The Well-Dressed Choir: Questions to Consider

When I launched into the world of robes, cassocks (not Cossacks), cottas, surplices, scapulars, and stoles, I was overwhelmed by the options and horrified at the cost. Here are points to consider: * The pastor * Advantages of uniform dress * Disadvantages of uniform dress * Layout of the church * Customs of a particular church on women's dress * Prior experience of the choir with robes Options * Cassock * Black or colored * Surplice or cotta or scapular * Alb in white or flax or colored * Robe alone * Robe with stole or scapular * All-black secular dress Before proceeding any further with your plans, the pastor and other clergy should be consulted. Many lofts do have a somewhat private area where singers could put on their robes, so that might be a solution (and perhaps a storage location for the choir's dress).