The City Harvest Choir has existed for almost as long as the church itself. They have been serving faithfully, week after week, throughout the years.
Quiz any choir member about the vision and goal of the choir and they will tell you, with no hesitation, that they exist to build up the spiritual atmosphere of the worship and to provide visual impact for the congregation.
Standing on the platform on stage, the choir is a constant feature depicting praise and worship, an element that the congregation looks to and follow in terms of trend, fashion, even in the style of praise and worship.
Of late, the choir have been togged out in bolder and funkier garb, displaying style that is edgy and eye-catching. Gone are the days of the shapeless choir robe! The in-threads these days are denims and bold-printed tees — plus the piled-on bling! The choir is getting into the groove.
“Because God is a creative and stylish, we want to dress in a way that reflects His nature,” Cheryl Tan, 25, a human resource consultant.
“It’s not about the dressing; it’s really about being excellent in dressing your best and looking good and sharp at all times. Even when you are casual, you are stylishly casual,” says Wong Hexing, 19, a student.
“We represent Jesus here on earth, and we don’t want to give people the impression that the church is full of outdated people. We are actually very contemporary people who reflect our times. Jesus was a very radical person in His time, we should have that same spirit in us, to be able to shape and transform our culture and our world,” says entrepreneur and choir member Kelly Tang.
So how does the choir keep abreast of fashion that is relevant and contemporary?
Celine Tien, 18, student, recommends foreign fashion magazines, particularly Japanese magazines, such as Kawai and Vivi (available at Kinokuniya bookstore). She also reveals that the web is a really good source of inspiration. Others get their fashion inspiration from celebrities, via magazines like Life & Style and People.
James Poh, 27, an interior designer, get his inspiration walking down Orchard Road and looking at the window displays for the latest trends, which he incorporate into his personal style.
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| PHOTOS: Gary Sim |
“You can’t just clone someone’s style wholesale,” says Tan. “The idea is to pick something that makes you look good. It’s great to dress up and come fresh and happy on Sunday morning to praise God!”
The choir members agree on one thing: you have to be comfortable in whatever clothes you wear, and more importantly, you need to be comfortable in your own skin. Confidence is the key to looking good on and off stage.
