Salseros - What kind of fabric for Salsa dance clothes?

[danceguy]

A question for the Salseros out there...what kinds of fabric do you pick for your Salsa outfits, and is there a particular kind of shirt that you prefer?

Myself, I always wear a white shirt cotton t-shirt with a nice short sleeved dress shirt over it. I'm working on expanding my dance wardrobe but its been a pretty frustrating endeavor trying to find any shirts that fit and are made from good quality materials.

I just spent two hours browsing various stores, and 95% of what I saw was Linen, Silk and Rayon, not to mention I wouldn't be caught dead wearing some of that gaudy stuff! I prefer to wear 100% cotton and something that fits well, looks good and will allow my body to breathe and be comfortable. Apparently, not too many people think the same way I do...or perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong stores?

So, any good or bad points of particular fabrics, brand names etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! :P

Best,

SG

[peachexploration]

Hi SG. Funny, I was just browsing the internet and found this link. http://www.salsaobsessions.com/merchandise_pants.html
I see alot of salseros wearing these. Hope this helps. :D

[brujo]

Hi SG. Funny, I was just browsing the internet and found this link. http://www.salsaobsessions.com/merchandise_pants.html
I see alot of salseros wearing these. Hope this helps. :D

Santa Madre, who the hell pays $110 for pants? I tend to stick with two layers, a cotton undershirt and any random club/work shirt on top. Fashion doesn't really matter that much as it is too dark in the clubs anyways for people to see. For socials, long sleeve athletic shirts that soak up the sweat without making the stains too obvious. I don't think anyone really cares about what the guy wears, and since accidents, rips and spills are bound to happen, it doesn't really make sense to spend that much on salsa clothing anyways.

[Sagitta]

Very interesting topic for me as I am somewhere where I can get clothes tailored fairly cheap. Pair of black slacks for 10 dollars are being made as we speak. I actually chose a material that felt good to the touch and skin...I think it is synthetic, and am going to test it out when I collect it on Saturday.

[Sabor]

and since accidents, rips and spills are bound to happen, it doesn't really make sense to spend that much on salsa clothing anyways.

right on!.. matter of fact bikinis for the beautiful ladies and shorts for the gents is all whats really needed.. :oops: .. ok ok i'm kidding .. u can throw in a pair of socks if u like LOL

[peachexploration]

Santa Madre, who the hell pays $110 for pants? ..
Well, you can always buy a pair of shorts like Sabor suggested. :? Anyway, I was suggesting the style. You can have them made for much cheaper as Sagitta does.

[brujo]

|Pair of black slacks for 10 dollars are being made as we speak. I actually chose a material that felt good to the touch

Hmmm, who touches you in the pants when you dance?

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

Hmmm, who touches you in the pants when you dance?

You´d be surprised. LOL :wink:

[Sabor]

|Pair of black slacks for 10 dollars are being made as we speak. I actually chose a material that felt good to the touch

Hmmm, who touches you in the pants when you dance?

it is my understanding that "material that felt good to the touch" as in to Sagitta.. ie. feels good to wear it rather than for the others' benefit

[MacMoto]

I don't think anyone really cares about what the guy wears
:shock: Not true!
I for one appreciate it when guys make an effort to look good. I mean, you don't want to turn up all dressed up to look gorgeous and sexy only to dance with men in washed out t-shirts and old trainers. And I do notice it when the guy's wearing a shirt that's nice to touch, and the guy may well notice too that I've noticed it as my left hand may linger on his shoulder just that bit longer -- it all adds to the sensuality of the dance experience, you know. :wink:

Don't usually notice much about how the fabric of the guy's slacks feels though. At least, not when dancing salsa. :lol: :lol:

[salsachinita]

I don't think anyone really cares about what the guy wears
:shock: Not true!

I will second to that! Nice fabric makes a world of difference. The style doesn't have to be anything over the top, as long as it's flattering and fits well.

I LOVE when guys pay a little more attention to present themselves 8) ...

(ok, $110 for a pair of white pants is WAY too much...)

[borikensalsero]

OK, this post hits home with me. As I am a hand-full of Salseros in NY City who show up to any dance venue looking "spiffy". I really can’t stand that salsa lost its glamour with time. It is a great feeling to put something nice on and walk out the door looking presentable. I do it to exude confidence, that I take care of myself, in some subliminal way that I care for the frame as I do about the engine, and that what you see on me will be matched in skill on the dance floor.

I always make distinctions as to what I wear to work, a bar, mainstream club, salsa club, and at home. Since I'm a salsero my wardrobe is compromised of mostly stuff that let other dancers know I’m a Salsero, or that I can dance. I wouldn’t be caught dead in Jeans, or sweat suits to any venue, even if it is to dance in my backyard. I pretty much look as groomed as Pat Railey minus the suit anywhere I go dancing to.

I have around 30 salsa shirts, and around 30 slacks, everyday in the lookout for something that says I’m a Salsero. Night in and night out I get complimented on my appearance from both male and females alike.

Comfort? That is a state of mind! I can dance just as good in a double-breasted suit as I can in shorts and T-shirt. Adapttttttt… I love to go to venues where older folks frequent. You can bet your money that you will find elegance everywhere. The old men wearing suits, and the ladies wearing their elegant dresses… hair done. Sweet!!!

To me it looks taste-less to show up to a dance venue, less so for socials, looking like you are on your way to the Gym, or lounging at home. In all, I care very much how I present myself at a dance venue.

As far as material goes, I don’t look far any particular material but one that feels great to the touch, as it was previously mentioned. I do it because the way I dance salsa allows for touchy-touchy sessions, in a respectable but flirtatious way. When a lady loves the way your clothes feel, thus far, she will do a lot of touching on the shoulders, waist, thighs, chest, back, etc… It brings an entirely new dimension to salsa. So much so, that she cares very little that I’m sweaty. I’ve had many women ask me to dance, specifically because they saw me walk in and loved the way I was dressed. The compliments of, OMG, your shirt alone made want to dance with you! Seeing the shape your pants take over your legs when dancing is enough to make anyone dance. Are but a few of the tons of compliments that I get because of the way I choose to present myself.

I feel we all should look presentable and approachable. Please don’t dress like you are at a rehearsal! But that is just my Opinion. Not to mention I think it looks tacky…

[danceguy]

Hmm, thanks for the replies folks...but no one really answered my question directly! For shame. :D

Pants aren't the problem...its easy to find comfortable dress slacks...I have a few pairs of those.

Its the shirts that I was asking specifically about. I thought someone had mentioned that silk wasn't the best material to wear while dancing...that it would tend to cling to your skin after a lot of dancing?

I have a hard time finding shirts since my upper back and shoulders are overdeveloped from MA training. So many times a shirt will look nice, but it will "grab" when I lift an arm to turn a lady, no good. I also do pick clothes based on movement...pants, shoes, shirts...if it comprises my ability to move and defend myself in a potential situation, then I usually avoid wearing it.

I don't have a rock solid figure so anything skin tight is not going to look good on me...hence why I tend to go for 100% cotton. Many of the other fabrics I see are very light and fluffy...so I was curious to hear others thoughts on what has worked for them.

Boriken - I understand the dressing up part...it is nice to go out and feel good about how you look...but it can be a two-edged sword. If people focus on it too much, it can certainly lead one to over-confidence borderlining on excessive hubris...and unfair judgement of others. I have shown up to dance events over dressed a few times, leaving me looking like quite the fool to put it mildly. :oops:

I'll go out shopping more later this week and see what I can find...there's bound to be a few stores out there that actually sell somewhat 'normal' clothes. :wink:

[borikensalsero]

Boriken - it can certainly lead one to over-confidence borderlining on excessive hubris...and unfair judgement of others. I have shown up to dance events over dressed a few times, leaving me looking like quite the fool to put it mildly. :oops:

It's easy to let the ego speak instead of the soul, but not doing so gives a person a quiet sense of confidence which an elightened ego can never achieve.

I'm sure you know this but here it is again, feeling like a fool has nothing to do with how poeple look at your but how you percieve those looks. Only if you allow yourself to feel like a fool will you be and look like one. I've been over-dressed many times, but that is me, I can't act something I'm not. Everyone could be in shorts and I feel I fit in just as much as them. I rather feel comfortable and persentable as per I deem so, than how others deem comfort. For the clothes don't speak for one, but one's actions for them...

[borikensalsero]

On the shirts...

Yes, I stay far, very very far away from silk shirts or anything silk. It sticks like glue and to me looks so unattractive.

[Sagitta]

Silk is a no-no for shirts... I just referred to slacks as that was where the thread was going...breathability is the key...or have more then one undershirt and switch to new ones as needed.

[Paul F]

Interesting thread.

As it happens Im looking around at the moment trying to find some trousers/pants/slacks - whatever they are called. Unfortunately Im not having much luck.

Am I correct in thinking that salsa slacks are made differently than usual ones you can buy from the high street? From what I can see they are cut wider in the leg. Is this right?

If so, Im at a loss as to where I can buy some. I live in Manchester UK if anyone has any idea of a place in the UK. The site for the shop in vancouver looks perfect but, alas, a little to far away to start sending things back if they dont fit.

Are salsa slacks just made of cotton or is it a special material?

As for dressing up, Im all for it. I feel as though I dance better when I am dressed up. Im a lover of shiny patent shoes. Together with a good pair of trousers and a nice shirt.......fantastic :D
I guess im guilty of trying to predict what others will be wearing though before deciding what to wear myself. For example, if i am going to a salsa class in my local town hall i wouldnt really dress as well as if i was going to a salsa night in a club.

[Paul F]

I did go through a period of wearing tops made from the 'coolmax' or 'Nike ACG' material.
This material is supposed to wick moisture away from the skin to allow for quick drying. It was recommended to me so, sure enough, I went out and payed £30 for each t-shirt.

BIG MISTAKE :( :(

It DOES wick moisture away which keeps you feeling cool and dry BUT it delivers the moisture to the outside of the shirt ......Where the ladies hands are going !!!!!! :o

Obviously this meant they are now sat comfortably in my wardrobe/closet and probably wont see the light of day for a while.

Just thought i would mention it incase anyone is thinking of buying any.

[squirrel]

in Romania, my home country, guys just dress to impress... you know, they don't really care if the shirt is made of silk, linen, lycra, nylon or cotton... if they look good in it, they wear it! and women here do the same... we don't really care about the sweat... maybe you'll find this disgusting, but it's just how we are... i mean, we don't stink or anything... we just wipe our faces and eventually parts of our body which are exposed...
i go to the disco wearing skimpy outfits (i presume most salseras around the world would dissaprove of it - at least those on the forums do...) because they make me feel better... even if i never go to the disco to pick up (i have a boyfriend, thank you very much)... and i try to wear nice looking and comfortable clothing and footwear (i bought special salsa shoes)...
i like to see guys wearing things that fit them and make them look good... :)))

[MacMoto]

I did go through a period of wearing tops made from the 'coolmax' or 'Nike ACG' material.
(...)
BIG MISTAKE :( :(

It DOES wick moisture away which keeps you feeling cool and dry BUT it delivers the moisture to the outside of the shirt ......Where the ladies hands are going !!!!!! :o


Good advice, Paul F. I know the material you're talking about -- gets very damp on the outside after a while and extremely unpleasant to touch. Yuk! Cotton is much better. If you sweat a lot, bring another shirt.

I saw a tip on a ballroom site somewhere about wearing a cotton undershirt under a dress shirt. Sounds like a good idea from the lady's point of view although it may make you hotter. Has anyone tried it?

[borikensalsero]

Interesting thread.

As it happens Im looking around at the moment trying to find some trousers/pants/slacks - whatever they are called. Unfortunately Im not having much luck.

Am I correct in thinking that salsa slacks are made differently than usual ones you can buy from the high street? From what I can see they are cut wider in the leg. Is this right?

If so, Im at a loss as to where I can buy some. I live in Manchester UK if anyone has any idea of a place in the UK. The site for the shop in vancouver looks perfect but, alas, a little to far away to start sending things back if they dont fit.

Are salsa slacks just made of cotton or is it a special material?

As for dressing up, Im all for it. I feel as though I dance better when I am dressed up. Im a lover of shiny patent shoes. Together with a good pair of trousers and a nice shirt.......fantastic :D
I guess im guilty of trying to predict what others will be wearing though before deciding what to wear myself. For example, if i am going to a salsa class in my local town hall i wouldnt really dress as well as if i was going to a salsa night in a club.

Well, as per the ballroom world I really have no idea if they have salsa specific trousers. Somehow I remember someone mentioning the kind of pants you speak of as swing pants or something like it. Hmmmm Which, I would use to dance in just about anything.

Anyhow, I actually buy anything that feels good to the touch from just about any store, as long as they have wide legs. There are a few stores in NY City which cater to "clubbing" crowd and always seem to have way nice slacks. Even the ones you mentioned. They don't have websites though.

If you aren't looking for trousers to perform in, then I would say to try anything you like. :D

[cupojoe2]

I did go through a period of wearing tops made from the 'coolmax' or 'Nike ACG' material.
This material is supposed to wick moisture away from the skin to allow for quick drying. It was recommended to me so, sure enough, I went out and payed £30 for each t-shirt.

BIG MISTAKE :( :(

...

Just thought i would mention it incase anyone is thinking of buying any.

When I am just bumping around town, I wear Nike Polos made of the same stuff -- but not to dance in – I normally dress up a bit more....

With summer approaching. I assumed that they would be a good choice, since they are cooler and I always get nice comments on the way I look in them...

Thanks for the post, I think I'll reconsider…

[Paul F]

Ive heard quite a few people mention this 't-shirt under dress shirt' idea. Im guessing it really must work.
Science has never been my strong point but I too find it rather strange that it doesn't make you even hotter and even more sweaty :?:

Im definately going to have to give it a try.

I suppose the best material I have is polyester. It used to be thought of as a bit of a cheap/inexpensive option but it works. It doesnt really have any special qualities like 'quick-drying' (although I think it does) but instead it actually stops sweat geting through, or at least stops quite a lot of it.

I do rock+roll quite a lot and its quite a problem as there is a lot of 'large' moves done. As a result you get hot very quickly. It must be the same with salsa judging by the speed I have seen some dancers dance
:o :o :o
I have yet to go to a salsa club night so will have to wait and see :lol:

[Sabor]

simply put.. ahem

for salseras.. see thru extremely light body hugging material

for salseros.. whatever pleases the salseras more

:lol: :lol:

[Sagitta]

Ive heard quite a few people mention this 't-shirt under dress shirt' idea. Im guessing it really must work.
Science has never been my strong point but I too find it rather strange that it doesn't make you even hotter and even more sweaty :?:

Im definately going to have to give it a try.



The idea of the undershirt is that absorbs the sweat so the top shirt remains fairly dry. Also you can quickly change the undershirt without changing your attire, and undershirts are a lot cheaper then having multiple dress shirts to switch as one gets drenched with sweat.

[borikensalsero]

Ive heard quite a few people mention this 't-shirt under dress shirt' idea. Im guessing it really must work.
Science has never been my strong point but I too find it rather strange that it doesn't make you even hotter and even more sweaty :?:

Im definately going to have to give it a try.



The idea of the undershirt is that absorbs the sweat so the top shirt remains fairly dry. Also you can quickly change the undershirt without changing your attire, and undershirts are a lot cheaper then having multiple dress shirts to switch as one gets drenched with sweat.

I get so extremely hot wearing under shirts. I used to wear them, but now I rather do with out the extra heat.

[Sarah]

|Pair of black slacks for 10 dollars are being made as we speak. I actually chose a material that felt good to the touch

Hmmm, who touches you in the pants when you dance?
Presumably Sagitta is touching the inside :D

Cheers
Sarah

[pelao]

Seriously, dont stress this stuff so much. There is no such thing as 'salsa' attire. Its like the romanian guy said, its all about dressing to impress. Its pretty much like going to any regular club - you always should look good right. Of course, keeping perspiration to a minimum is a good idea too - i guess you could include that in 'dress to impress'.

[Sarah]

Its the shirts that I was asking specifically about. I thought someone had mentioned that silk wasn't the best material to wear while dancing...that it would tend to cling to your skin after a lot of dancing?

I have a hard time finding shirts since my upper back and shoulders are overdeveloped from MA training. So many times a shirt will look nice, but it will "grab" when I lift an arm to turn a lady, no good. I also do pick clothes based on movement...pants, shoes, shirts...if it comprises my ability to move and defend myself in a potential situation, then I usually avoid wearing it.

I don't have a rock solid figure so anything skin tight is not going to look good on me...hence why I tend to go for 100% cotton. Many of the other fabrics I see are very light and fluffy...so I was curious to hear others thoughts on what has worked for them.

Ok so addressing the actual question..
Texture is really really important. There's a technique used in op-shopping, where you run your (clean!) hand along a rack of clothes and stop when you encounter something that feels nice. You tend to get the best quality fabrics that way. (I picked up a near new cashmere lycra blend jacket for just $20 that way. Niiiiice.)

Silk and most synthetics feel really bad when even slightly damp. Avoid them. Cotton is good, but do consider a slightly heavier one than normal, or one with some texture in the weave. Looks good and feels nice, even in basic black.

For the grabbing problem, consider something with a bit of stretch to it - stretch fabrics don't have to be worn skin tight, and can look just like normal dress or club type shirts. They also tend to move nicely, drape well and not hold creases. Maybe cotton lycra blends would be good.

You could also consider getting shirts custom made or altered - I have heard that most off the rack men's stuff is made to accomodate an expanding waistline rather than oversized shoulders, so by the time you get something that fits your back, it looks like you're carrying a parachute round your waist, right? This could probably be fixed by a comptent seamstress.

Cheers
Sarah

[borikensalsero]

Per Se there really isn't, for the main world, such a thing as salsa attire, however, this is kind of an “unspoken rule” in hardcore salsa subculture that says you “dress” according to your skill level. Now, I’m not sure how it is in other parts of the world but here in NY City, and Puerto Rico there are no no’s for people who lack the skill and dress like a Salsero. Believe it or not Hardcore Salseros have their gear, it is a subculture that has its rules and regulations that those who don’t adhere to end up learning the hard way and never doing so until they reach a level appropriate for their clothing. In all, if you can dance with the best of them, you’ll most likely end up wearing old culture specific clothing to demonstrate the understanding that you have not only of salsa but its progression through time.

Salsero wear, as in, we have to dressed up, everyone can dance, those who can’t are in santeria, so you advertise your dancing skills by that which you wear.

1- If you aren’t a top dawg. Don’t wear a suit to a salsa only venue. You will be mistaken as someone who can dance and will make a fool of yourself when you step on the floor with a top female salsera who is looking for an alpha dawg to get her groove on with. She will think that you are dressed that way because you are all that then some. Now, don’t make even a bigger mistake by wearing a Zoot-Suit. You felt out of place just wait till you get a red face from the million and one question the females will ask you about not understanding salsa.

2- If you made the mistake of wear a suit and then backed it up with a hat, you darn well better be Salsa’s next coming of Christ to Christianity. Again, it shows you know nothing about the scene and had the audacity to advertise yourself as something you are not. Keep the hat and the suit at home and wear some slacks and a dress shirt. There is more to salsa than the eye meets.

3- Suspenders, again, guys who wear suspenders need to be all that. In a hardcore salsa community suspenders mean that you are pound pre pound one of the best anywhere. Again, leave the hat at home if you aren’t up to par with the big dawgs. Better not make those suspenders stand out wearing a hot colored shirt with white suspenders. If you must wear suspenders, wear them the same color as your shirt.

4- White clothing, a person dressed in all white better be the center of attention. It can very well be mistaken by a santero, who indeed are all that in dance, or simple someone how is just head above shoulders on everyone else. If you think it is cool to wear a santero necklace, don’t! you don’t know what it is for, nor the meaning of wearing such thing out in the public to a salsa venue that can very well be filled with old school top salseros and santeros that will have your head for it.

5- Two-tone shoes, if your feet can only muster 2 slow shines, leave the 2 tone shoes at home. A) You don’t make them justice. B) They are meant to attract eyes to those fancy shines you’ve got, if you don’t have any, why in the world would you want the attraction? Plus if you have them, we think you can bust out like the Tasmanian devil.

Just as people follow a pecking order to dance with other dancers, clothes very well tell us hardcore salseros who you might very well be, simply put, who you are as a dancer. There is more to a salsa subculture than looking good, there is a reason and a meaning to the clothes you wear to a salsa venue. Now, because of the Americanization of the dance and its culture, people never really even heard or thought about such things. However, they very much exist in places Like NY City and Puerto Rico. For just like you don’t know anything as a child and grow as a person, hence changing the things you do. The same goes for salsa, you grow up and learn the dos and don’ts of a community of which there are so many unspoken rules. Remember, that being oblivious to them doesn’t mean they don’t exists. Clothing very much speaks for you when you show up to a salsa only venue.

[danceguy]

Thank you for sharing this Boriken...very interesting and insightful. I had no idea things were that serious... :shock:

SG

[salsero-Romania]

They are and are not... :))) i guess it depends on the environment :)))

[borikensalsero]

Thank you for sharing this Boriken...very interesting and insightful. I had no idea things were that serious... :shock:

SG

You are welcome,
It is a funny thing, I've read quite a few stories(experienced a lot to) of people who go to a salsa venue and get all decked out, suit, hat, nice tie, then people ask them to dance all night long. All they can say is that they can't. I forget where in the internet I've read them, but they are a few of them around. This is especially so in a heavy Rican, cuban, New Yorker community where the ties to the old days are still pretty strong amongst the salsero community. Remember that Salsa was always more than just good music and good dancers, and why a lot people think of salseros as a cult. For to us, it isn't just music and dance but a lifestyle.

That is why Salsa can't just be a dance, it is something deeper than that. Seeing aslsa as a dance limits its history, culture, and underminds those who were there before us. Their strives to make it what is, and the respect we owe them. Salsa is about all that was, is, and will be. In history, life, and death. The more we understand its culture the more me can connect to the meaning behind the banging drums.

[salsamale]

A question for the Salseros out there...what kinds of fabric do you pick for your Salsa outfits, and is there a particular kind of shirt that you prefer?

Myself, I always wear a white shirt cotton t-shirt with a nice short sleeved dress shirt over it. I'm working on expanding my dance wardrobe but its been a pretty frustrating endeavor trying to find any shirts that fit and are made from good quality materials.
This combination works for me too. I like to wear the dress shirt un-tucked, to allow body heat more chance to escape, like a chimney effect.

One shopping tip is to check-out the vintage stores in your area for Hawaiian shirts, bowling shirts, guayaberas, and other shirts with a straight lower hem. It is amazing what one can find in these stores.

I like guayaberas and similar embroidered shirts, but these are more time-consuming and/ or costly to clean, I have learned.

[nikita]

Hi salsamale-
here are some tips for you:mrgreen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXNrg4TnZ5E

[salsamale]

I watched all 06:40 of that clip, and all I have to say is, it would take a very special salsera to inspire me to wear mini-skirt-inspired man-shorts in January :).

[nikita]

Oh, I am sorry. I forgot, that it's cold up there in Toronto.
But now- no excuses:raisebro: !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7-2EpLCDeU

[englezul]

Santa Madre, who the hell pays $110 for pants?

Lol. The last pair of jeans I bought was 400+ dollars. Antik. Awesome stuff.

[salsamale]

nikita, 03:27, that Rob Roy/ Braveheart look is so 1995 .. but there was that one shirt that would be perfect for practicing shimmies. Can you make me one of those shirts, please? :)

[nikita]

nikita, Can you make me one of those shirts, please? :)

with pleasure:kissme:

[Josh]

Santa Madre, who the hell pays $110 for pants? I tend to stick with two layers, a cotton undershirt and any random club/work shirt on top. Fashion doesn't really matter that much as it is too dark in the clubs anyways for people to see. For socials, long sleeve athletic shirts that soak up the sweat without making the stains too obvious. I don't think anyone really cares about what the guy wears, and since accidents, rips and spills are bound to happen, it doesn't really make sense to spend that much on salsa clothing anyways.

(yes I realize this is a very old post)

$110 for a pair of pants is too much? No wonder salsa clubs can't stay open with this mentality ("$1 for water?? Are they insane? Liquor? Ha!"). Sure, I believe in sales and deals and discount racks, because I make squat for money for the most part. But pants that cost more will in general look a lot better, feel a lot better, and last longer than cheapos. Wearing a "random" shirt, saying that "fashion doesn't matter because it's dark in the club" (lol), and (this is the best one) "nobody really cares about what the guy wears" is just silly, and perpetuates the myth that men are neanderthals, football-watching, beer-drinking, overweight slobs who don't care about their appearance. If you feel that way, fine--but don't include me in that category please. I'm not saying that appearance is everything, because that is SO not true--but the other extreme, that appearance is nothing, is just as bad.

[SnowDancer]

I guess I don't live in an especially high-fashion city. The clubs all say "Dress to impress" in their ads. But when I look around, most everybody, including the women, are wearing jeans, though they're usually the nicer kind.

I have seen a couple guys in hats and suits, including one white zoot-suit; and they were among the top dancers in town.

[noobster]

I have seen a couple guys in hats and suits, including one white zoot-suit; and they were among the top dancers in town.
Yeah, I have definitely noticed if a guy is wearing a suit/hat he is almost guaranteed to be a very good dancer. I doubt it would occur to anyone who wasn't familiar with the scene to wear a suit to a dance club!

I haven't noticed as much predictability among the women... maybe very good dancers are slightly more likely to be dressed up... there's a lot of variation though. A lot of the better dancers are wearing tattered "on2" tee shirts. I did find earlier on that I got asked more often if I wore a dress. At the time I thought it was because men like women in dresses, but perhaps I was inadvertently sending advanced-dancer signals? Now that I have accumulated a group of regulars I get asked all the time anyway, so any clothing-related differences are less noticeable.

[samina]

I did find earlier on that I got asked more often if I wore a dress. At the time I thought it was because men like women in dresses, but perhaps I was inadvertently sending advanced-dancer signals? Now that I have accumulated a group of regulars I get asked all the time anyway, so any clothing-related differences are less noticeable.

good point... i recall wearing a hot little red silk halter dress out dancing a number of times and later discovered that i'd given the impression of being a much better dancer than i really am.

it was also very easy to heat up the dance floor because it put me in a sexy & festive mood. IME, dressing up that way definitely ensures getting asked to dance non-stop all night...

[salsamale]

A question for the Salseros out there...what kinds of fabric do you pick for your Salsa outfits, and is there a particular kind of shirt that you prefer?

Myself, I always wear a white shirt cotton t-shirt with a nice short sleeved dress shirt over it. I'm working on expanding my dance wardrobe but its been a pretty frustrating endeavor trying to find any shirts that fit and are made from good quality materials.
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As an update, for over-shirts, I have developed an affinity for vintage party shirts that are made from 80% Dacron polyester/ 20% cotton. I find these have a nice, dressy sheen to them, and are extremely light and airy, and move nicely when one dances.

I also like 100% polyester shirts that are non-wicking, and have a sheen on the outside. This material is hotter to wear, but will stay dry-to-the-touch, for a long period of time, so this is a compromise in favour of your partners' comfort :).

[LovingIt28]

great insightful thread - thanks!

I was likely to to wear a muscle shirt (sleeveless) when I started as I feel comfortable in singlets and work out a little. Feels light and free. Friend who is advanced lady told me NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Girls hate the underarm factor!

Now, long sleeved shirts rolled up sleeves just below elbow when I get hot.

Feels much better and nicer