I can't remember if I asked this before...what do boys like to wear when playing solo at a student recital? An audition? A wedding? In a casual ensemble? Orchestra?

What do other parents and teachers pray that their boy students will turn up wearing? (And what do the girlz like to see the guys wearing! ).

I hate shopping for recital/orchestra clothes for my son! The only "formal" dark trou and shirt/ties on offer look horrible and are more restrictive than a straitjacket. Cheap, stiff shirt collars are like DIY suicide kits for violinists , and the skimpy sleeeves restrict bowing and guitar-playing.

Well? I'm sick of watching my son and every other boy wearing exactly the same stuff - let's hear some new ideas!

QUOTE (all ears @ Apr 7 2005, 03:40 PM)

what do the girlz like to see the guys wearing!

I'd be moderated if I answered this!

Can you be more specific about what ensemble you are thinking of. In my band we wear all black (usually an open collar shirt and trousers), but in my orchestra I prefer wearing a white shirt and a bow tie. It also depends what kind of performance it is. My band does everything from playing in a tent at a community fete, to a formal concert at the RSAMD, and seasonal concerts at Christmas and Summer.

How about black long trousers and a black long sleeved polo neck top?

Dinner suit and Bow tie!

No, maybe not!? There's a boy at school who has a scholarship for our local cathedral, and he always wears shirt, tie, black trousers and a smart jumper over the top. I suppose if he's supposed to be more formal he just takes his jumper off, but he still looks like he's made the effort, but not gone over the top.

At school, we used to wear smart black top and black trousers/skirt (obviously not boys though!), but now we have school polo shirts and black bottoms.

QUOTE (Deborah @ Apr 7 2005, 05:18 PM)

QUOTE (all ears @ Apr 7 2005, 03:40 PM) what do the girlz like to see the guys wearing! I'd be moderated if I answered this!

I would say black suit (or at least black trousers), white blouse, smart tie, always impresses me! I don't like polo necks on boys, somehow... I think even not so good-looking people look very presentable in the clothes mentioned above!

QUOTE (elmo @ Apr 7 2005, 07:58 PM)

At school, we used to wear smart black top and black trousers/skirt (obviously not boys though!)

LOL!

Specifically, I had to go and buy new shirt and black trou for tomorrow's orchestra performance...and unless you own a boy or two, you probably don't know the grunge that is sold as boys' formal wear - shiny polyester trousers and skimpy shirts in super-white polyesters, with collars so stiff they are probably welded on to the shirts. Yerrrrkkkkk...

However, past events that have given me pause are: playing at a wedding (he was only small then, so I went with white turtleneck/light trou/brocade (but not satin) waistcoat), playing in a small ensemble outside at festivals (usually thickwale cords, heavy boots, turtleneck, heavy waistcoat, in autumn colors), and student recitals (always a problem...usually a poloneck and shorts or long trou).

I think turtlenecks look OK as long as they are fairly new! We have an added problem...Viohazard has long arms, and Japanese shirts have short arms .

I like Zoda & Neil's "all black" idea....I'd been thinking of collarless shirts, but white and baggy seems a bit too twee.

QUOTE

I'd be moderated if I answered this!

OK, so apart from *that* look...

So what about hats, caps etc? Think it's a goer?

(Not sure the Bollywood Band look is quite what Viohazard has in mind, but you never know!).

How tall is your son? If he isnt very tall then the baggy shirt wont work now but can do later, as he will need the comfort in the armpit area.

For family functions,weddings etc, my son wears a black polo also with black trousers and occasionally one of his dad's jackets.(black) Once he wore the full tails but that was at the request of the bride and groom as he 'trumpeted' the arrival of the bride!! He said never again -wonder why?

He has also worn a black long sleeve Tee shirt (borrowed from his sister) with black trousers and once in a mad moment a bright orange shirt - but the other three boys had equally lurid colours! For shoes, he and the other boys in the orchestra or band have a standard slip-on black shoe, which they get out of as fast as they can back into trainers. Occasionally in the Youth Orchestra he has worn a v. smart white shirt,

For the jazz band its always black shirt with black tie if its a fancy place, and a black short sleeve tee shirt if its a club.

Busking - Jeans and a hoody top!

For all Else its always, always black trousers.

QUOTE (Ayshah @ Apr 8 2005, 12:24 PM)

Busking - Jeans and a hoody top!

yeah, and fingerless gloves!

QUOTE (elmo @ Apr 8 2005, 12:30 PM)

QUOTE (Ayshah @ Apr 8 2005, 12:24 PM) Busking - Jeans and a hoody top! yeah, and fingerless gloves!

Do You know him????? Thats soooooo him:D

It all depends on what it is for, I am a fourteen year old girl, and outfits usually depend on the guys skin whther they look good, if he is quite pale, go for a blue colour, however if he is quite olive skinnes go for a blacjk or a white, bold colours that will stand out! On the actual outfit. comfortable is definately better, no matter how good a boy looks in a tucks, to see him pulling and ripping at the shirt and collor just ruins it! So maybe a loose shirt unbuttened at the top myabe one button and jeans, not fitted and not baggy, would look perfect!lol

QUOTE (Ayshah @ Apr 8 2005, 12:46 PM)

QUOTE (elmo @ Apr 8 2005, 12:30 PM) QUOTE (Ayshah @ Apr 8 2005, 12:24 PM) Busking - Jeans and a hoody top! yeah, and fingerless gloves! Do You know him????? Thats soooooo him:D

No, but it doesn't half get cold!

Although they pay you more if you look cold!

My son (12) is in the 'Big Band' at school (Brass/woodwind) and they simply wear black trousers and white shirt. It looks professional, smart but casual and comfortable. Any more and it would be too 'artificial'.
In fact, given the fact that they don't have a school uniform (Thank God!) to most parents they look very smart!

Steve

About 1/3 of the way down this page (in Japanese sorry, but lots of photos) is a poster for a violin concert featuring Viohazard's teacher's first pupil, now a professional performer (...and right below that is a picture of people at the autumn festival, featuring yours truly and husband, if you know where to look!).

But RIGHT down the bottom, about 3/4 of the way down is a picture of kids
playing on a small outdoor stage at a local festival. It's the photo below two men playing shamisen (a kind of banjo) in traditional costume. You can see that all the kids are extremely casually dressed. That was at least 5 years ago, and most of the kids seem to be *a lot* more dressed up these days.

Recently Viohazard is quite taken with those colorful Eastern European/Russian/South American peasant shirts with small amounts of braid trim or embroidery. Sounds like good busking/casual solo wear to me...as long as he's prepared to do the embroidery!

He's all for wearing one of the historical Japanese costumes like "samurai period" ones the shamisen players are wearing...but I think a violin would get lost in the costume ! Darn it, what's wrong with a guy playing violin in the New Zealand national costume of black wool singlet, baggy khaki shorts, and black gumboots? - plenty of movement, practically monotone black, and if the music isn't up to scratch, there's always the rippling biceps and hairy legs to gaze at!!