Dress leotards: snap fastening required?

[una_chica_jb]

Hi all,

I'd like to know about snap fastening of the latin dresses. Are they required ?
Usually when I watch dance shows and dancer rises a leg I can't see any fastening of the panties.
Thank you for the answers.

[waltzgirl]

Welcome to DF!

As far as I know, the only reason for snaps in the crotch of the body suits in costumes is to make it possible to go to the bathroom without having to take the whole dress off. So it's convenient, but not required.

[una_chica_jb]

I thought about that.

But it would be nice to get opinion, how essential snaps in latin costumes are? What the dancers prefer better: with snaps or without them?
Do the dancers care if the snaps are seen in a costume when they rise a leg?

[fascination]

I have latin outfits that are easy to get in and out of without the crotch snaps and I have ones with...while I don't dance latin or rhythm at a level where there's much likelihood that either will be visible...given my druthers, I'd rather do without them

[una_chica_jb]

Thank you very much for replies :)

[NURDRMS]

I would also rather do without the snaps in the crotch. No matter how good they seem to hold, the snaps coming undone at a critical moment during a dance is one more thing I'd rather not have to worry about.

[Wannabee]

I would also rather do without the snaps in the crotch. No matter how good they seem to hold, the snaps coming undone at a critical moment during a dance is one more thing I'd rather not have to worry about.

This.... I obviously did a search as best I could on the forums to come up with the answer to my question but this was as close as I came.

My question is what can I do to help keep the crotch snaps from coming undone at that critical moment. I am renting a dress for my next showcase in April and it has snaps at the crotch. And while we were testing the dress one day the snaps came undone. Any help that would aid me in not having a wardrobe malfunction would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[jjs914]

You could baste/lightly sew it closed while you use it and just cut the thread out after. It wouldn't do enough damage, assuming regulard needle and thread, to be an issue when you give it back...I would think.

[latervet1]

jj's idea sounds most secure. for my dresses that have snaps i placed hook and eyes between the snaps with the hooks facing out.

[danceronice]

I would also rather do without the snaps in the crotch. No matter how good they seem to hold, the snaps coming undone at a critical moment during a dance is one more thing I'd rather not have to worry about.

I agree. They're a pain to snap if you're actually in the dress, and I'd never feel secure while dancing. And I agree with jj, I think the only way to be SURE would be to sew it together until you were done, that or if you were feeling VERY brave put a safety pin in.

[fascination]

sew it...safety pins come un-done...trust me on this one

[jjs914]

safety pins come un-done...trust me on this one

I was imagining this while I typed my previous post and it sounded kind of dangerous...which is why I did not suggest it!

:p

[Larinda McRaven]

I usually don't have them, not out of preference but because they are not the norm.

[fascination]

right...I have only had one that was litterally cut open in the crotch when I bought it and the safety pin option was being used...I found that to be...uh...ill-advised...and had to have snaps put in but I never felt secure so I sewed it shut...all of my other latins have been snapless.....deo gratis

[Wannabee]

You DF ladies are awesome! Never a question/problem that goes unanswered. I've got mom on the issue. She will sew the crotch shut for the showcase and undo it afterward.

Thanks again for the help/suggestions. I secretly contemplated the safety pin option. Glad I got that settled ;)

[tanya_the_dancer]

I have never tried on a dress which did not have a crotch snap. I would guess having them is more common than not having them. All my dresses except one have had it.

The one dress that doesn't is very, very easy to get in and out of - it has a low-cut back and no zippers, just a nude strap across the back. The company which made it for me, didn't put it in because the skirt has a slit and they thought a snap could be visible. I prefer that particular dress that way, and while I was miffed at first when I received it, I quickly realized how easy it is to get in and out of, so not having a snap doesn't complicate bathroom visits, and it feels much nicer not having it.

Now, if any of my other dresses did not have a snap, using bathroom would be a major undertaking, because they're a lot harder to get in and out of. In particular, I had one, which I couldn't close on my own, I always had to find someone to help. Also, opening and closing zippers has its own hazards. I had the dubious pleasure of having a zipper break as I was putting on the dress 1 hour before I was supposed to dance, and I had no choice but to dance with a bunch of safety pins on my side. If I have to pick my poison, I'd rather risk a snap coming undone while I dance than having a zipper break during a bathroom visit.

Also, FWIW, I only had one crotch snap mishap with high-end dresses I own(ed). I had multiple issues with the low-end ones, they just did not use good and sturdy hardware in that area.

[fascination]

difference is; most long gowns have the snaps...most latins don't...heckuva lot less to risk with a snap coming undone in a long gown KWIM?

[fascination]

You DF ladies are awesome! Never a question/problem that goes unanswered. I've got mom on the issue. She will sew the crotch shut for the showcase and undo it afterward.

Thanks again for the help/suggestions. I secretly contemplated the safety pin option. Glad I got that settled ;)I danced a few times using the big pin the latin came with...but ONCE it came undone while I was in the middle of two back to back sets...never again...suffice it to say that my motion was not correct

[tanya_the_dancer]

difference is; most long gowns have the snaps...most latins don't...heckuva lot less to risk with a snap coming undone in a long gown KWIM?

Even the latins I've tried on had snaps. But I've only tried on (so far) the ones made by US designers. Maybe Europeans don't put them in. And the low-end latin dress I use for dressier parties nowadays is the worst offender when it comes to unsnapping. I just wear black panties underneath so if it unsnaps, it won't be noticeable.

[fascination]

I have never worn a dore latin with snaps...I have never worn a zdenka latin with snaps...i have never worn a deidre latin with snaps...I have never seen one by elle with snaps...I had one designs to shine that, as I said, had the crotch cut open presumably so that once it was sized it would be sewn shut...but I bought it before that and put snaps in...later sewing it shut myself...I think snaps on latins in the most common vendors is exceedingly rare

[tanya_the_dancer]

My previous smooth dress had a STRAIGHT pin left in it, it was just sitting inside one of the decorations on it. I did 2 comps and a showcase before I discovered it on the 3rd comp.

[tanya_the_dancer]

I have never worn a dore latin with snaps...I have never worn a zdenka latin with snaps...i have never worn a deidre latin with snaps...I have never seen one by elle with snaps...I had one designs to shine that, as I said, had the crotch cut open presumably so that once it was sized it would be sewn shut...but I bought it before that and put snaps in...later sewing it shut myself...I think snaps on latins in the most common vendors is exceedingly rare

I tried several DTS latins with snaps and one Zhanna Kens and some unnamed ones. But maybe, because of my sizing issues, I have to go for more covered (and thus harder to take off) latins, so they probably put snaps in those.

[fascination]

gotcha...interesting difference

[Larinda McRaven]

Chrisanne does not use snaps (or poppers as they call them) and thought we were kidding when they came to the US and the then new US director instructed them to use snaps. They did for a little while and then stopped unless specifically asked to.

The now former US Director of Chrisanne had been the main sales agent for Dore, previously. And at that time, some 10 or more years ago, Dore was putting snaps into everything. Since they have changed hands the snaps have disappeared.

[samina]

one of the things that sets a BR dress apart from other dresses, IME... no snaps, and for good reason!

[musicchica86]

I'll ditto the "no snaps in Latin" thing. Last thing we want is to be doing some trick where our leg is up in the air and the snaps come undone and we flash the whole ballroom! The only Latin dress I've ever come across with snaps is a secondhand Dore, so I don't know if Dore put those in when the dress was made or at the previous owner's request. Luckily I didn't have any issues with it when I used it for my comp in January. I've tried on dresses from Donna, Elle, Dore, and Dierdre, and none of them have had snaps.

[Larinda McRaven]

Even if I had snaps that came undone mid leg-hike I always wear a thong... so sorry... there is no free show here.

[fascination]

yea well...some of us have too much bulk already...if my snaps come undone it is a free show...hence, I think I will keep sewin' em shut...cuz lord knows, I create a strain on 'em

[danceronice]

My dresses are Deirdre, DTS, and Randall, none came with snaps. (The two Deirdre made I'm sure I could have ASKED for them, when I've tried on brand-new DTS they've been unfinished so I assume the option's there, all of Randall's I've tried don't have snaps.)

[jjs914]

Interesting. I have two Dore's and think they both have snaps (smooth). They aren't old, but maybe the sponsored dancer who wore the dresses asked for them. I've always just left them snapped and never had them come undone. But I, like Larinda, usually wear flesh colored undewear underneath. No show here.

[fascination]

again...my dores that are smooth and standard have snaps...it is the latins that dont...seems that as a rule most of the long gowns by a variety of designers have snaps...and most latins don't...

[tanya_the_dancer]

I had two dresses made by Dore after the change of hands Larinda mentioned, and they put snaps in both of them without asking me if I want snaps or not. Rest put a snap into the first dress they made for me without asking if I want it. All my low-end dresses (latins and smooths) had snaps put in by default. So I always thought they were a standard (pun intended) feature.