Female orchestral musicians

Orchestermusikerinnen, Maxi Lasheras, Marillon Couture Leipzig, Bühnengardarobe Leipzig, Konzertkleidung Leipzig

Bespoke concert attire für female orchestral musicians

Life in an orchestra offers female musicians considerably more freedom when it comes to choosing what to wear than their male colleagues, while at the same time presenting them with challenges that are not always easy to overcome.

Black, long-sleeved, ankle-length skirts or trousers – elegant and visually in keeping with male colleagues’ tailcoats, yet not too outlandish. And everything must also meet the practical requirements of the instrument, the necessary freedom of movement and the day-to-day practical demands of concert life.

At Marillon Couture, the bespoke atelier specialising in creating stage wear for classical musicians, we are delighted to take on this challenge and work with you to design your very own, unique concert outfit. Let’s have a chat!

Inspiration

Our aim is to create highly individual clothing for every female musician who comes to us. You will, therefore, not find any ‘off-the-peg’ garments in our atelier. However, to give you an insight into how we work, in this section we use selected examples to demonstrate how Marillon Couture combines elegance with practicality.

For further inspiration, please browse our lookbook.

Lookbook

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Ensemble comprising trousers, a top and a stole for an oboist

Concert attire is particularly suitable for everyday musical life when it can be mixed and matched in different ways. This three-piece outfit can be worn as a set or separately, depending on the type of concert, the setting and the musician’s role within the orchestra (e.g. tutti or solo). The simple cut contrasts with the opulent pearl sequins. In this case, the musician brought the sequinned embroidery with her to the first appointment: a piece of fabric she had bought some time ago without knowing what it would become, and which has now found its purpose. The result is a truly unique concert outfit with a personal touch.

In the orchestra

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Black fabric with a subtle sheen
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Long ‘trumpet sleeves’ trimmed with sequins, tapering towards the instrument
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Low-cut back
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Long, wide trouser legs, also trimmed with sequins
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Can be worn with a long stole, the ends of which are also trimmed with sequins

Functional

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Completely crease-resistant, making it ideal for travel and tours
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Flowing, lightly stretchy fabric
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Extremely comfortable to wear
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Hand wash or dry clean

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Konzertkleidung für Orchestermusikerinnen, Marillon Couture

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Concert dress with sequinned coat for a trombonist

As a soloist

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Empire style floor-length dress
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Asymmetrically crossed straps at the back and a wide, flared, attached skirt
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Removable sequinned belt (making the dress washable)

In the orchestra

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Particularly suitable for orchestral performance when worn with the long-sleeved sequinned coat
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Ample freedom of movement in the arms

Functional

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Lightly stretchy fabric
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Crease-resistant
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Dress is machine-washable thanks to the removable sequinned belt; the coat must be dry-cleaned

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Floral concert dress for a violinist

Design

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Sleeveless dress with an elasticated, long-sleeved top underneath – the optical effect is of a long-sleeved dress
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The dress can also be worn without the top underneath, for example for solo recitals or chamber music performances

Functional

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Crease-resistant
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Both items can be washed separately
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The stretchy top allows for maximum freedom of movement whilst playing, as the sleeves are not attached to the dress and therefore do not ‘ride up’

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Black velvet concert dress for a flautist

Design

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Floor-length dress made of stretch velvet
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Diagonal gathering with a concealing effect
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Long sleeves
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Low-cut back

Functional

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Exceedingly comfortable
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Highly elastic – suitable for all female musicians who need plenty of freedom of movement, particularly around the chest
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Crease-resistant dress – a reliable companion on concert tours; machine washable at 30 degrees

Anführungsstriche als Gestaltungselement für ein Zitat in Gold

“My concert dress from Marillon Couture is timelessly beautiful! It moves with me so naturally that I can breathe deeply whilst playing and don’t have to hold back with my body language. That makes me feel good when I’m performing. What’s more, the fabric is really low-maintenance and crease-resistant, so I can easily pack it away in my suitcase when I’m on tour.”

– Gudrun Hinze · flautist · Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Useful information regarding bespoke concert attire for female orchestral musicians

Here you will find specific details regarding concert wear for female orchestral musicians. We would be happy to discuss further details during our introductory meeting.

Arrange an appointment

How do we go about creating a concert outfit that suits me and my role in the orchestra?

In our initial discussion, we will find out about your personal preferences, and also any guidelines set by the orchestra. Your range of movement, the requirements of your role and the demands of your instrument are also important factors. We use all this information to develop a suitable and satisfying concept.

How long does it take to create a bespoke concert outfit?

As each garment is made to measure, the time required depends on the scope of the project in question. Once we have met and discussed all the possibilities, you will receive an estimate of the timeframe and cost, including fabric samples and initial designs. Should you have specific deadlines, we will, of course, endeavour to work to them.

What price should I plan for for the design and manufacture?

Since Marillon Couture offers a high degree of customisation, it is difficult to specify a fixed price. Once you have described your ideas to us, we can state a rough price range, which we will then finalise later as part of a detailed quote.

What fabrics are used to make concert dresses for orchestral playing?

Depending on the design, Marillon Couture uses a wide range of extremely varied materials. As a general rule, we ensure that the fabrics are as crease-resistant and stretchy as possible, as well as being easy to care for (ideally washable). Given that these are the characteristics most frequently sought after, we often use synthetic fibre blends. Should customers explicitly request natural fibres, we can, of course, employ these materials as well and, where possible, compensate for any disadvantages in terms of practicality during the design process.

Can I wash Marillon Couture stage outfits myself?

How each garment should be cared for depends on the fabrics chosen and the specific construction. We offer a wide range of washable materials for both elegant evening dresses and trouser pieces. Elements of an outfit consisting of sequins or silk are, as far as possible, designed so as to be removable, enabling washing of the garment at home.

Can I claim my concert attire as a tax deduction?

Whether the costs of a garment are tax-deductible depends, among other things, on the specific design and whether the clothing is used exclusively for professional purposes. Since we are not authorised to provide tax advice, we recommend that you discuss the specific circumstances in advance with your accountant or the relevant tax authority.

Is it possible to collaborate on the creation of concert wear even if I’m not from Leipzig?

Marillon Couture works with musicians from near and far. Together, we find flexible solutions for getting to know one another, taking measurements, fittings and fine-tuning, so that a successful process is possible even over longer distances.

Consultation and getting to know each other personally

We would be happy to offer you a personal consultation either by telephone or, by prior appointment, in person at our atelier in Leipzig’s Waldstraßenviertel district, close to the city centre. We look forward to hearing from you!

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