Sleigh bells aren’t the only thing making music this holiday season. Choirs everywhere are gathering to sing about the joy of this magical time. Dust off the sheet music, but make sure that your closet fits the part before you take the stage, too. Dressing appropriately is just as important as hitting the right notes so take your time as you choose a choir dress for a holiday concert..

Color

The holidays have a particular color scheme. Many outfits will be red and green, blue and silver, or even blue and gold. Figure out whether your choir will follow a holiday color scheme or if you’ll be dressing in school colors instead. Your outfit doesn’t have to be brightly colored, either. For dresses that need to have two colors, a belt or prominent waistband is a great opportunity to subtly incorporate contrasting colors.

Style

Will your choir dress be formal or informal? This depends on the event, and sometimes even on the venue. After all, there is a big difference between a small holiday gathering and a large concert hall. A formal choir dress typically has a longer, fuller skirt and long sleeves for complete coverage. Casual choir dresses often feature shorter skirts and come in brighter colors.

Pattern

A patterned dress is a bold choice, but it does provide visual interest. Make sure that you won’t be the only one wearing a choir dress with a pattern. This kind of cohesion keeps both you and the audience focused on the music rather than on clashing designs. Choir dresses with lace detailing achieve this goal. It provides a sense of elegance while you’re performing as well.

Fabric

Choir dresses are made out of a variety of materials, from chiffon to stretch velvet. Comfort and style go hand in hand. Silk dresses are smoother and have the formality you may be looking for. Stretch velvet is a unique fabric that is soft to the touch. It usually forms the bodice portion of the dress. The best thing about stretch velvet is that it is machine washable. Some fabrics have a bit of shimmer in them, which is perfect for catching the light in any venue.

Tailoring

The way a choir dress fits has a big impact on self-confidence. It also helps you perform better. A dress that is too loose or too tight impacts movement onstage and is just as distracting as loud patterns or colors that don’t go together. Buying a new choir dress solves this problem. You know exactly what size to get and don’t have to rely on outdated information.

Once you have these considerations taken care of, you are now ready to make an order. You can either buy your own dress or take advantage of a group discount if other members of your choir need to get a dress, too. There can be something fun about buying a dress together: it’s part of the ritual of performing. A new choir dress welcomes a new season of singing and signals that it’s time for the holidays to begin.