I was super annoyed by the black pants as well. It's not part of his regular wardrobe, and to go out and buy it special for one night is consumptive and wasteful, even if I can afford to.

Anonymous wrote:It's like OP has never heard of thrift stores, Amazon, or online shopping.

Or, another option would be to buy some black dye from a craft store and dye some pants you already have, results can be uneven.

Can't imagine what would happen if you had public school students all come out wearing "their holiday best." My former private school had us wear black as well.

Poster also hasn't figured out that with multiple boys these will get passed down and she just needs to start a pipeline with oldest/largest. With a boy and a girl this hasn't worked often for us but between my and DH's coworkers we've had to turn down offers of barely used orchestra clothes. Everything outgrown is passed to a friend or donated to the school--they have an exchange, too. I thought this problem had been solved in most households.

Anonymous wrote:Live on Piney Meetinghouse and nobody I asked tonight at a school event had any idea where the "Rio" was. We all had a good laugh.

How do you refer to it?

Live on Piney Meetinghouse and nobody I asked tonight at a school event had any idea where the "Rio" was. We all had a good laugh.

Anonymous wrote:What the heck is the Rio shopping center? We live in Bethesda and I have never heard of it. Is it PG County?

Gaithersburg..

Are you Bethesda or what most of us who grew up here call Rockville?

Anonymous wrote:What the heck is the Rio shopping center? We live in Bethesda and I have never heard of it. Is it PG County?

Damn you, Poe's Law.

What the heck is the Rio shopping center? We live in Bethesda and I have never heard of it. Is it PG County?

It's like OP has never heard of thrift stores, Amazon, or online shopping.

Or, another option would be to buy some black dye from a craft store and dye some pants you already have, results can be uneven.

Can't imagine what would happen if you had public school students all come out wearing "their holiday best." My former private school had us wear black as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Perhaps at your kids' private school the dress code is holiday best, but that's not true at my kids' school, and it wasn't true of the private school I went to at a different state. (I still remember going to about 8 different stores to find a black skirt that would fit in 8th grade. I was really short and skinny, but didn't want little kids skirt.)
The preschool/K kids are "festive attire" but after that, it's white shirts and black pants.
As so many PPs have said, that's standard concert attire all across the country, from little kids to professional orchestras. (Minus the tux/suit jacket for kids)

Professional orchestras have all black for the women, and either all black or white shirts/black jackets for the men. White top/black bottom is generally only for the younger kids.

Boy is this poster gonna be bummed when she needs to pony up for a suit for their son to wear to bar mitzvahs - or the dresses for the girls.

Boy is this poster gonna be bummed when she needs to pony up for a suit for their son to wear to bar mitzvahs - or the dresses for the girls.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP must not have been in band or chorus or orchestra when she was in school. Black pants (and black dresses!) have been required forever.

Or maybe op went to a private school?

FTR: the dress code isn't just for the band. Our school uses this dress code for the winter choir concert (4th and 5th graders). It's mandatory, not an elective like band.

And at private schools, the dress code for such a thing is "holiday best."[i][u] I think kids would like nicer in their holiday best (sparkly or velvet dresses, red/green or blue/silver, holiday ties. etc.). Plus, it adds to the festive spirit.

Perhaps at your kids' private school the dress code is holiday best, but that's not true at my kids' school, and it wasn't true of the private school I went to at a different state. (I still remember going to about 8 different stores to find a black skirt that would fit in 8th grade. I was really short and skinny, but didn't want little kids skirt.)
The preschool/K kids are "festive attire" but after that, it's white shirts and black pants.
As so many PPs have said, that's standard concert attire all across the country, from little kids to professional orchestras. (Minus the tux/suit jacket for kids)

Anonymous wrote:It’s called concert black and is standard attire.?????

Some of us are talking about competitive high school orchestra in a fancy auditorium, and some of us are talking about the second grade music performance in the gym (for which ear plugs are highly recommended).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spent the entire night last night driving all over town looking for black pants. Had to drive to Frederick.

They have them at Macys.

My son is a freshman, and he's been playing his sax since 4th grade. We always keep black pants on hand knowing the concert requirements.

I agree with the poster who recommended Unique thrift. Practically new dress clothes, at great prices.

I found back pants at Kohls last week. In Rio Washingtonian shopping center. No need to drive to Frederick.

Yeah, I think someone was looking for drama here. Plenty of ways to reserve online, pick up in store, or just order online with enough time to ship. And tons and tons of stores that carry the basics. The problem of finding black pants for a concert could be easily mitigated, but it's more productive to complain here and martyr it up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spent the entire night last night driving all over town looking for black pants. Had to drive to Frederick.

They have them at Macys.

My son is a freshman, and he's been playing his sax since 4th grade. We always keep black pants on hand knowing the concert requirements.

I agree with the poster who recommended Unique thrift. Practically new dress clothes, at great prices.

I found back pants at Kohls last week. In Rio Washingtonian shopping center. No need to drive to Frederick.