Latest ballroom fashion trends

[pygmalion]

Yay! I'm shopping for two new costumes -- one Latin, one smooth. Any tips or pointers for the latest ballroom styles? what's in, what's out? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Laura]

Based on some pictures I saw from this year's Blackpool, I'd say that skimpy two-piece latin outfits are in.

Not necessarily what you wanted to hear.... :-)

[tasche]

Isn't 2 piece skimpy always in though for latin?

[Laura]

These were even skimpier, and to my mind trashier, than usual. Very Las Vegas.

[Victoria]

Ballroom style - I have just been to Chrisanne for a new ballroom dress. They said that the floaty georgette skirts are back in. So there's an idea.

[pygmalion]

No boas, though?

[Victoria]

No - no boas - shame :lol:

I guess they will come back one day - then Chrisanne will be able to empty their stock room!

[mamboqueen]

I spoke to a few women at my studio after the competition they just did and they said less ornate latin dresses are coming into style (one of the women is a dress designer herself). I saw a picture of one dress worn by a pro competitor and it was stunning...a plain aqua colored dress with a somewhat short asymetrical hem that was banded with satin in the same color. Her "flash" was on her neck, wrist and ears. Personally, I like this look better than all the stoned dresses anyway, and it's gotta be less expensive.

I've always been of the mindset (even with wedding gowns) that I want to see the person in the dress, not just the dress.

[Victoria]

When it comes to dress designs designs I always think
simple = classy

[Purr]

Based on some pictures I saw from this year's Blackpool, I'd say that skimpy two-piece latin outfits are in.

Not necessarily what you wanted to hear.... :-)

You're right. It's just not happening with me. :wink:

[Laura]

Ballroom style - I have just been to Chrisanne for a new ballroom dress. They said that the floaty georgette skirts are back in. So there's an idea.

Based on pictures I'm seeing from various comps, I'd also say that big floats are coming back. Not so sure I like that....

[tasche]

Well for latin you could save money by goign to VS buying a bra and panty set and jsut glue some stones and fringe to it an your done!

[Chris Stratton]

Well for latin you could save money by goign to VS buying a bra and panty set and jsut glue some stones and fringe to it an your done!

Buy the bra in two different colors and combine them and you'd recreate a rather locally notorious costume from last year.

[tasche]

Well Chris I have this bra thats two bras in one in that its mad eof two different colored mesh fabrics and it looks like I'm wearing one ontop of another will that do?

[Chris Stratton]

The lack of judgement in question was more of a left/right color split.

Ordinarily I'd be inclined to cut someone some slack. But if a costume gets worn again after everyone (coaches/judges included) suggests burning it... no mercy.

[tasche]

Do you have pictures of this said costume. Laura and I always enjoy a good laugh

[hopper20]

Hi,

I think Latin-Style Ballroom is unique & beautiful, would like to share this with all of you .... :wink: http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/rhinestones_ballroom/P1200744

[Katarzyna]

I've seen this one on e-bay... Definitely interesting. I think someone dancing smooth could easily pull it off... :D

[DancingMommy]

I have just acquired (on my trip to Indonesia) some LOVELY gowns that can be worn for Latin. I have RED, Black, Chocolate, Pink, Aqua & Peach. Just add some dance trunks and you are done. The dresses are lovely and I can include some lovely matching Swarovski stones to go with if you'd like. I don't have a large number of stones, but a little sparkle (10ss, heat set) can be lovely.

Email me for pics (I just got back yesterday, lol). :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Welcome back DM! :D

...and to think, you missed all that lovely FL weather... :shock:

[Sabor]

i hear baby-blue bikinis are in..

[Kitty]

pygmalion,

I am curious, did you buy new costumes?
If yes, what are they like?

[mamboqueen]

Actually, at the comp I was at in NY recently, there weren't that many 2 piece skimpy outfits at all. Not to say there weren't skimpy outfits, though. There was a little fringe, still a bit of black, but some really nice shades of orange (mango) and lime that stood out well.

I broke down and bought a Chrisanne dress in August. It's fairly long with fringe on the bottom and lots of stones. It's YELLOW and stands out really well (even the photographer commented on the color).

So, if you can't pull of a 2-piece skimpy outfit, I wouldn't worry too much about it. There are plenty of other options.

[hopper20]

Yes, there are plenty of other options to choose if you can't pull off with a two piece Latin-Ballroom dress, but I would love to see a nice gorgeous figure with this in doing the Waltz, simply beats your heart out and really stands out on the dance floor for sure .... :lol:

[mamboqueen]

I bought a few dresses off ebay and probably won't go that route again. They weren't the best quality, at least not for a comp, in my opinion. Plus, one was flawed with the attachment of the panty to the dress. If I buy on the internet again, it's going to be from someone with a return policy. Just too much expense involved.

[Katarzyna]

I purchased on ebay on numerous occasions... I've had some good and bad experiences with it. It all depends on the buyer you purchase from, and what do you expect from the dress. Very often the dresses on e-bay are so cheap, that it doesn't hurt that much if they don't fit too well. I just got lucky couple of weeks ago; I purchased a gown that’s pretty much an imitation one of my favorite Chrisanne gowns. The dress was only 130 with shipping, beautiful color, pretty well made and fits me really well. After I received the gown, I invested couple of hundreds in rhinestones. I've been putting stones on for couple of weeks, every day for an hour or so after work. It's starting to look really well.... I am done with 30 gross already, that's pretty much half way done. I will post some pictures when I am finished. I will post one of the gown right after purchase, one of the stoned gown, and a photo of the original Chrisanne dress to compare it to. I hope to be done in 2 weeks or so... My total cost will be about $400-450, plus many…. many hours of work. :D

[mamboqueen]

That's pretty good; I did the same thing with my wedding gown. And when you only get to wear something once.... (I keep telling myself my daughter will find it as lovely as I did!).

Anxious to see the pics, Katherine.

[tasche]

KatherineH

I would be intrested in seeing that

My new hobby is knocking off Chrisanne gowns. Even with 50gross of stones and real chrisanne fabric my latest new gown is only going to be less than $500. Ofcourse I still get stones wholesale which makes a difference but still. And who can stop at one.

Ebay is full of ugly ballgowns. I'm tempted to test sell a few of my crations so see if I can offere a reasonably price quality gown and still make some money as I think they might sell well

[Laura]

Yeah, I've seen some truly hideous dresses on eBay, so many that when someone tells me they've bought one from there I have to suppress a cringe. I'm sure there's been some good ones in that mix, though. For instance, I recall that Jen got one that looked nice on her.

As for the price on your knock-off, are you including a fair per-hour charge for your labor? If so, you work FAST woman!!!! Either that or you aren't paying yourself enough :)

[Kitty]

That's pretty good; I did the same thing with my wedding gown. And when you only get to wear something once.... (I keep telling myself my daughter will find it as lovely as I did!).

Anxious to see the pics, Katherine.

Thats why my wedding gown will be a competition ballroom gown, so I can wear it many times afterwards:-)

[Laura]

I paid FAR less for my wedding gown than I have for any competition dress I've ever bought, which is partly why I got so fed up with the high price of competition dresses and started making my own :)

[Katarzyna]

Tasche, I have 60 gross of ss16 and 6 gross of ss20 for this gown. 20 gross are color stones and the rest is crystal AB. I got a decent price for half of the stones ($52 for crystal AB 16ss) and I overpaid for the other half.... Not sure if I chose the best possible stones for this dress, but since I already paid for them they will have to do. I think the gown will not be anywhere near the Chrisanne version but I need a dress that's presentable, and can be used at smaller comps without wearing out my nicer, more expensive gowns. I am not decorating it exactly like the Chrisanne gown because I am not so good about evenly distributing stones on the whole dress... (I have to admit stoning a gown is a very relaxing experience and I think I am doing this project partially because of that). Part of the cost for me is the dress which I couldn't make myself. (There were some really nice things about dancing with Chris :D ) My guess, it probably cost $30 in materials, but I was willing to just pay the $130 or so since I cannot make it on my own without experience, sowing machine, etc....

This is a very simple gown, and instead of being made in dance crepe, it is made in lycra of a similar color. Stoning is sort easy because the dress is so simple and it has a small beaded patttern I am following with stones... It is one of my favourites from Chrisanne not necessarily because of the cut, but because of the color. I think it will work really well with a nice tan.

I will definitely post some pictures once I am done :D

I saw some really strange dresses on e-bay. I think it is totally saturated with low quality costumes.

[mamboqueen]

I paid about 25% of the price of my Chrisanne dress for my wedding gown. At least with the Chrisanne dress, I can trade it in next year and get something more current (albeit, with a small loss). I wish I had the sewing talent. I suppose if I had the time, I could take lessons, but there's just no extra time in my schedule. In fact, I might have to get a part-time weekend job to pay off the Chrisanne dress!!!

I might try renting in the future, too. I just get bored with dresses too quickly!

[DancingMommy]

What is a reasonable price for Swarovski stones?

I got some 10ss (heat set) for +/- $5 gross while I was overseas... Is that good? I can get more, too... In sizes 10ss, 12ss & 16ss

[Katarzyna]

I think it is quite a bit for ss10 which are pretty small. It would come up to +/- 50 for 10 gross, which is what I paid for ss16...

[Laura]

I've been able to get ss20's for as little as 5.50/gross for regular colors, and 7.50/gross for AB, colored AB, and effects stones. You have to shop around, though, and you have to be prepared to buy in LARGE quantities (like $1,000 or more orders). Still, it's worth it for me.

[sunderi]

I will post some pictures when I am finished.

I'm looking forward to that, as well!

I bought a few dresses on ebay for my mother. She's been dancing for just about 2 years and wanted a couple of nice dresses for her first few comps, but wasn't really ready to invest in a *gown*.

So, I purchased a few well-made dresses from ebay, added several thousand stones and made her 3 smooth dresses and 2 latin dresses. Each cost between $250 and $500 total, and she gets tons of compliments on them. She'll be able to sell them for near cost when she's ready to go on to a real gown and will have a nice chunk of change towards her new investment. :)

Frankly, I think it's a great idea for someone not ready to invest in a gown but wanting something more than an evening dress.

I did find one dress for myself on ebay. A woman who used to teach in the UK was selling a Choice London latin dress for $200! I invested about $100 in stone replacement and now have a really nice latin dress for $300. What a deal! :-D

[sunderi]

Thats why my wedding gown will be a competition ballroom gown, so I can wear it many times afterwards:-)

That's what I did!

Actually, for my first smooth gown, I converted my wedding dress into a ballroom gown (cut off the skirt, replaced it with a new, lighter one and did some other alterations and added a few thousand Swarovski stones). It turned out REALLY well. I've even had some people tell me it's one of their favorite smooth dresses. :)

Of course, this was all done with my husbands' blessing. ;)

[sunderi]

On this topic . . . I just bought a new latin dress and I am SO excited about it! I'd post a link to the picture, but the only one I have is on the seller's site, and I don't know if that's "kosher" here (don't want to be seen as advertising for her -- even though I do recommend her to anyone who asks!).

I guess once I have a picture of ME in the dress, it'd be ok to post a link. ;)

Yay!

[tasche]

Yeah, I've seen some truly hideous dresses on eBay, so many that when someone tells me they've bought one from there I have to suppress a cringe. I'm sure there's been some good ones in that mix, though. For instance, I recall that Jen got one that looked nice on her.

As for the price on your knock-off, are you including a fair per-hour charge for your labor? If so, you work FAST woman!!!! Either that or you aren't paying yourself enough :)

Well I give myself mates rates LOL. But I pay myself that I can have 6 gowns for every one a person would buy. Fair trade off. I've been trying to figure out how to price gowns as ppl are inquirying as to buying/having some made by me so I dont know how to figure a reasonable cost.

Also remember that my getting the stones wholesale means they are only $35 10g for 16ss ( and yes they are real I get them from the biggest swarovski wholesaler in the country) so that makes a heck of a difference

Now under a regular keystone formula of doubling the cost to get the wholesale then doubling the wholesale to get the retail then the retail price of the gown would be $2k with labor not added and 3k with labor included.

Now you see that pricing is more favorable to the seller than a traditional dressmaker setup where the clients pays labor plus cost of materials ($450 materials plus (25hrs x $35hr)$875 = $1375

So theres 3 different pricings for the same dress. Of course in the dressmakers it is assumed that the client provides the deisgn idea color selection and is not getting the benefit of my design experience

[tasche]

On this topic . . . I just bought a new latin dress and I am SO excited about it! I'd post a link to the picture, but the only one I have is on the seller's site, and I don't know if that's "kosher" here (don't want to be seen as advertising for her -- even though I do recommend her to anyone who asks!).

I guess once I have a picture of ME in the dress, it'd be ok to post a link. ;)

Yay!

I think it would be ok to post it since no one can buy it since you've already bought it

[tasche]

I've been able to get ss20's for as little as 5.50/gross for regular colors, and 7.50/gross for AB, colored AB, and effects stones. You have to shop around, though, and you have to be prepared to buy in LARGE quantities (like $1,000 or more orders). Still, it's worth it for me.

Email me and I'll tell you my wholesaler as I dont have to buy $1000's to get that price. Of course you do need to be a real biz which you already are.

[Laura]

So theres 3 different pricings for the same dress. Of course in the dressmakers it is assumed that the client provides the deisgn idea color selection and is not getting the benefit of my design experience

That's true...or you could just tack a design fee onto the dressmaker's pricing model. A friend of mine does that. I think she just adds in another $100 or $200 for the design. If I have to design, I just add the time for it in under "labor" and charge my usual hourly rate for it. I'm not actually big on designing. I much prefer to have someone give me a picture of what they want, I'm all about easy and fast and it's easier and faster that way, and then I don't have to go through someone rejecting every idea I give them without being able to explain to me what it is they're really after. I know some people who are so bad at envisioning what it is they'd like that they refuse to have dresses made for them and will only buy ready-to-wear or other people's used costumes. Which is fine if you're a low-to-mid-level amateur, but if you're a pro like this person is then I think you shouldn't be wearing other amateur's used dresses.

[tasche]

Well I think I'd prefer to do RTW as I dont like having to consider other ppls ideas :shock:

I feel that mine designs reflect me but I'm also good a figuring out what looks good on someone and fits their"style"even if they dont know what it is yet.

I notice Laura that alot of dresses you do for other ppl you dont do the stoning on. Do ppl prefer to do their own?

[Laura]

I don't know if people prefer to do their own or not, but I do know that they'd rather save the money by doing it themselves than by paying me to do it :) I charge 1/2 my hourly construction labor rate to stone. The people I sew for are watching their pennies closely, so every bit they can save helps. Stoning the dress themselves could save them about $175 on the price of the dress.

[tasche]

The people I may end up making aren't watching their pennies so I'll end up having to stone them

Oooh neat new trick I learnt. For glue get one of those little squeeze bottle that they use for silk painting ( the ones you use for the gutta resist with the metal tips) The tip is really small but it can with a few minutes pratice make perfect sized dots evening and quickly. My hand always hurt having to heave that big 4 oz bottle arround.

I buy my glue in wholelots of 12 so I can get it for $2.50 a bottle

[Laura]

Well hell, if they aren't watching their pennies, then charge your full labor rate for stoning!!

[tasche]

Well I figure I'd use the 3x the cost of the stones thing. But most likely I'll just charge a flat set price based on market value.

[Laura]

I just calculated the 3x price of stones and it comes out to be just about the same as applying my labor rate to stoning. So it seems like I'm in line with that one.

The only thing I don't like about the 3x price of stones is that some stones are REALLY expensive (Aurum), but the labor to glue on 10 gross of Aurum is the same as 10 gross of Light Siam. But I guess it all evens out in the end, because how many people use Aurum?

All this talk has made me really want to make myself a new dress...I've got one in my head, I just need to wait a couple of weeks to see if K. and I will enter a competition in mid-November or not. (If not, then I won't bother to start a dress for me until after Christmas.)

[tasche]

Well with aurum you'll got to be more careful not to drop the entire container all over the carpet etc.

[sunderi]

I think it would be ok to post it since no one can buy it since you've already bought it

I think I'll just send it in a PM to anyone who is interested. :) (I'll send it to you. ;) )

[sunderi]

I don't know if this will work . . . but I created an ofoto album of pictures of dresses I've done for my mom (bought from ebay, then stoned myself). There's another white smooth dress that I evidently just don't have any pictures of!

http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=768533196105&page=1&sort_order=1

[DancingMommy]

Well, just an FYI for those of you who are waiting with bated breath for the photos of my dress finds to be posted...

I'll be getting a body form for them sometime in the next few days. My personal one is too hefty. :( Apparently these dresses run small... The Asian concept of "one size fits all" is pretty laughable. Over there I'm an XL. roflmfriggingao... really... :evil:

However, I will say that I have Chocolate, Black/Silver, Black/Red, Red, Black, Pink, Aqua/White/Silver & Peach/White/Silver items available. I have about 9 items in all. They are all made with lycra/spandex and most are matte finish. Most have asymetrical hems. Most are *hemmed* which is pretty unheard of. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a latin dress for upwards of a grand and the edge wasn't finished in any way.

For the pink dress, I'd be willing to throw in the heat set Swarovski crystals for what they cost me. Turns out my 16ss were just under $5/gross. My 10ss were under $3/gross.

I can NOT wait to get pictures of these posted. These are all imports from Hong Kong. The fabric is SO nice and soft. It will be like wearing PJs to dance in....

[mamboqueen]

Sounds so tempting, DM. I probably *shouldn't* see these dresses!

[Chris Stratton]

Most are *hemmed* which is pretty unheard of. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a latin dress for upwards of a grand and the edge wasn't finished in any way.

It's hard to get a nice light, durable edge on lycra-like knits. I've left some plain, including the most-worn dress I made and as far as I know it's still fine (though I was really hoping it would have been retired not sold).

A rolled edge is one thing, but it probably won't be flat so I wouldn't do it unless I wanted a wavy result. A simple flat overlock can be done, but I find the threads like to catch on things and pull, also you have to get the thread tension just right or it changes the stretchyness of the fabric at the hem.

There's also the overlock, turn, and topstich method - haven't used that yet, but may try it at some point.

[DancingMommy]

I say hemmed, but they are overlocked with a nice tight stitch. These dresses are VERY well made. I spent the entire day in a wholesale garment district perusing just the best of the best.

[Chris Stratton]

Even some of the import->ebay stuff is pretty well made, just poorly thought out. Sometimes the color choices are outrageous. Or all the silly sequin patterns substituting for rhinestones to keep the cost down. For the purposes of real dancers, it might be better if the dresses came over undecorated so people could stone them themselves. But for selling to the uninformed, I guess the sequins look sophisticated...

I wonder how long it will be before some of the far-east semi-custom ballgown outfits get a web presence?

[tasche]

Surprisingly enough asking them to make the dress without the sequins doesn't take mauch od the cost of the gown approx $20 so labor must be cheap. Found one place that will make a standard gown from my sketch/specs for $75 plus I think $22 and they could have stoned it for me in any stones I liked. If I had more time I would sketch out a few designs and get a few samples made perhaps establish a ready to decorate line or something but I would still prefer to have production in LA but they are quoting me too low a labor rate and I really dont feel like having my goods seized by the labor department

[tasche]

Most are *hemmed* which is pretty unheard of. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a latin dress for upwards of a grand and the edge wasn't finished in any way.

It's hard to get a nice light, durable edge on lycra-like knits. I've left some plain, including the most-worn dress I made and as far as I know it's still fine (though I was really hoping it would have been retired not sold).

A rolled edge is one thing, but it probably won't be flat so I wouldn't do it unless I wanted a wavy result. A simple flat overlock can be done, but I find the threads like to catch on things and pull, also you have to get the thread tension just right or it changes the stretchyness of the fabric at the hem.

There's also the overlock, turn, and topstich method - haven't used that yet, but may try it at some point.

I would usually use a turn once then stitch down with a serpentine stitch ( like a 3 step zig zag but with a wave to it)

[DancingMommy]

Surprisingly enough asking them to make the dress without the sequins doesn't take mauch od the cost of the gown approx $20 so labor must be cheap. Found one place that will make a standard gown from my sketch/specs for $75 plus I think $22 and they could have stoned it for me in any stones I liked. If I had more time I would sketch out a few designs and get a few samples made perhaps establish a ready to decorate line or something but I would still prefer to have production in LA but they are quoting me too low a labor rate and I really dont feel like having my goods seized by the labor department

Where is this place? PM me if you don't mind sharing....

[Chris Stratton]

Found one place that will make a standard gown from my sketch/specs for $75 plus I think $22

Single layer, or with underskirts? I found even shopping around in NYC the fabric for a full gown was going to cost more than they were sometimes going for on ebay. I found cheap lycra, but anything like chiffon/georgette was going to be fairly expensive since it tends to be a 45" product but isn't cheaper per yard (and you don't want old brittle stuff)

If you want a good business opportunity, just have them make up a line of practice skirt, leotard, and perhaps optional float kits - "gowns" legal for syllabus events. Ever priced the big-name ballroom versions of these?
Last year I made simple skirts for some of the MIT beginners, but you can buy a character skirt for about my materials cost, only often not in a suitable color.

[tasche]

With underskirts. I have one gown I got off ebay that I removed all the beads from and the only real problem with it was the zipper by theside puckered a little but if I wasn't lazy I could redo it

Chiffon if your buying wholesale with a resale license you can get about $2-3 a yard in LA. The NY fabric district is waaay more expensive that LA as to be frank most of the apparel industry have moved to lA bc of he pinching done by the mob in the 80's. Alot of design fims are still in NY but not the production part that for sure

[mamboqueen]

Mobsters and chiffon, now there's a mix!

[tasche]

Would a simple gown without stones be sillybus (hehehe) legal? That way stones could be added later?

[Katarzyna]

I've seen a lot of that at many comps... PRetty much if it has no stones and other appliques, it's not a costume.. I've seen floats, and many very costume like dresses all over syllabus that were never invigilated...

[Laura]

Tasche, thanks for your explanation of what the deal is with fabric in New York. I was last there in 2001 and was completely appalled at the prices. I do better in San Francisco and on the web! I was hoping to find fabulous deals in NYC and come home with enough for several new dresses, and all I ended up buying was some velvet for another project.

I should get my butt down to LA some time, but truth is I have so much fabric floating around my house that I'm on a fabric-buying moratorium! I probably could make a dozen or more dresses with what's stacked in my hallway.

[tasche]

Yes but the fabric you have must not be the right stuff otherwise it wouldn't be sitting idle now would it? hehehe. I'll take you round the fashion district if you come to LA

w w w dancewear.co.nz/affordable.htm

Is a dressmaker based in NZ that does undecorated gowns to order but in set sizes so not true custom but the rates are nice between 375-500

[Laura]

Damn, they have a showroom in Auckland. I should have gone when I was there.

[tasche]

Well there showroom in in Manukau which is kinda of the edge of Auckland and not that easy for tourists to find.

[Laura]

Didn't matter. I had a car and a pile of maps :-) Next time!!

[tasche]

Did you remember to drive on the "wrong" side? Alot of american tourist get into accidents as they turn out onto an empty road and are tooling along on the right side and smack hit and oncoming car ( you know how switchback some of the roads are)

[Laura]

Hubby-san drove the whole time and did a great job. He got used to the "other side" thingy right away.

[tasche]

Did he try and take any free turns at the red light? I still have trouble taking them here in CA I keep on waiting to be pulled over. Same thing with U turns big nono in NZ

[Laura]

Red light? Heh, we were in the countryside and didn't see lights for days :-) He did get a speeding ticket along Marine Parade in Napier, though!

[Joe]

There's also the overlock, turn, and topstich method - haven't used that yet, but may try it at some point.
Even that method introduces some waviness in lycra unless you're VERY careful, and lucky.

[Joe]

Would a simple gown without stones be sillybus (hehehe) legal? That way stones could be added later?
I think that sillybus-wear has to be OTR or look like it is.

[DancingMommy]

In which case, the gowns I brought back are legal for sillybus. :) They aren't doctors but they play on eon TV if you get my meaning....

[Laura]

DancingMommy, I made a completely unadorned sleeveles mock-wrap gown to wear in when I was dancing Pro/Am Smooth, and I asked my coach -- who also organizes comps, scrutineers, acts as chairman of judges, and invigiliates costumes if it were okay to wear for an upcoming Standard Syllabus competition. She said to me "yes". I asked "how do you judge it?" She said "Would you wear it to a fancy party that has nothing to do with ballroom?" And I said "yes, I could see myself wearing it to an opera opening or to Christmas dinner in an elegant restaurant." She replied "great, then it passes."

So, according to her, if you think you could wear it in public to something not related to ballroom and not have people think you're wearing a costume, then you're on to something.

[Chris Stratton]

There can certainly be no objection to simple outfits that meet the basic functional needs of smooth standard - ie, full skirt, probably in a stretch fabric. In practice there seems to be no problem with ballgown like cuts (bell sleeves, open backs, etc) at USABDA syllabus events - there it's mostly rhinestones and in some cases even sequins that cause concern.

Where "off the rack" issues have mostly come up is in collegiate competitions. In a lot of cases, these seem to reflect the ignorance of the student organizers - you are hardly going to find a circle skirt on the rack at the mall, and even beginners are going to have problems with anything much less than 3/4 circle. If buying a character skirt from a dance store is legal, then making or commissioning the same thing should be too.

[tasche]

I think maybe a better factor would be did you drop a chunk of change on it?

[Chris Stratton]

I think maybe a better factor would be did you drop a chunk of change on it?

Hmm, an outfit of new Chrisanne practice wear goes for more than some tired old ballgowns...

[tasche]

Yes but the stuff doesn't look much more expensive than other stuff its mainly $$$ bc of the exchange rates

[DancingMommy]

Hey all -

I just got the pics done and I'll be getting them developed tonight. I should have pics online within 24 hours (or so) (give or take) (more or less) (+/-). Get the picture?

I'll be updating the website tonight (late), so don't expect anything *earth shattering* until tomorrow.

Can somebody think of a good name for this (dancewear) page? Currently I have "Out of the Closet", but I think that might be a tad loaded...

PM me or email to: batikbaby@earthlink.net

[twnkltoz]

I have a resale license...would I be able to buy fabric wholesale? I didn't even think to try it. I wouldn't know where to look!

[Laura]

Yes. I have one too. Try looking in the yellow pages to see if there's any near you. Actually, most places will at least hold back the sales tax for you if you show them the reseller's card -- especially if they're independent places. I haven't tried it at JoAnne, yet.

[twnkltoz]

I do get my sales tax waived at Joann and my favorite trim store, but wholesale prices would be pretty killer! :)

[tasche]

Joanns will give you a 15% commerical discount too with resale.

Pain is you have to register resale with each and every branch

Yes if you have a resale and you meet the minimums you can purchase wholesale. My rhinestone vendor just dropped my stone prices which was nice of them. For those inclined you can purchase directly from preciosa with no min and fairly good prices.

Any body so intested in LA about the 20-21 there is a textile show on at the california mart. Just take your resale and bizcard

[Katarzyna]

Finally finished stoning the dress. It could probably use more stones on the whole dress, but I run out and 70 gross seems like enough for now...

The photos didn't come out too well. The colors are a little more intense and the stones a lot more visible, but that's the general idea.

http://images7.fotki.com/v121/photos/5/55537/356881/02-3-vi.jpg
http://images7.fotki.com/v122/photos/5/55537/356881/sfl-vi.jpg
http://images8.fotki.com/v124/photos/5/55537/356881/09-vi.jpg
http://images8.fotki.com/v123/photos/5/55537/356881/Back-vi.jpg
http://images8.fotki.com/v124/photos/5/55537/356881/front-vi.jpg
http://images7.fotki.com/v121/photos/5/55537/356881/04-vi.jpg
http://images8.fotki.com/v124/photos/5/55537/356881/07-vi.jpg

Not quite as nice as the Chrisanne version:

http://chrisanne.us/mdtc/pages/681L%20ALESSANDRA%20SPM%206.html

but a lot cheaper, and looks extremaly close to the Chrisanne one in life. Good enough for the college comps at least :)

[Sagitta]

I see what you mean Katherine.

[Katarzyna]

Need to replace the horrible white elastic on the back, and eventually put at least one 10 gross package all over the dress.

:)

[tasche]

Could you just dye the straps with dyna flow instead of removing them. You can pancake the straps to make them matte and blend in with your back. We always used to do that on our ribbons on our pointe shoes

[Joe]

Who made that ballgown, Katherine?

[DancingMommy]

Silly me, but I like *your* version better. It's not as cluttery all over the dress. I'm not a HUGE fan of dresses being SO encrusted with stones that they A) become 200 pounds of dress and B) are scratchy anywhere your arms touch it because of all the beads.

[Purr]

I liked your version of the dress better, too. :D

[Katarzyna]

Who made that ballgown, Katherine?

I bought the dress on ebay for 120 or so... That's how it looked originally...

http://images8.fotki.com/v123/photos/5/55537/356881/ballroom_honeydewswirl-vi.jpg
http://images7.fotki.com/v122/photos/5/55537/356881/ballroom_honeydewswirl_back-vi.jpg

The dress doesn't fit as well as when I bought it because I lost 10 punds recently, but it still fits fine.

I wanted to replace the straps because right now they are too long anyway. It will be easier to put new ones with skin tone rather than dyeing and resowing those.

I am glad some of you like my version!!! A LOT of work and a lot of stones went into it :) Too bad my photos didn't come out too good. The color on the photos looks washed out, but it really isn't...[/img]

[sunderi]

I've bought a couple of dresses from that same seller on ebay (I recognize the work). I have the same plans as you -- to stone the dress myself and see what I get from that. ;)

I think your work looks fantastic. Good job!

[Katarzyna]

Thank you :D

That seller seems to be making quite a few copies of Chrisanne gowns. Chrisanne is all in the stoning not the dress pattern though.

[twnkltoz]

Wow, I can't even comprehend 70 gross of stones!!! The dress looks fabulous, Katherine. May I ask who the seller is on ebay?

[Katarzyna]

Thank you so much!!

The seller is applauser

Here are some of his items on sale

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQgotopageZ1QQsassZappleuserQQsorecordsperpageZ 50QQsosortorderZ1QQsosortpropertyZ1

The dresses are not the finest quality, but with some work and perhaps reinforcements will last for quite a while. Better than most stuff from e-bay. Overall I recommend the seller...

[delamusica]

The orange smooth dress (3rd from the bottom if you follow the link) looks like it has fantastic potential with some extra stoning . . .

[delamusica]

Ok, I lied - it's NOT the third one from the bottom. I meant this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63861&item=5337996493&rd=1

[delamusica]

Oooh . . . this one looks really nice, too! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63861&item=5338265423&rd=1

I wish I had money for a dress right now . . . I suppose I'll just have to settle for shopping vicariously through all of you. :)

[Katarzyna]

It could be fixed up quite a bit. I chose mine since I really liked the Chrisanne version, and it was fairly simple to stone (time consuming but simple). I think no more stoning for me for a while. I just invested in a CHrisanne gown... I think I am set for at least a year.. Unless someone has a striking black gown to sell ????

[Katarzyna]

Oooh . . . this one looks really nice, too! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63861&item=5338265423&rd=1

I wish I had money for a dress right now . . . I suppose I'll just have to settle for shopping vicariously through all of you. :)

Hm.. this one is almost tempting:) No more stoning for me for a while though...

Edited-----------------------

Just noticed that the drape is on the left hand... Strange

[mamboqueen]

I'm selling my black gown! How tall are you, Katharine? It's beautiful (if I do say so myself), but I'm not planning on doing smooth again any time soon and it's probably a tad short on me. PM if interested.

[Katarzyna]

I don't dance smooth though, only Standard. I'm 5'7''

[hopper20]

Hi KatherineH,
Just wondering if these are the black gowns that you might be interested, it's $55 .... and there are more ....

http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/plain_ballroom/P1200164
http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/plain_ballroom/P1220684
http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/plain_ballroom/P1230465

[Katarzyna]

Not quite :)

If I find a black gown, I have to be in love with it.... It has to be more finished. Something more like this... but nicer...

http://dancesportinfo.net/DisplayGallery.aspx?Coupleid=3884
Adam and Karen Reeve Blackpool gown

or

http://dancesportinfo.net/DisplayGallery.aspx?coupleID=7850

Not really looking for a syllabus dress :)

This on ehas been tempting me for a while:

http://www.danceplaza.com/index.tpl?style=dress_shop&action=main&action2=view&what=1517&sort=datum_tijd%20desc&start=3

[Kitty]

Hi KatherineH,
Just wondering if these are the black gowns that you might be interested, it's $55 .... and there are more ....

http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/plain_ballroom/P1200164
http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/plain_ballroom/P1220684
http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/plain_ballroom/P1230465

These are very pretty!

these are undecorated gowns? Probably would be legal for syllabus.

I'm interested, if they are small size and not black. I already have a black dress...

[Katarzyna]

An identical one in blue once sold from the same seller on e-bay...

[Laura]

In my opinion you really shouldn't have floats on a syllabus dress in a costume-restricted syllabus competition.

[Kitty]

In my opinion you really shouldn't have floats on a syllabus dress in a costume-restricted syllabus competition.

I wasn't thinking of wearing floats where costumes are not allowed. But if you remove floats those plain black dresses are still very nice. (If only they were not black...)

[Katarzyna]

I am mixed on that...

Since they are not explicitly prohibited, I would probably go for floats... I might have felt differently about it before, but after seeing Jr. comps, I would go for floats if I could... Some of the syllabus kids have really nice dresses, true they are pretty much gowns with no stones, but they fit within the rule guidelines... And since other competitors do it, you don't want to look underdressed.

[twnkltoz]

Personally, I think wearing a float makes it a costume. You wouldn't wear that to dinner! Just because people do it and get away with it doesn't make it right. No offense. I wish the rules were more cut and dry.

[Laura]

New USABDA costume rules, with diagrams, photographs, and better and fuller explanations as to what is allowed for costume-restricted events, are supposedly on the way. Of course, i've been saying this for about six months now...but I'm told they really are coming.

[Katarzyna]

Till they are out, wear whatever you like that fits within current rules.. Other people will!!!

[delamusica]

Not to mention that floats are really in lately . . . I think they look nice. And to my knowledge, whether it's a costume or not has more to do with whether or not it has stoning - is that right?

[Katarzyna]

Currently... that's correct. Sequins and stones.

I love floats as well. I love anything drapy... Except when its too much...

[hopper20]

Hi KatherineH,
It's me again. How about the following if change to black, just trying, ^_^ ....

http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/rhinestones_ballroom/P1190024
http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/rhinestones_ballroom/P1190819
http://www.fotop.net/rainbowrainbow/rhinestones_ballroom/P1200744

[Katarzyna]

Thank you :D :D :D :wink: :wink:

Looking more for something with a better finish. Stoning is what makes or breaks the dress. Also, different fabrics. It's all in the details..

There is nothing like Chrisanne or Choice :)

[hopper20]

Hi KatherineH,
Of course it's not comparable to Chrisanne or Choice in terms of quality & fabric, but consider the difference in their prices, it's not bad to give a try sometimes. :wink:

[Katarzyna]

I have :wink:

I've gone throught a few of them already :)

[hopper20]

Hi KatherineH,
I see ... Hope you got what you wanted. By the way, I really like the way you've stoned your dress. Although the cutting of Chrisanne is better, but I think yours looks sharper, with more stones on the bottom part it would look very beautiful & stunning on the dance floor. :wink:

[Katarzyna]

Thank you.

I put like 3 gross on the hem of ss20s and 2 more gross sprinkled all over the dress, but that probably isn't enough to make it visible. The Chrisanne fabric moves A LOT better than the lycra version, but I like my stoning on the top... I wonder if there is something I could do with the hem to make the bottom move better. I've been thinking of adding a satin trim? Or something more stiff... I don't have a sewing machine so I should just forget about this idea...

[Laura]

You did all that in only 5 gross of stones? I thought it looked like a lot more, like about 50 or so. What fills in the designs?

[Katarzyna]

Laura... No!!!!! :D

The whole bodice I covered in over 65 gross of ss16. :) Then I used 5 gross on the hands and misc. areas...

I only had 5 gross left of ss20 and I put them mainly on the hem and some on the bodice. I was trying to make the hem heavier.

:)