Women’s Formalwear Pro Tips

Believe it or not, formalwear is one of my favorite things about being a performer. I love the feeling of wearing a beautiful piece of clothing that makes me feel gorgeous and beautiful as I do my work. Singing is the best, but clothing can be the icing on the cake.

I will be honest. I was completely unaware of just how much formalwear I would need as a performer. I started my undergraduate degree with an old choir uniform, a prom dress, and a few simple day dresses as my formalwear. Then, for the next three years (and ongoing), I am finding that I still don’t have all the things that a pro should have in their closet. After talking to a few faculty members, and from my own experience, here are some pro tips for selecting formalwear, specifically gowns.

Keep it Classy and Timeless

Lets be real. Quality formalwear is expensive, and not everyone has $200+ to drop every single time a new gig arrives. I know gowns that glitter, come in fun and unusual cuts, fit the current trends, have exciting colors, or have trendy prints, can be so so so tempting to get. But, the sad truth is that most of these gowns will fall out of style, or won’t be appropriate for a large amount of your performances or gigs.

I personally fell for this for one of my dresses. I wore it to one event and couldn’t wear it again because it was too short, too sparkly, or too loud, for following events. Now, I am considering selling it, but it isn’t in style anymore.

Instead, opt for something classic and timeless that you can wear over and over again, hopefully for a variety of performances. There is nothing wrong with some sparkle, but maybe skip the full-sequined gown and choose one with some nice beading or appliques. Look at the cut of the dress. A-line gowns tend to be universally flattering, and come in so many colors and decorations. Perhaps, choose a solid color gown and make it versatile with a variety of accessories like brooches and jewelry. See this post for more ideas on classic colors and fits. Here is an additional link that will take you to one of my HerCampus articles that also discusses it.

Purchase a Gown that Fits

This is important. No reach or goal dresses here. Always purchase a dress that fits your body immediately, and alter it later if necessary. Make sure it isn’t too tight around your ribs and midriff because you need space to breathe and expand as you sing. Too tight might make that challenging, or uncomfortable. Make sure you can move and walk in the dress, but keep in mind that a gown can be hemmed if necessary.

Have a Variety of Options for Different Needs

This probably takes the longest to do. Every time I get a new clothing piece I make sure that it can be used for at least two purposes. For example, what I wear to a performance jury is most likely going to be very different from what I wear to a formal recital. So, if I am purchasing a jury dress, I make sure I can wear it again for auditions or interviews. For formal recital gowns, I see if I can wear it to competitions or other gigs (some competitions have strict clothing guidelines, always check).

I tend to love strapless or thin-strapped gowns, but I make sure that I have at least one formal gown with sleeves at least covering the shoulders. Some venues and gigs have very specific dress codes, or at least expectations, of what can and can not be worn. For example, I sang at a wedding in a cathedral, and the performers were asked to wear clothing that covered the shoulders and went past the knee. Although it might be cute, a strapless gown that is bright and sparkling might not be the item to wear for any performance that is religious in nature (such as singing for a wedding, an oratorio, funeral or remembrance service, etc.). Of course, dress codes are often subject to those who are planning the event.

Competition wear can be very specific, down to the length and color of the gown you wear. I sang in a competition where gowns were not allowed, and that if a competitor chose to wear a dress, the dresses had to be in a solid color, cover the shoulders completely, and cover the knees. As a result of this experience, I always keep a formal, non-gown, dress in my closet that is more modest.

Also, remember who your audience is going to be. Large opera companies and orchestras tend to require more classic style gowns. Not sure what the dress code is? Just ask.

My Ideal Closet

So, based on these tips, here is what I would want in my closet:

At least:

• One formal, non-gown dress that can be worn for auditions and juries
• One formal black dress that can be used for choir or juries
• One gown, any color, with or without sleeves, that can be used for formal recitals or formal gigs
• One gown with sleeves, that can be used for more modest, yet formal gigs