With the sound of "Pomp and Circumstance" still echoing in the air, every choir and band director knows that Summer Break is just around the corner. AND, not to put a damper on your summer cruise plans or that back-yard patio you have planned to build next weekend, Praise Hymn Fashions asks you to invest one or two minutes thinking about next year!

Yes...we know we are probably committing a heinous sin by even suggesting that you think about anything other than your hard earned break!

The busiest season for concert apparel is from September 1st - December 24th. Production time can double between these dates and those who order early will beat the rush. If you invest a few seconds now making a plan for the first day back, letting us know when you want the fitting samples to arrive (preferably around the first practice back from break!), and planning your performance date, you will be ahead of the game.

Praise Hymn Fashions thanks you for your business and wishes you a great SUMMER!

Memorial Day weekend is a solemn reminder of those who died for our freedoms. (Personally, I have two uncles who died in battle for our country.) But, what is one way to honor the fallen after Memorial Day?

According to the history of one fashion rule, it is time you donned the color white! Insight into the "No White before Memorial Day and after Labor Day" rule is found from the Emily Post Institute, a standard in etiquette.

"THEN

Back in Emily’s day—the nineteen 00s, 10s and 20s—the summer season was bracketed by Memorial Day and Labor Day. Society flocked en masse from town house to seaside “cottage” or mountain “cabin” to escape the heat. City clothes were left behind in exchange for lighter, whiter, summer outfits. Come fall and the return to the city, summer clothes were put away and more formal city clothes donned once more. It was an age when there was a dress code for practically every occasion, and the signal to mark the change between summer resort clothes and clothing worn for the rest of the year was encapsulated in the dictum “No white after Labor Day.” And it stuck.

NOW

Of course you can wear white after Labor Day, and it makes perfect sense to do so in climates where September’s temperatures are hardly fall-like. It’s more about fabric choice today than color. Even in the dead of winter in northern New England the fashionable wear white wools, cashmeres, jeans, and down-filled parkas. The true interpretation is “wear what’s appropriate—for the weather, the season, or the occasion.”

It is as if society makes the statement, "It is time to head into summer to celebrate the freedom we have" by wearing white.

Check out these white Praise Hymn Fashions!

#Fashion

In honor of the sacrifice of those who gave so much for our freedom, Praise Hymn Fashions is offering a 50% discount on Patriotic Scarves and Neck Ties!

#Memorial Day

Recently, I, one of the Praise Hymn Fashions team, was worshipping during a Sunday morning service and a distraction occurred.  No…a baby did not start crying, no one passed out, the sound system was fine, and, probably, no one else noticed.  It was a subtle distraction centered on a single string of pearls.
 
Yes…pearls.
 
If you are familiar with ...

Today is Red Nose Day!

Red Nose Day engages "the power of entertainment to raise awareness and money to help the kids who need us most, both at home and around the world."

Of course, entertainers are near and dear to the Praise Hymn Fashions heart, but did you know that we support several nonprofits? We care about giving back to the needy. We also support Red Nose Day!

Will you join us in giving today?

#RedNoseDay

May 25th is National Tap Dance Day. Officially signed into law in 1989, Tap Dance Day is a federal holiday to "refocus the Nation on American tap dancing." The text of the legislation can be read here.

According to the Tap Dance Day website, "National Tap Dance Day, initially commemorated on May 25, 1989, is now celebrated internationally every year. The law was passed by the 101st United States Congress, however from Tokyo to New York City and throughout Europe and Asia, there are celebrations, large and small. Tap dance enthusiasts, students, and professionals come together all through the month of May to celebrate the art form with performances, workshops, tap jams and more."

Today, Praise Hymn Fashions celebrates those who tap, dance, jump, and clatter providing a beat for the world to hear.

#tapdance

This Saturday, May 20th, is Armed Forces Day. Praise Hymn Fashions salutes those who serve our country in all branches of the military. Today, perhaps more than ever, we are praying for each of you.

History of Armed Forces Day

On August 31, 1949, Louis Johnson, who was the United States’ Secretary of Defense, announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The event stemmed from the armed forces’ unification under one department – the Department of Defense. The Army, Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day. The Marine Corps League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces Day too.

The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated on Saturday, May 20, 1950. The theme for that day was “Teamed for Defense”, which expressed the unification of all military forces under one government department. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the day was designed to expand public understanding of what type of job was performed and the role of the military in civilian life.

Armed Forces Day was a day for the military to show "state-of-the-art" equipment to Americans. It was also a day to honor and acknowledge Americans in the armed forces. Parades, open houses, receptions and air shows were held at the inaugural Armed Forces Day.  Armed Forces Day is still celebrated nationwide today and is part of Armed Forces Week.

Sweet Adelines Groups wrap up a season of regional competitions this month and prepare for the Annual Convention and Competition in Las Vegas this October. Singing in any group requires dedication, commitment, love, and talent. Sweet Adelines groups depend on all of these qualities to produce a unique sound that is loved by audiences all around.

"The original purpose for which Sweet Adelines was organized in 1945 was educational, to teach and train its members in musical harmony and appreciation," states the official Sweet Adelines International website.

Praise Hymn Fashions is honored to partner with several Sweet Adelines Chorus groups in providing costumes and apparel to some of the top performers. A portion of the final scoring incorporates apparel and we want everyone to look their best!

One of the groups we serve is the Rich-Tone Chorus from Richardson, TX. Enjoy this video of their performance at last year's competition.

If your Sweet Adeline Chorus is seeking apparel, contact Praise Hymn Fashions today!

Does singing in a choir provide cost-effective health benefits? The answer may be forthcoming if a peer reviewed study proposed in BMC Public Health publishes their findings.  The idea is that choir programs "will be a practical and acceptable community-based approach for promoting health and well-being of older adults" (Johnson, et al., 2015).

The proposed study aims are two-fold. First, the study measures the effectiveness of a choir on health and well-being and, second, the cost-effectiveness in terms of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) per assessed program costs and persons served is considered.

The benefits of involvement with the choir may include fewer falls, greater mobility, less anxiety, greater cognitive engagement, better attention and executive function, memory, and overall greater well-being.

Another study, published in Psychology of Music in 2013, indicates that choir singing provides social and mental health benefits. The findings seem to be consistent with the aims of the aforementioned study.

Praise Hymn Fashions is honored to partner with many community choirs, providing an opportunity for social impact and greater well-being.

References:

Dingle, G. A., Brander, C., Ballantyne, J., & Baker, F. A. (2013). ‘To be heard’: The social and mental health benefits of choir singing for disadvantaged adults. Psychology of Music, 41(4), 405-421. doi:10.1177/0305735611430081

Johnson, J. K., Nápoles, A. M., Stewart, A. L., Max, W. B., Santoyo-Olsson, J., Freyre, R., . . . Gregorich, S. E. (2015). Study protocol for a cluster randomized trial of the Community of Voices choir intervention to promote the health and well-being of diverse older adults. BMC Public Health, 15(1). doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2395-9