NY Costume Shopping

[TinyDancer109]

Hi all,

Does anybody know any good but cheap places to shop for ballroom/latin dresses in the NY Tri-state area??

I don't need anything too special... I will only be competing in Beginner/Intermediate Bronze in Fred Astaire Nationals in October. I've done some online browsing, but everything I have found is either hundreds or thousands of dollars.

I've competed only once before (since I have only been taking lessons since this past October), and last time I wore a simple party dress... According to my instructor, though, that won't cut it at Nationals. However, as a poor college student, I don't have much to spend.

Thanks so much!

[BM]

If you're not competing at a high level, don't want to spend an inheritance on a dress, and something off the rack won't cut it, I'd suggest buying a decent practise dress. Although a bit pricey, it can certainly be more reasonably priced than a costume, and you will look the part. In addition, once you DO decide to invest in a costume, you can still use the practise wear for, well, practise. On top of that, if it's allowed, you can also stone it yourself. Although it's time-consuming, it is much cheaper to buy stones and do the work yourself than to buy something pre-stoned. Good luck!

[BM]

As for where to get it, most shoe vendors also carry practise wear. I'd search online, as well.

[and123]

You can find some decent dresses in discount dance catalogs. Just spice them up with jewelry or stone them.
for example:
www. discountdance.com/frame_set.php3?mf=/dancewear/page_DRS_p1.html
shop. justforkix.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BW7825
shop. justforkix.com/prodinfo.asp?number=JFK%2D106
www. riversedgedancewear.com/baltogdandre1.html
www. riversedgedancewear.com/leosdandres.html
www. riversedgedancewear.com/mainstreetda.html

[TinyDancer109]

Thanks for the help...

My only concern with those options are that practice dresses tend to be black/red or dark colors and my instructor says he wants me in bright colors... =/