The Art of Wearing Black to Concerts

If you’ve ever  been to a classical concert, you may have noticed how everyone performing (in an orchestra or choir) is inline with a darker dress code that seems to be insider knowledge. What if I told you that this old tradition is actually more complex?

Photo: Pinterest

For men, the rules are strict but simple. Of course, you have to wear a suit or tuxedo, dependant on the time or occasion. They also all have to wear a tie of the same colour (eg. this year my school chose silver). A clear no-go are (obviously) sneakers. As a man you should wear black dress-shoes, and in cases where a tuxedo is obligatory, black lacquer shoes. 

Photos: Dolce & Gabbana Menswear S/S 27/Giorgio Armani Menswear 27

The Vienna Philharmonics wear a custom made “Philharmonic Suit” designed by Vivienne Westwood and her husband Andreas Kronthaler. It contains a black mohair and wool cutaway jacket and black-and-white striped fine wool trousers. When performing during the day, it is paired with a double-breasted soft gray-silver waistcoat and a matching silk silver tie, while in the evening it is paired with a white double-breasted piqué waistcoat (kind of similar to white-tie attire) and a white piqué bow tie

Photos: WWD

For women, the rules differ across the board. They can wear shirts, blouses, long-sleeved shirts (note: collars are normally required for men), trousers, skirts (that go over your knees) or dresses. But you’re not allowed to show too much skin (spaghetti straps, wide collars or not wearing dark hosiery under your skirt is a clear no-go) and high heels are not very well-seen. I chose a hosiery in my skin tone, a blazer dress which went just above my knees and boots with 10 cm high heels for my school concert in the Golden Hall of  the Musikverein (not really on theme, but fashion is about rebellion! or something like that.).

Photos: Galvan Fall 2020/Chanel Fall 2020

When the Vienna Philharmonic began admitting women in 1997, the designer couple created a female version of the “Philharmonic Suit”. It´s almost entirely the same as the male version, but with a more curved silhouette and instead of a shirt and vest there's a draped, silk-satin wrap top. For daytime concerts they wear a soft silver-sand silk wrap top (to match the silver waistcoats of the men) and in the evening they wear a black silk wrap top (to complement the formal white-tie elements of the men's evening attire). The women’s suit was inspired by Westwood´s "Dangerous Liaison" design.

Photos: WWD

The reason why everyone in the orchestra and choir (except soloists, especially women) wears black is so that the audience can concentrate on the music and not the people who are playing. Black is a very elegant and formal colour, everyone wearing it represents the union and the community of an orchestra and/or choir. 

Believe it or not, making music and listening to it together unites and bonds, kind of like soccer. Music is a team sport.

XOXO, The Fashion Stock Market