Voice Choirs! You can trust me on that one!
All things considered, Thomas Dewar, the Scottish whisky distiller offers this advice:
“Judge not a man by his clothes, but by his wife’s clothes.”
I remember a remark made by a member of the audience after one of our concerts in the North East of England.
She said “XYZwere a bunch of men singing together, Denbigh were a choir.”
I wonder if the uniform helped !
A very interesting observation – thanks for posting