Logos on ballroom gowns

[dancing_moogle]

Does anyone know how to remove logos from ballroom gowns?

[tanya_the_dancer]

Does anyone know how to remove logos from ballroom gowns?

What kind of logos? I've seen a dress with a logo once, the designer spelled out their name with stones on the top end of lady's gloves. I would imagine something like that would be really hard to remove especially if they used something like E6000 to put them on.

[middy]

If there is just a patch kind of thing sewed on, it should be easily removed with small scissors. Glue or something ironed on is harder to deal with...acetone?

[Katarzyna]

I simply had to read this thread after seeing someting about legos on the dress (had to figure out how in the world would they end up on one).

[dancing_moogle]

What kind of logos? I've seen a dress with a logo once, the designer spelled out their name with stones on the top end of lady's gloves. I would imagine something like that would be really hard to remove especially if they used something like E6000 to put them on.

It's a logo that would commonly be seen on some competition gowns. They look like patches, but I took a closer look on mine and it looks like it was sewn very tightly. It didn't look like it was glued.

And how often do you have tailors asking you if it's ok for them to put logos on your dresses? I had a tailor asking that for the first time - I was under the impression that she would put her logo on a size label and stick it in the back of the dress. What I didn't know was that she would put the logo outside of the dress, which I did not want at all. So now I'm looking into taking it off.

[tanya_the_dancer]

You mean something like sponsor logos on guys' suits? I've never seen one on the outside of a lady's dress. I imagine that wouldn't go well with the designs.

[DanceJoy]

On a different note, where would one go to get these sew in design labels made?

[etp777]

It should jsut be sewn on, as mentioned.

I haven't seen purchased dresses with logos, but I know sponsored dancers who have logos on their dresses, particularly in latin/rhythm. Otherwise, as ttd said, the logo goes on the men's suit/tails.

[etp777]

Dancejoy, we just get ours from a regular embroidery shop.

[DanceJoy]

Thanks... So I ask them to custom make a label for me??? That is what I thought, but I figured I would check since a thread was already started.

[Ithink]

I have them on my last 3 gowns, because they are sponsored and the sponsor wanted them on the outside of the dress, but they are sewn on so it shouldn't be hard to remove.

[fascination]

interesting...can't say that I recall seeing anyone but lenique having the logo on a ladies outfit...will have to pay closer attention...but, if I had accidentally assented to a logo thinking it would be on the inside and it wasn't...i would hope my relationship with the desiner was such that I could explain the misundertanding and ask them to ask it off...explaining that I just prefer not to have that going on on my gown...heck, most of them have custom robes that you can wear while not dancing...personally, I would be flattered if a designer wanted to claim their work while it was on my body while I was dancing, but I have never felt it was an especially good thing....but if I was important enough to be sponsored I reckon I'd just be happy as a clam to wear it regardless

[jjs914]

I have a Dore dress that I bought, that was originally a sponsor gown (not for me, for someone else!) that still has the logo on it. I bought it and took it home with me righ toff the bat, so we just never took the logo off.

[fascination]

I don't think it would bother me if I did have one that was visible (not optimal IMV, but wouldn't bother me)...but I think if it did, they would be happy to remove it...shrug...especially dore...as they are very accomodating and it wouldn't be a sponsored gown anymore....

[fascination]

funny thing is...if you've been around long enough you can usually peg a particular designer a mile off...with very few exceptions IMO

[tanya_the_dancer]

It's a bit like having someone work on your house and they ask to put their sign on your lawn. They'd better give you a discount for allowing that.

[jjs914]

I would think a designer would be willing to remove. They asked if I wanted it removed when I bought my dress, but I hadn't spent any time thinking about logos so I just shrugged and told them it was fine as is...

And yes...when you see enough dresses you start to be able to guess who makes them by the appearance. It's a fun game I play!

[tanya_the_dancer]

I have them on my last 3 gowns, because they are sponsored and the sponsor wanted them on the outside of the dress, but they are sewn on so it shouldn't be hard to remove.

Did they tell you in advance they're putting them there?

[fascination]

It's a bit like having someone work on your house and they ask to put their sign on your lawn. They'd better give you a discount for allowing that.
not sure I agree w/ that....I can appreciate wanting to sign your work...but I can also appreciate a buyer have a say that is different than if it is sponsored

[tanya_the_dancer]

not sure I agree w/ that....I can appreciate wanting to sign your work...but I can also appreciate a buyer have a say that is different than if it is sponsored

I've read it in multiple articles about how to negotiate a better deal when you have to do home repairs (especially larger ones). I think when we did landscaping on our old house, we got a small discount for letting them to put the sign up while they were doing the work. And it's probably more important for those guys than for dress makers, because it's a local business.

But anyway, back to dresses, if I am having one made, and the designer knows that I am a visible competitor, but not important enough to sponsor, and so they still want to put a logo on me, I would want a discount for that.

[fascination]

hmm...interesting...I guess by nature I am not a haggler...if it is a decent price it is a decent price...if it isn't I tend to say nothing and move on...I am that way in all venues of my life

[etp777]

Fasc, definitely seen Randall and Jordi with logos on rhythm dresses. I don't think I've seen Randall put logos on smooth dresses though.

[fascination]

yea...come to think of it...have seen jordy...

[Meagan]

Seems way more popular in my experience on latin/rhythm dresses than on gowns, probably because it interferes a little less with the design (in some cases). Can still be pretty jarring to see though, unless its sponsored I wouldn't prefer it that's for sure

[tanya_the_dancer]

Btw, speaking of the logos, what about those robes we wear over the dresses when not dancing? Right now mine don't even match the designers, because I put up the original dresses they came with on consignment and the dresses I have now are from different sources (and because I have 3 robes and 3 dresses, I allocated them so that the robes don't clash too much with the dresses - not using a green robe with a red dress, for example). Not that it's very important to me as long as I have the robe to wear, but does it really matter for designers? Because from the outside perspective I am still promoting designer A while wearing a dress made by B. So how would designer B feel about that?

[fascination]

I actually was caught red-handed wearing one designers robe and another designer's dress...and the designer whose robe it was said, "hey it's a beautiful gown...good advertising for us"...I think that many designers have longstandiong friendly relationships with their fellow designers and don't take these things as seriously as we we might think...

[middy]

I believe the logos are most commonly seen on sponsored gowns but not other ones. If it's a sponsored gown I would just leave it on...

[TinyDancer109]

if i was sponsored, i would happily wear a logo on my dress (as I think would only be professional)... but since I am not, i def would tell them no if they wanted to add a logo to my dress... unless they gave me a large discount (advertising at EVERY comp I do?!?! that's awesome!)

the designer knows that I am a visible competitor, but not important enough to sponsor, and so they still want to put a logo on me

I would be mildly insulted by that.

[fascination]

pretty sure this is why most, don't

[tanya_the_dancer]

I believe the logos are most commonly seen on sponsored gowns but not other ones. If it's a sponsored gown I would just leave it on...

Well, once you bought it, it's no longer sponsored...

[latingal]

I have bought sponsor dresses, and normally they do have a logo on it (normally a embroidered patch). Removing it has always been easy quick work with a seam ripper.

If you buy a dress with a logo on it, and the logo interrupts part of a design (i.e. on an edge with rhinestones on the edging), I would ask the vendor to remove it and put the edging stones in it's place.

I don't mind wearing a sponsor label on a dress if it is unobtrusive, but if it sticks out like a sore thumb and I am not sponsored, I will remove it.

[DanceJoy]

interesting...can't say that I recall seeing anyone but lenique having the logo on a ladies outfit...will have to pay closer attention...


Vesa puts his label on the outside of most of the dresses he makes... though, if the client asks for the label not to be put on, I am sure he would not care.

[DanceJoy]

about the labels though, you ladies seem to be very opinionated about the logos on the dresses... is this only for logos visible on the outside of the dress, or do you not like the logos period, even if they are sewed to the lining? If you buy a versace dress it has versace on the inner label, so I would understand why designers would want their labels on the inside of the dress. Just wondering if it is the visible logos you don't like, or just logos in general.

Personally, am indifferent to visible logos on dresses because I see it as so many competitions, even when the dancers are not sponsored. It seems that when the dancers are sponsored, usually the man has a little label he wears on his outfits (e.g. Giampiero's rhinestoned "C" he wears on his tailsuit for ChrisAnne). Of course, that doesn't always happen either and I suppose it is a personal preference for couple and designer.

[tanya_the_dancer]

I don't care if the logo is inside, as long as it is not scratchy, and doesn't have a tendency to pop out. I have removed logos from inside of my clothing for those reasons. I can live with exterior ones for some clothing. I mind visible logos on my dance outfits (my view is that I'd better be getting at least a good discount for advertising them as I dance).

[fascination]

about the labels though, you ladies seem to be very opinionated about the logos on the dresses... is this only for logos visible on the outside of the dress, or do you not like the logos period, even if they are sewed to the lining? If you buy a versace dress it has versace on the inner label, so I would understand why designers would want their labels on the inside of the dress. Just wondering if it is the visible logos you don't like, or just logos in general.

Personally, am indifferent to visible logos on dresses because I see it as so many competitions, even when the dancers are not sponsored. It seems that when the dancers are sponsored, usually the man has a little label he wears on his outfits (e.g. Giampiero's rhinestoned "C" he wears on his tailsuit for ChrisAnne). Of course, that doesn't always happen either and I suppose it is a personal preference for couple and designer.
as I said...I don't mind either way...given the preference I would opt out...but I don't mind either way

[latingal]

Since many times the logo distracts from the line or design of the dress (and therefore distracts from you!), I prefer not to have logos on the outside of my dresses if they are placed only for maximum visibility. I prefer not to be a walking billboard sign unless I am sponsored.

I do not care if there is a label inside the dress.

[Meagan]

about the labels though, you ladies seem to be very opinionated about the logos on the dresses... is this only for logos visible on the outside of the dress, or do you not like the logos period, even if they are sewed to the lining? If you buy a versace dress it has versace on the inner label, so I would understand why designers would want their labels on the inside of the dress. Just wondering if it is the visible logos you don't like, or just logos in general.

I don't mind labels on the inside of a costume (or regular clothes for that matter)

My dislike comes from two things:
1) it often does not go with the pattern of the dress (the less it stands out the less offensive it is to me)
2) I don't feel the need to advertise for something I am paying a lot of money for. This second reason applies more for me with street clothes/bags than with dance clothes cause brand name marketing ploys just irk me particularly when they have no aesthetic value, where as with costumes it is a little more like the designer wanting to sign their artwork

All of this goes out the window if its a sponsored dress because then that's what you're bargaining for. Although I still prefer the tags to be the least intrusive to the design as possible.

As a pragmatic consideration sometimes the things are so small anyhow that if its not a recognizable designer you wouldn't be able to tell unless you were right up on the dancer anyway, these seem kind of pointless particularly when they also interfere with the design

[TinyDancer109]

I'm with LG.

[danceronice]

I'd have more of a problem if I bought a dress with an exterior designer tag and the designer asked me to take it off. ;)

[fascination]

lolz...yea...that would make me go; huh?

[Ithink]

Did they tell you in advance they're putting them there?


Yes, I agreed to it because they "sponsored" me... I.e. they gave me a significant discount, as that's what it means to them to sponsor someone.

[singndance]

I'd have more of a problem if I bought a dress with an exterior designer tag and the designer asked me to take it off. ;)

Ha, that's a good way of looking at it!!! ;)

[tanya_the_dancer]

Yes, I agreed to it because they "sponsored" me... I.e. they gave me a significant discount, as that's what it means to them to sponsor someone.

So they don't do sponsorships in the same way US-based designers do, where a couple wears the dress for free until it sells, but they would also work for the designer (like sales reps at the comps, for example)?

[DanceJoy]

Thanks for answering my question, guys... I was just curious.

I think some people like wearing designer dresses with a conspicuous logo because it shows that they are wearing a designer dress, and not just some ordinary dress. Like people carrying purses with obvious designer logos or whatever. I personally do not subscribe to this line of thought, but I can see how it might be important to some people that others know they are wearing a designer dress...

[fascination]

I think perhaps you are right in some cases...but again, I can recognize a designer dress and usually the designer 90 % of the time....

[Meagan]

Yes I think this line of thought is a little less important in ballroom, at least for me, than it is in ordinary clothes (and as I said I already don't go for logos, love designers but not their ad-clad gear). It's more about the quality and if it looks good, and if those two things are there which designer it is only matters if I want to get a costume from them too. I don't give extra mental points to certain designers haha if anything I'm probably less impressed than with a non-known designer dress that manages the quality/look for probably considerably less cost...

[wooh]

I'd have more of a problem if I bought a dress with an exterior designer tag and the designer asked me to take it off. ;)

Could be worse. I can see some poor woman paying a designer a bunch of money for a gown, get it home, see they've sewn an exterior tag on, and it's for a different designer. :p

[Larinda McRaven]

I have several dresses with patches for my sponsored Chrisanne dresses. But it is not a common habit for American designers. More overseas companies will stick a patch on a girl, but we just don't see that many here.

[Joe]

And I thought Europeans were supposed to have more fashion sense.

[etp777]

No, they create the trends, but that doesn't mean they actually have style. Look at some of the fashion trends out there over the past few years. :)

[TinyDancer109]

No, they create the trends, but that doesn't mean they actually have style. Look at some of the fashion trends out there over the past few years. :)

its true... No offense to all of you Londoners, but when I was there last year, I thought some of the fashion trends were... umm... bizarre. :D

[Ithink]

Yeah, but London is not a fashion mecca anyway. It's very punk-y/weird. People in Paris and Rome dress VERY well. I was just ogling all the women in Rome when I was there two summers ago - the summer fashion there is just gorgeous!

[Larinda McRaven]

Dunno....spent the past week in Rome. I suppose we all have to get ready to wear MC Hammer pants with high heels... ;)

[fascination]

rut roh...not feelin' that

[NonieS]

yeah I was going to say that I wasn't always enthralled with what I saw on the streets in Italy either haha!!

[tanya_the_dancer]

Fasc, definitely seen Randall and Jordi with logos on rhythm dresses. I don't think I've seen Randall put logos on smooth dresses though.

I've seen a couple of smooth/standard dresses by one of these designers this weekend with exterior logos on ladies doing pro-am. They were sewn on along the back opening in place of some stones. It was like this - along the back key-hole opening there were 2 rows of stones, and in one place they were interrupted by a logo (approx. 1" 1/2 long patch). There was no way at least one of these dresses could have been a sponsor dress, ever (Sorry, female pro dances just do not come in that size - if you took 3 or 4 of them, then they might have filled it out). My take on this is - it was 100% not visually appealing, and if I were buying a dress like this directly from a designer, only a hefty discount would entice me to keep that logo. If I were buying a used dress from someone directly, and it had a logo like this, I would have removed it myself and added stones to complete the line.

[Larinda McRaven]

She still could have been sponsored. Designers sometimes sponsor a pro who does a ton of pro-am, since they actually are still a very very good advertisement.

Some of the dress makers are simply putting logos on the dresses the way jean designers have their name on your butt. It is simply branding. So she may not have been wearing a used dress, and she may not have been an oversized sponsored girl. She may just have a had a logo.

[j_alexandra]

Noticed two logos in particular this weekend, both from LeNique. One, which I found distracting and annoying, on the back of JT Thomas's gown (she's a radiantly beautiful expectant mom, btw, and out there doing pro-am!) and the other on the vest pocket facing of Teach's new vest, which was discreet and elegant, as much as such things are; the facing was satin, and the LeNique logo was embroidered on the satin in the same color as the fabric itself. I asked; Teach told me he insisted on no visible label.

[kckc]

I've seen a couple of smooth/standard dresses by one of these designers this weekend with exterior logos on ladies doing pro-am. They were sewn on along the back opening in place of some stones. It was like this - along the back key-hole opening there were 2 rows of stones, and in one place they were interrupted by a logo (approx. 1" 1/2 long patch). There was no way at least one of these dresses could have been a sponsor dress, ever (Sorry, female pro dances just do not come in that size - if you took 3 or 4 of them, then they might have filled it out). My take on this is - it was 100% not visually appealing, and if I were buying a dress like this directly from a designer, only a hefty discount would entice me to keep that logo. If I were buying a used dress from someone directly, and it had a logo like this, I would have removed it myself and added stones to complete the line.

Tanya- I didn't see the ones you are talking about but I did see a few smooth dresses on tiny pro-am people. For some reason it just didn't bother me that much- they were very small (the logos, and the women too!)

FWIW- anyone who is paying attention can identify the designer from mile away on a lot of the dresses anyway, so I'm not sure what the purpose is of the tags. Everyone I know will just go up and ask who made the dress if they can't tell and really want to know.

[tanya_the_dancer]

She still could have been sponsored. Designers sometimes sponsor a pro who does a ton of pro-am, since they actually are still a very very good advertisement.

Some of the dress makers are simply putting logos on the dresses the way jean designers have their name on your butt. It is simply branding. So she may not have been wearing a used dress, and she may not have been an oversized sponsored girl. She may just have a had a logo.

I haven't bought a dress from the designer in question yet, nor had them design one for me. The designers I worked fortunately do not put their logos on the outside (the european one I worked with did so for another poster here, but they gave her a discount). Like I said, what I saw was distracting from the design and if I had a dress made or was buying a resale directly from the designer, I would have a problem with it.

[tanya_the_dancer]

Tanya- I didn't see the ones you are talking about but I did see a few smooth dresses on tiny pro-am people. For some reason it just didn't bother me that much- they were very small (the logos, and the women too!)

FWIW- anyone who is paying attention can identify the designer from mile away on a lot of the dresses anyway, so I'm not sure what the purpose is of the tags. Everyone I know will just go up and ask who made the dress if they can't tell and really want to know.

The tiny ones I saw on Friday actually were even more distracting IMO, because the label was black and the dresses did not have any black in them at all, in fact they were fairly light-colored, so the label stood out like a sore thumb. The plus-sized one I saw on Saturday was at least dark, so the label didn't clash as much, but still...

[kckc]

oh, you just reminded me of something Tanya- the colors definitely were skewed to blues, greens and yellows this year I thought. Some nice purples and some black, but I didn't see much red at all until Saturday.

ETA: If any of you have a comp coming up and want to stand out, wear red! If you don't want to stand out, go with turquoise. You will definitely fade into the crowd :) (lots and lots of turquoise/vibrant blue seen)

[SDsalsaguy]

I could be wrong, but I think LeNique was thew first of the U.S. companies (and it was certainly the first of the "big" ones) to start putting patches on dresses.

Commercially i understand the practice, but from an aesthetics-based point of view, personally I am not a fan as the dresses rarely, if ever, are designed with the label design, placement, and coloring in mind.

[tanya_the_dancer]

oh, you just reminded me of something Tanya- the colors definitely were skewed to blues, greens and yellows this year I thought. Some nice purples and some black, but I didn't see much red at all until Saturday.

ETA: If any of you have a comp coming up and want to stand out, wear red! If you don't want to stand out, go with turquoise. You will definitely fade into the crowd :) (lots and lots of turquoise/vibrant blue seen)

Hey, I wore black this time!

[latervet1]

" ETA: If any of you have a comp coming up and want to stand out, wear red! "

So glad to hear this. just received my new red smooth dress from Julia and very excited to wear it at next comp in sept.

on a side note: I also have a used dress from LeNique that was originally a sponsor dress. it came with a patch on the rump. A judge (whom i had also had coaching sessions with so knew him personally) told me I should take it off. he said you can put it elsewhere if you want to show it but not right there.

[jjs914]

ETA: If any of you have a comp coming up and want to stand out, wear red! If you don't want to stand out, go with turquoise. You will definitely fade into the crowd :) (lots and lots of turquoise/vibrant blue seen)

My new, red dress is hanging in my room waiting to be worn....

:D

[tanya_the_dancer]

My new, red dress is hanging in my room waiting to be worn....

:D

This is veering OT. Not too much red for smooth, but there was quite a bit of it for standard lately. When I did St. Louis Starball this year, 75% of ladies in one of my events wore red, and I was one of them. That's an event I usually get video of, and when I showed it to some non-dance friends and relatives, they had trouble keeping track of me.

[Larinda McRaven]

It doesn't seem to be an overall trend, as i can't say that I have seen a whole lot of one color across many competitions. It is more of an accident when a whole heat of girls end up in the same color.

But there was a trend years ago, when I was starting out, that fluorescent colors were big. Everyone was in dayglo colors. My first few dresses were neon green, neon orange/red, then neon yellow, then neon pink... then I put on a pastel ombre and everyone freaked out.

Now thank goodness we are just wearing regular colors.

[fascination]

am w/ larinda...I think alot of this is simply circumstantial...there have been days when I have gone into the ballroom and it has been "pink" day...you just never know...AND certain colors are better in certain ballrooms...for me, I try to pick a color that suits me...unfortunately, due to my tan, that is often a florescent color, which would not be my preference in most circumstances off the floor

[tanya_the_dancer]

I also have a used dress from LeNique that was originally a sponsor dress. it came with a patch on the rump. A judge (whom i had also had coaching sessions with so knew him personally) told me I should take it off. he said you can put it elsewhere if you want to show it but not right there.

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term. What body part is that?

[fascination]

butt

[kckc]

This is veering OT. Not too much red for smooth, but there was quite a bit of it for standard lately. When I did St. Louis Starball this year, 75% of ladies in one of my events wore red, and I was one of them. That's an event I usually get video of, and when I showed it to some non-dance friends and relatives, they had trouble keeping track of me.


LOL I think that is why the lack of red stood out -I was in St Louis also this year and maybe that is where I remember all of the red from. Anyway, I wouldn't personally want a logo on the outside but I generally don't notice them anyway. Back on topic :)

[Joe]

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the term. What body part is that?
Are you being serious?

[fascination]

not everyone has English as a first language :)

[tanya_the_dancer]

Are you being serious?

Yes. English isn't my first language (I'm surprised you didn't guess it already). I never heard the word before. Everyone I know (including people for whom english is their first language) either says butt or the a-word.

[j_alexandra]

Yes. English isn't my first language (I'm surprised you didn't guess it already). I never heard the word before. Everyone I know (including people for whom english is their first language) either says butt or the a-word.

FWIW, I usually apply the word "rump" to beef roasts. People have butts. Behinds. Rear ends. Asses.

Also, I did not have a clue that you are not a native speaker. Your English is splendid!

[Joe]

Well, OK, I'll grant you that you can buy a Boston butt in the grocery store, but I've never seen an a-- roast in the meat case. ;)

[latervet1]

You"ll have to excuse MY english. I am a veterinarian by trade and sometimes transfer my animal anatomy to myself. such has referring to my front leg (ie arm). While rump is not a medical term it definitely refers to the upper meaty part of the hind end and thus the specific area i am referring to.
Tanya- i agree- your english is excellent and until that statement never suspected you were not a native speaker.