senior vocal performance recital

Hi, I'm having my senior recital this semester and I'm torn between several different dress colors and especially dress styles. I pretty much know exactly what I want to wear but the problem falls with my voice professor (the one who dishes out my grades!). The two dresses that I have in mind are by BCBG. They are both strapless. One is an empire waist with a sash tie and the other has a straighter waist, like a corset. The color is the other issue. The empire waist is pomegranate and the other is black. The problem: My voice professor is very old fashioned. She's only about 45ish but she is adament about approving of my dress for MY RECITAL! She is also a relatively heavy woman and she is very envious of smaller people. I'm a size 0 or 2 and she's constantly making remarks about my size and weight. I'm naturally a petite and fit person at 5'4 and about 116Lbs with NO eating issues whatsoever but she always tells me that I need to be "healthier". I am an extremely open person and my biggest pet peeve is discrimination. It's very hard to deal with someone who views me this way, especially when I don't have the same feelings for her. Her "suggestions" have been floor length, black, and mid or long sleeves. I've pretty much thrown that out of the window. Now it's between the pomegranate and the black! I am a little afraid that the red might be too flashy for the stage. Any suggestions? I've posted links (I hope they work) so you can see the dresses.
http://www.jtandco.net/image3/large/34656a.jpg
http://www.jtandco.net/image/large/13241a.jpg

Thanks!
Gina

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I've been to several senior recitals (voice, instrumental, etc.) and I have to say, at all of them the attire of the performer was extremely formal. Because of this, I might not suggest the pomegranate. While it is a beautiful dress (and I LOVE the color), it reminds me a bit of a prom dress. Another plus to sticking with black is that you may be able to wear it to another event, or again in your singing career, and black is fairly classic. Also, honestly, if you believe your professor would take your attire into account while calculating your grade, is it really worth it to buck the system? It's not fair, I agree, and I wouldn't describe either dress you chose as inappropriate in any way, but if your prof has the final call, you need to take that into consideration.

Having said all this, if you have your heart set on one of those two dresses, I would choose the black, and search for something to layer over it (sheer jacket, shawl, etc) that would appease your prof's delicate sensibilities, but also wouldn't be completely distasteful to you, because you need to feel confident wearing it in front of all those people!

By the way, I think it's extremely unprofessional of your professor to comment on your weight or eating habits if it's not interfering with your performance in her class.

Any one else have any suggestions?

gdefenbau

Member

I also got to try this dress on at the mall the other day and my husband said it was "the one". I LOVED the dress but didn't want to jump on a $400 dollar dress too soon. The only pics I could find were on Ebay;-) It's also by BCBG and the same style as the pomegranate.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BCBG-W.....dZViewItem

Maya

This woman sounds like she has body image issues that she is forcing on you, which is really unprofessional and rude. I don't know what she is like or if she is receptive to your feelings, but if you can, I would talk to her and tell her 1) that it's hurtful to constantly hear her comments about your weight, and let her know that it isn't any more appropriate to comment on a woman's weight just because she is slim than it would be to make comments about a larger woman; and b) you're the one spending money on this dress and you want to find something you like as well, so perhaps you can compromise somehow. Of course, some professors will not tolerate any "talking back" even if it's polite and justified, but you'll be the best judge of that.

I agree with Ana on a lot of things, especially that black will give you more bang for your buck and is more appropriate to a recital. Just because it's black doesn't mean it has to be boring. Liven it up wth a sweet necklace or something. The idea of a coverup is also good.

The second dress (the one you just posted) is really pretty though, and even though it's not black it's still neutral enough. If that's the one you feel most confident in, i would go for it, but perhaps you should get it "approved" (annoying and unfair, I know, but if we're talking about your grade there isn't much choice).

That second (cream) dress is really gorgeous. That one might be good with a black cover up of some sort. I agree with Maya, you might get it approved first.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

What type of dress would your professor prefer to see you in?

Gina

Hey guys, it's me...I wanted to use my real name. You're such a cool, comforting, and helpful group!! Anyway, Angie, she would probably prefer a moo-moo. Just Kidding!! HAHA;-) Honestly, I really don't know. At first she wanted me to dress way too conservatively, in my opinion (a FULL coverage black dress!) but then when I showed her the black dress pic, she commented on the strapless aspect but she did say it was a pretty dress. She has been my voice professor for the last 8 years (I took lessons from her while I was still in highschool too) and over that period, we've developed a love-hate relationship. haha! I know it sounds strange!! It's almost like we know each other so well, that it's not really a teacher-student relationship anymore but more a mother-daughter or sister-sister, etc. relationship. We push each others buttons all the time. This is my very last class and then I graduate with my B.A. in Vocal Performance with concentration in Italian and German opera...then it's on to my Master's! Thanks for all of you guys' help!

Sarah

Active Member

Gina, I'm getting ready for my senior recital too, and I'm also a voice performance major. My teacher is not nearly so strict, even though she's about the same age. I'm wearing a red sleeveless dress, but in your case I'd say to either go with the black one or the cream one, and to get it approved. All three are lovely dresses, but you will definitely get more use out of the black dress, because black is standard for concerts, especially as an opera singer (which I am not).

Welcome Gina!

Sarah makes a super point about black being standard for concerts. I need to be the older voice of reason in this matter. While I love all the dresses that you have selected because they are elegant, stylish and timeless, do not upset your teacher. If it’s best to adhere to a particular unwritten dress code than this is best. Sarah is wearing a strapless dress so I realize that strapless is acceptable for recitals. But it’s not wise to jeopardize what you have worked hard for with the so called wrong dress. Getting it “approved” is a good idea.

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