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.

But the selection is terrible in [my kids' sizes] for [the specific stuff I'm looking for], so if your kid wears [my kids' sizes], you definitely shouldn't shop there for [the specific stuff I'm looking for]! Or at least not until after me.

Anonymous wrote:$15 black pants and $20 black shoes -- total $35 is whole lot cheaper than the good athletic shoes and the other gear your kid would require if he played a sport. Consider yourself lucky.

Silly.

Marching band and concert band cost just as much as athletic sports. I have kids that do both, and shockingly they are quite comparable.

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.

$15 black pants and $20 black shoes -- total $35 is whole lot cheaper than the good athletic shoes and the other gear your kid would require if he played a sport. Consider yourself lucky.

FWIW, for cheap concert shoe options, I have used black mary jane-style flats that cost about $15 for girls. We used to call these "chinese flats".

For boys, all black Vans (with black rubber sole to) are about 50$, which isn't cheap, but a style some boys would wear again because they are sneakers. (maybe more a HS or MS style)

Walmart makes a cheaper non-Vans-branded version for about$20.

Anonymous wrote:

Are you really comparing the 4th grade winter concert in the cafegymatorium to a classical music performance? Thanks for the laugh ;0)

And do you really think black pants and shoes that will be worn once are the same thing as sports gear that is used multiple times a week for an entire season?

Relax, pp. My kid will be in black pants, black shoes, black belt, and a white shirt for the performance. It's just a hassle I don't really enjoy: shopping for things he will only use once. And it's particularly infuriating since the performance wouldn't be impacted at all if the kids showed up wearing their Sunday best...regardless of the color.

My kids (both girls) are out of elementary school now, but when they were in elementary school, white shirt/black pants/black shoes was a lot easier for us than "Sunday best". My kids did not have a "Sunday best".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school requires black pants and white shirts for the winter concert and band performance. As a mother of boys, I would never buy black pants but for this one night event. Instead, it would be easier if they could wear khakis since we already have those---and I feel like most families would already have khakis rather than black pants.

I'm curious how others feel about this?

I feel that you are an uncouth person. Have you ever been to a classical music performance? I guess not, but, if you have, have you seen anyone on stage wearing skinny jeans and Under Armor sneakers?

As a mother of boys, have you ever had to purchase them any kind of sports uniform? Soccer cleats, or hockey gear, or, at the very least, tennis shorts? Well, this is sorta similar, only instead of running around trying to score a goal, the kiddos stand around and sing.

DP. Yes, and yes.

-musician with a wardrobe full of black concert dress

Anonymous wrote:Our school requires black pants and white shirts for the winter concert and band performance. As a mother of boys, I would never buy black pants but for this one night event. Instead, it would be easier if they could wear khakis since we already have those---and I feel like most families would already have khakis rather than black pants.

I'm curious how others feel about this?

Black privilege

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school requires black pants and white shirts for the winter concert and band performance. As a mother of boys, I would never buy black pants but for this one night event. Instead, it would be easier if they could wear khakis since we already have those---and I feel like most families would already have khakis rather than black pants.

I'm curious how others feel about this?

I feel that you are an uncouth person. Have you ever been to a classical music performance? I guess not, but, if you have, have you seen anyone on stage wearing skinny jeans and Under Armor sneakers?

As a mother of boys, have you ever had to purchase them any kind of sports uniform? Soccer cleats, or hockey gear, or, at the very least, tennis shorts? Well, this is sorta similar, only instead of running around trying to score a goal, the kiddos stand around and sing.

Are you really comparing the 4th grade winter concert in the cafegymatorium to a classical music performance? Thanks for the laugh ;0)

And do you really think black pants and shoes that will be worn once are the same thing as sports gear that is used multiple times a week for an entire season?

Relax, pp. My kid will be in black pants, black shoes, black belt, and a white shirt for the performance. It's just a hassle I don't really enjoy: shopping for things he will only use once. And it's particularly infuriating since the performance wouldn't be impacted at all if the kids showed up wearing their Sunday best...regardless of the color.

You drove to Frederick for black pants? Come on. Plenty of black pants around. You are terrible. In fact, I purchased 12 pairs of extra black pants to donate for our school (W school, but I know many parents are really busy getting ready for winter ski holidays abroad, so I wanted to help).

Anonymous wrote:I have spray painted shoes black.

Sharpie is easier.

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

I have spray painted shoes black.

I agree with PP that the shoes are the killer. My daughter doesn't own any black shoes, so I'll have to buy her a pair for fall and a pair for spring -- which she'll wear exactly once. And when my son is old enough, it will be even worse, as he can only wear super wide shoes. I bought him black shoes for first communion and it was incredibly difficult to find a pair, and cost $60. Is it really the end of the world if they wear sneakers? Who really cares?
And, yes, I grew up playing an instrument in orchestra. And in our day we had to wear long black skirts. And I remember my mother growing crazy sewing me one (she did not sew and this was not easy for her, nor was the cost of the fabric really all that easy either) so that I could participate. I'm glad that nowadays everyone can wear pants, which you can buy cheaply, but the shoes are a real drag.