Concert black used to mean a long gown or a tuxedo and a lot of hoping it would get you through the second half. Today most women onstage wear black pants and a black top, and they want those clothes to work as hard as they do.
We come from families of musicians — classical, jazz, rock and alternative, in New York, Chicago and beyond. For years we have listened to the players, singers and teachers around us describe the perfect concert outfit. This is what they asked for, and how we answered.
“Let me sit, breathe and play.”
A three-hour concert means a lot of sitting, often with an instrument in your lap or between your knees. A front zipper and waistband button press in exactly when you need a full breath. Every DuetteNYC pant has a pull-on waist — no fly, no button — and four-way stretch, so you can bow, reach and climb the risers without the fabric pulling.
“Sleeves that stay out of the way.”
Musicians told us sleeves are a quiet problem. Long, loose cuffs catch on strings, keys and bows. That’s why the Waverly has bracelet-length butterfly sleeves that end above the wrist, and the Wall and Spring stop at the elbow. Always check the sleeve rule in your ensemble’s dress code first.
“Black that reads black under the lights.”
Shine reads as costume onstage. Our pants and tops are matte, so the ensemble looks like one ensemble. Hold new pieces next to each other in daylight before the first concert. Black on the label can mean blue-black or brown-black.
“Something I can wash tonight and wear tomorrow.”
Concert black gets sweated in under hot lights and packed in a case. Dry cleaning every week adds up. Every piece below is machine washable.
“Clothes I’d actually wear offstage.”
Nobody wants a closet full of costume. The same Essex you wear to the Saturday concert works at the office on Monday. That’s the modern part of Modern Concert Black: one wardrobe, not a uniform.
The Modern Concert Black edit
Full-length pants
- The Essex, $128 — our most popular pant. A classic bootcut in four-way-stretch ponte with slant pockets and a 30½" inseam (size M).
- The Carmine, $138 — a fluid wide leg with room for cellists and bassists, on-seam pockets and a 31½" inseam.
- The Liberty, $118 — a lighter matte jersey wide leg for warm stages, choirs and touring.
If your ensemble allows ankle length: the Hudson, $118, a high-rise tapered ankle pant with no pockets to break the line.
Tops
- The Wall, $108 — our dressiest orchestra top. A draped neckline, elbow-length sleeves and an asymmetric hem you can wear out as a tunic or tuck in. It runs large, so size down one.
- The Waverly, $108 — our long-sleeve option, with bracelet-length butterfly sleeves that won’t get in the way of your instrument. Choose Black for concerts; the Pearl is lovely for everything else.
- The Spring, $58 — a slim crew neck with elbow sleeves, easy alone or under a jacket.
Good clothes, steady prices
Times are hard for many musicians, and a gig fee doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. We have kept our prices the same for six years, even as materials and labor costs have risen, because we are committed to this community. Buy two or more pieces and the wardrobe discount applies automatically at checkout.
Your ensemble’s written dress code always comes first. Try the whole outfit sitting down, arms raised, before the dress rehearsal.
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