Competition outfits

[kimmyb]

Where would one go about finding outfits for different comps (rising star, showcase, pro-am)?

[heatherleigh]

Where would one go about finding outfits for different comps (rising star, showcase, pro-am)?

Are you talking the costumes for routines???

Or are you talking about just regular social comp clothes?

[kimmyb]

for routines

[heatherleigh]

for routines

There are for sure stores out there you can go to, but depending on your location depends on where to go. For matching perfectly, stores can be hard.

What I, and most people around my area have done, is to go and buy the outfits you want that compliment each other, make any changes or alterations to them and then I take mine to a lady here in our community that does custom stone work. I will let her give you her web address though, I cannot remember the address.

[christina]

How often do you intend to do the routine?

If only once or twice you should probably stick with something simple and matching. No sense in spending a small fortune and ton of time adding crystals. In this case, I like costumes that can be easily modified for normal wear (shirt and tie for him, funky dance shirt for me).

You can get complementary clothing at any store, matching is harder but H&M being a coed shop if you really want to match. H&M's clothes are pretty cheap, but you can have them tailored or customized like Heather suggested.

Unless you're competing constantly like the pros, it doesn't really make sense to get custom costumes with lots of stone work - the cost and time can be rather prohibitive.

[Kelly]

for routines

I have always found great stuff on www.forever21.com. They have a huge selection of dressy tops and its cheap!! I usually stick with a solid top and stone it. Then get a matching button down for the guy and throw a few stones on that too. And poof!....you have costumes!! :tonguesmilie:

[heatherleigh]

I have always found great stuff on www.forever21.com. They have a huge selection of dressy tops and its cheap!! I usually stick with a solid top and stone it. Then get a matching button down for the guy and throw a few stones on that too. And poof!....you have costumes!! :tonguesmilie:


Yeah... that's basically what we've done in the past.

Just know that some events now will penalize the couple of they do not have costumes. And when I asked a couple of judges what qualified for a "costume" it basically boiled down to having rhinestones.

Stoning yourself is not hard, I had a friend show me how and we did some stuff together. However, for a routine I'll run at least one year, it's worth it to me to get it professionally done.

[bethany]

LOL, oh dear....a costume means you have rhinestones. What has the world come to? ;)

[christina]

Seriously?

Wow. I completely disagree with that judge.

Rhinestones /= costume.

Amature dancers putting together a costume shouldn't have to be that involved.

Plus, some of us don't like rhinestones. But by that thinking, if I do a routine and the costume I spent a ton of time putting together (coordinating his and hers, tailoring, etc.) but it doesn't have rhinesones, I'm not wearing a costume?

Making that stipulation starts putting us on track to the overinvolved rules of ballroom costumes where there are rules about the shape of a skirt, feathers, rhinestone, what color is actually "nude" and what needs to be covered by nude material.

Sure costumes are part of the performing package when it comes to routines, but for someone to tell me what qualifies as a costume and what doesn't? What if my routine tells a story and rhinestones don't have a place in that story? I'm not wearing a costume now?

I saw a stage performance recently that used WCS. The theme was a bit dark - abusive relationship. Rhinestones had no place in the piece - the costumes were grubby to portray the character. I expect a costume to fit the roll of the routine - the music, the moves, the costume are all partners in presenting a piece. a costume of jeans & tank may garner questions before hitting the floor, but if it makes sense with the piece it's more a costume than a sparkly shirt that has nothing to do with the particular routine.

[heatherleigh]

Seriously?

Wow. I completely disagree with that judge.

Rhinestones /= costume.

Amature dancers putting together a costume shouldn't have to be that involved.

Plus, some of us don't like rhinestones. But by that thinking, if I do a routine and the costume I spent a ton of time putting together (coordinating his and hers, tailoring, etc.) but it doesn't have rhinesones, I'm not wearing a costume?

Making that stipulation starts putting us on track to the overinvolved rules of ballroom costumes where there are rules about the shape of a skirt, feathers, rhinestone, what color is actually "nude" and what needs to be covered by nude material.

Sure costumes are part of the performing package when it comes to routines, but for someone to tell me what qualifies as a costume and what doesn't? What if my routine tells a story and rhinestones don't have a place in that story? I'm not wearing a costume now?

I saw a stage performance recently that used WCS. The theme was a bit dark - abusive relationship. Rhinestones had no place in the piece - the costumes were grubby to portray the character. I expect a costume to fit the roll of the routine - the music, the moves, the costume are all partners in presenting a piece. a costume of jeans & tank may garner questions before hitting the floor, but if it makes sense with the piece it's more a costume than a sparkly shirt that has nothing to do with the particular routine.


I agree with this, however, I'm passing on the information I was given.

Typically, a routine for competition will not be dark. It may be sulty and sexy, but not dark or abusive in subject matter. There are not many places where that would be big on the competition scale.

I've also seen rules written that a costume qualifies as something that the couple would not wear in normal day to day life... this makes it hard too. So I couldn't just wear something slutty, because what if I dress like a **** all of the time? ;)

I've seen several competitions have this rule as of late(and some have had it for a while). I think if it was a well designed costume pairing between the two of you and obviously done on purpose, and not something you could just buy in a store, then it would qualify. I think that those judges that said "rhinestones" wanted to give a sure way of not getting disqualified.

Also, you talking about putting money into a costume? Okay, so for my last am routine(pro am) I did nothing special but bought a dance top through a dance store that had a asymetric design and was basic black, and then I had it stoned by the lady here in town and gave her artistic license. I paid maybe a total of 90 bucks for everything together and that was it.

I look at routines as investments. A lot of money is put into coreography, fees for practice floor, coaching sessions, travel, ect. Especially when I try to run a routine for a year at a time, putting 90 bucks into a top that is only for that routine is not that much of the investment in the long run.

[kimmyb]

Thank you every one! This all gives me a much better idea of where to start!

[-festa-]

I must simply state the obvious: Cheap off-the-rack clothes with stones on them look like, er .... cheap off-the-rack clothes with stones on them.

[Lrn2Dnc]

Word on the street is that banana yellow catsuits are coming back ;)

[christina]

Word on the street is that banana yellow catsuits are coming back ;)

1) That's soooo two years ago

2) Only if you're Jessica Cox

[Dima]

2) Only if you're Jessica Cox
Or Tracy (did she change her last name to Melin?)

[Lrn2Dnc]

1) That's soooo two years ago

2) Only if you're Jessica Cox

LOL, actually I was thinking of the first time around.

When Barry Jones wore it in the 80's.

[Lrn2Dnc]

Or Tracy (did she change her last name to Melin?)

She did.
Which I guess is proof that there's no accounting for taste ;)

[SHORTYJOY]

I am a "stones" fan but I am not a fan of rhinestones- or slutty clothes. If I ever get to that level, and also develop the courage to do routines-I may have to lose points for refusing to wear stones and show skin.

[whipkitten]

I don't think that it has to cross into slutty territory or be over bedazzled to qualify as a routine ready costume. I have three routines under my belt (2 pro-ams and a novice/intermediate level) and none of my outfits I would qualify as "slutty". I wore dresses in both my pro-ams and other than some cleavage, everything else was very reasonable - no weird cut outs for the sake of skin or anything like that. I mean my legs were showing - EEK! GASP! - but heck i was in a dress! My other costume did have a lot of sparkle, but I also didn't think it was overkill. In fact, I get a lot of compliments on my choice of routine costumes saying that they are tasteful, appropriate and still sexy, but not slutty.

and I dare say that I didn't lose any points on not being slutty or sparkly enough as I have two national championships for the last two routines I did.

For me, the first place to start when trying to figure out routine clothing is your song choice. What is the song about? if it's something like Lovestoned, then a sparkly, more edgy "clubwear" might fit the vibe better. I chose dresses for my two proams because they were love songs with a traditional blues vibe. For my novice song, it was Pretty Young Thing so well, I dressed as a pretty young thing. :tonguesmilie:

Lastly, you HAVE to be comfortable in it, no matter what it is.

I hope this is making sense.

[kimmyb]

Again, thank you everyone for your input!
I found a place on the internet that has template outfits/tops/bottoms etc and can also do custom. They make-to-order with whichever fabric you pick (or send them your own). And they will customize templates.
I had a "tarzan" top(one shoulder) turned into a semi-long sleeve shirt with sheer fabric so that we don't get fingers caught during lifts.

So far they are very easy to work with, quick and not too expensive. The modified top and pants are totalling roughly $100. Free shipping.
www.pumpers.com

[Arjay]

I will share that Melissa and I were disqualified out of placement at the U.S.Open one year for not having enough rhinestones on our costumes.

Other competitors had as much if not less rhinestones on their costumes as us and we were the ones penalized.

Costumes do not necessarily mean rhinestones. It sure does help though.

What I've learned is that the composition of the costume must be appropriate for the type of routine you are presenting. West Coast Swing routines with a country flair can sometimes get away with jeans, Sexy slow routines can get away with solid colors that are harmonious and don't require rhinestones, Cabaret routines can use thematic costumes that have no rhinestones.

But basic WCS routines should have defining elements that are uncharacteristic of an off the rack article of clothing.

If enough elements match and are unique, rhinestones are not necessary. example: Jordan and tatiana sexy plexi routine. matching unique shirts bought off the rack that required very little modifications but had very unique identity to be recognized as a legitimate and great costume.

[Arjay]

the amount of effort in a costume is also sometimes an illustration of commitment to your partnership and your routine.

If you expect to do your routine once and just for fun, do whatever you want.

If you're doing a pro am routine. don't spend more than you need to...
To do a pro am routine already shows commitment. I don't need to see rhinestones on a pro am routine.

serious costume will set the first impression high, that you are serious and you want us to take you seriously.