SPEAKING of black, I’m a total moron.
Many of you have written in asking for comfortable dressy separates that could be dressed up or down. Now granted most of you asked back in, oh, November of last year, but hey. I’m here now and that’s the important thing.
Style Spy and I were at Neiman Marcus Last Call a few weeks ago and she was wisely selecting a pair of black sequined palazzo pants. Her reasoning (not that you NEED a reason when it comes to sequins) is that when an event comes up and everyone is scurrying around like a chinchilla with the runs deciding what to wear, she can just throw those on, add a shirt and be perfect and effortless and done.
Later that night I pulled out my own black sequined cocktail dress and restyled it so it looked a little less showgirl (back-to-the-front with a tuxedo jacket, in case you’re playing at home) and got to thinking about how much more chic it is to look effortless in evening wear.
I promptly forgot about it, until today when I was looking at concert wear and thought “Concert blacks! DUH.”
I know for a fact several of my friends in the Austin Symphony wear their blacks offstage, so why shouldn’t you? I can’t BELIEVE this didn’t occur to me until this moment.
They’re easy, look fantastic and still let you move about like a crazy person, none of the skirts have slits so you’re not going to accidentally flash anyone and the tops are alluring without inviting amateur mammography. Plus they come in a variety of fabrics –usually jersey, satin and crush-proof velvet, all machine washable– drape beautifully and are available in a whole slew of sizes and any color you want, as long as it’s black.
“SPEAKING of black, I’m a total moron.”
Hah – that was poorly worded. :-)
Comment by Bianca — August 7, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
I’ve had a mixed bag of concert blacks over the years (scalloped neck velvet empire waist with enough streaming organza on the skirt to choke a horse and make all the women in choir look six months pregnant? no thanks) but there was one dress for one concert band that was simple, fit well, and made every woman in that band look amazing. Awesome recommendation, Plumcake.
Comment by KESW — August 7, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
Some of their plus sized offerings are $20 more than their straight size offerings (palazzo pant, gored skirt). Tall sizes, on the other hand, are the same price. That is both disappointing and very annoying.
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Yeah, I noticed that too, but I also noticed that their “regular” sizes go up to 20, so a lot of big girls can make it in their traditional sizing. These things are all relatively inexpensive enough so that I wouldn’t mind the $20 extra, but I see your point. – Plummy
Comment by OTM — August 7, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
Slightly off-topic: I was the only girl in my choir ensemble in high school who enjoyed the black taffeta dresses. I still think they looked fabulous.
Comment by Sarah — August 7, 2009 @ 3:12 pm
Speaking of black DRESSES you maroon!
Comment by Plumcake — August 7, 2009 @ 3:29 pm
My mom was a professional violinist for many years, and she still wears the hell out of her “work clothes” for fancy occasions. With a pair of earrings and her hair in a chignon she looks awesome.
Comment by Nomie — August 8, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
OTM, it can take considerably more fabric to cut a garment wider than it does to cut one taller. For example, if you’re cutting a pair of pants for 55″ hips from 60″ wide fabric, the front and back pattern pieces will both be over 30″ wide, due to the part that creates the crotch curve. Therefore the two front pieces and the two back pieces will have to be laid out on doubled fabric and cut end to end, not side by side or offset as can be done with smaller pattern pieces. This increases the total amount of fabric needed by as much as 100%, so it stands to reason that they need to charge more. Adding length, on the other hand, is usually only a matter of a few inches on each pattern piece, so it doesn’t add much to the cost.
Comment by Margo — August 9, 2009 @ 2:55 pm