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The regular uniforms of French choirs have traditionally been blue sweaters, white or blue shirts, blue short pants, white knee socks, and black leather shoes. We notice afew boys wearing neckties, but they were not common. One former chorister tells us, "The school always emphasise that the uniform is not just a costume, but it is a commitment. So when we receive the uniform at the start of school, we have to do our best." This was probably adopted by many choirs because it was the everyday school uniform at French private Catholic colleges in the years after World War II. Most French boys at the time wore short pants. Thus the clothes worn by the choristers were not a special uniform, at least until the late-20th century. Only a few of the choirs were boarding schools where the uniform was worn. The white kneesocks were a distinctive feature of French and some other European choirs. The white knee socks, however, were much more common with French choirs than those of other countries. This was quite different than English choirs where boys beyond about 8 years of age never wore white kneesocks. They were much more associated with school girl uniforms in England. These uniforms have remained the basic style for some time. Berets wguch were once common have disappeared. Blue short pants were standard. The only different over time was the length which followed the popular lenth at the time. A few choirs, however, continue to wear short pants--although they often are extremely long at knee length. Some boys even wear their short pants below the knee. In recent years it has become uncommon for French boys to wear short pants as part of a school uniform or for dress wear. Many of the French choirs thus now have long pants uniforms. Some of the better known choirs have retained the traditional uniform
The regular uniforms of French choirs is a schoolm uniform type outfit. This was probably adopted by many choirs because it was the everyday school uniform at French private Catholic colleges in the years after World War II. Most French boys at the time wore short pants. Thus the clothes worn by the choristers were not a special uniform, at least until the late-20th century. Only a few of the choirs were boarding schools where the uniform was worn.
We notice afew boys wearing neckties, but they were not common. One former chorister tells us, "The school always emphasise that the uniform is not just a costume, but it is a commitment. So when we receive the uniform at the start of school, we have to do our best." The uniform was seen as a part of the preentation and important to creating an image for the choir.
The traditional French chour outfit has remained largely the same over time, but there have been changes. The standard outfit is blue sweaters, white or blue shirts, blue short pants, white knee socks, and black leather shoes. These uniforms have remained the basic style for some time. The boys at first commonly wore berets, but they are rarely seen now. Berets disappeared after World War II. Blue shirts are popular, but we also see white shirts. They were collared shirts with pointed collars.
It is common now for choirs to include a polo shirt as one of the uniforms, often white. Also, it is now common to see choirs performing without the sweatrs. This means they have to remove their hoir pisn from the sweater and wear it on their shirt, and the opposite when they wear their sweaters again. Navy blue 'V'-neck sweaters were standard. They commonly had the Choir logo on them. Navy blue pants were standard. The boys for many years wore shiort pants because shorts onts were commonly worn by French boys. The only different over time was the length which followed the popular lenth at the time. A few choirs, however, continue to wear short pants--although they often are extremely long at knee length. Some boys even wear their short pants below the knee. In recent years it has become uncommon for French boys to wear short pants as part of a school uniform or for dress wear. Many of the French choirs thus now have long pants uniforms. Some of the better known choirs have retained the traditional uniform. The white knee socks were a distinctive feature of French and some other European choirs. The white knee socks, however, were much more common with French choirs than those of other countries. This was quite different than English choirs where boys beyond about 8 years of age never wore white knee socks. They were much more associated with school girl uniforms in England. Black leather shoes completed thestandad school uniform style choir outfit. Te boys were expected to keep them well polished.
There were a range of conventions that the boys were taught for the performances to give a uniform appearance. This helped to focus the attention on the music without any visual distractiions. The boys were taught to keep their hands behind their backs. The were to keep their knee sicks pulled up to the same length. The shoes were to be carfully polished. And they were to keep their shoes togergher so they touched. These conventions can be observed in most of the available images of the boys performing. They were fairly standard amiong the many different choirs.
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