P a n t y h o s e

[MissAlyssa]

I wasn't sure where to post this but I was just wondering if any of you ladies have found a way to save on pantyhose. I spend 25 bucks on pantyhose a week EEK! They are EVIL!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

[DanceMentor]

Get the Danskin stockings. They cost more, but they usually end up costing less because they last for a while.

[verrronika]

wasn't that a question for the ladies, DM? :twisted:
Alyssa -- don't wear pantyhose? Cheapest way :)
Or use the old way to fix'em : nail-polish

[pygmalion]

Hey. The guys I know seem to know a fair amount about women's hose. Don't know why. :)

DanceMentor makes a good point, though, tights last longer and can take a beating.

The other thing I do is wear pants about half the time for practice -- I got some of those stretchy jazz pants that fit pretty tight. Add a leotard, and you can see everything your whole body is doing without having to wear a skirt. The other half of the time, I stick with skirts so I can practice, holding the skirt, swishing it, and showing it off (especially for smooth).

[DanceMentor]

wasn't that a question for the ladies, DM? :twisted:

Simple reason why I know about pantyhose. I'm married. "Call me Inspector D" if you like. :lol:

[MissAlyssa]

well although I'd loooooove to wear pants to work..I can't. only on casual fridays :( I'm going to go get some tights though. I wish I didn't have to wear pantyhose but we are required to...plus my legs blind everyone so suntan hoisery is a GOOD thing :lol:

[pygmalion]

And while we're on the subject of hose, for you newbies out there, three important words : SHEER TO WAIST. :D

Enough said.

[MissAlyssa]

lol. for real, we really do need blood flow all the way from our brains to our toes.. :shock:

[pygmalion]

Don't know why I keep coming back to this forum.

But here's a funny story. I went to a studio outing with some friends a while ago, and saw a pretty lady dancing a rumba in the middle of the floor. She looked great, so I watched. I really loved her twirly skirt.
Beautiful.

Then she did a spin. Ew! She was wearing a THONG and no hose that I could see. Poor thing didn't even realize that she was putting on a show.
I don't think she knew how twirly her skirt really was.

Ever since then, even if I'm wearing a tight skirt, I put a pair of dance trunks underneath. Better safe than sorry.

[verrronika]

Better safe than sorry.

Sorry? I don't think the male part of the audience felt too sorry for the girl ;)

[MissAlyssa]

lol, couldn't she feel the "breeze"???? :lol:

[verrronika]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

And while we're on the topic of women's undies ... How do I put this delicately? Make sure your foundation garments are VERY SECURE before you start dancing. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of a dance and feeling things start to slip! :lol:

[MissAlyssa]

dang, I never had my panties slip off while dancing before lol :lol: although I have had my thigh highs fall down while giving a lesson before...that was embarrasing :oops:

[pygmalion]

LOL! LOL!

I didnt mean panties. I meant bras. Especially the strapless ones, sometimes slip off in the middle of the action. I once saw a woman at a comp whose bra was AROUND HER WAIST by the end of one particular dance. What a scream! I thought it was really funny. Guess she didn't though. :lol: :lol:

[MissAlyssa]

oh...my bad LOL! I was starting to wonder...hmm..

I don't wear strapless bras to dance, never have and never will. I'd rather use duct tape (not really) 8)

[pygmalion]

Whatever you wear to dance, it pays to dance around the house in it before you go out in public.

[SDsalsaguy]

So is *that* why you undie-dance??? :shock:

[pygmalion]

Hadn't thought of it that way, but I guess that's just one more reason why undie-dancing is so great! :lol:

[dancersdreamland]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

See...we'll get you turned on to undie dancing before long...the spell is working! :twisted: :wink:

[pygmalion]

Whatever you wear to dance, it pays to dance around the house in it before you go out in public.

Somewhat back on topic. :? :?: :lol:

It pays to try out dancewear that you have planned for exhibitions as well. A few months ago, I bought a Chrisanne outfit for an exhibition. You know the one with a tank top and skirt that have about a foot-long fringe each?

Well, when I got in the middle of my routine, the skirt worked just fine, but the top kept catching on my partner's shirt buttons. Ugh! We kept having to change the choreography a beat or two to allow me time to detach my shirt from his shirt. :x Consider that a lesson learned.

[pygmalion]

oh...my bad LOL! I was starting to wonder...hmm..

I don't wear strapless bras to dance, never have and never will. I'd rather use duct tape (not really) 8)

Since I'm the one of the few members of this forum shameless enough to talk about this, here goes.

Bras (For dances routines -- what you wear to practice is up to you. :lol: )

Definitely wear one. You can't get away without unless you're very flat-chested. Even then, as I read on a dance website somewhere, your breasts should never become the center of attention in your routine. Yuck!

Be careful with strapless, for reasons stated above. A regular bra with clear straps sometimes works.

Longline restricts the movement of your torso.

A nice, regular bra with straps is best, but a lot of dancewear is cut so going with a standard bra is impossible.

Some people like dancewear with built-in cups. If you go that route, try before you buy.


I can't think of other caveats, but probably will later. :lol:

[Swing Kitten]

Since you've opened this can of worms...

Have you ever heard of the stick-ons? I've never used them but I know of some gals in the colorgaurd have... I don't know how they would handle the riggers of dancing but it's another option.

I have also heard of the wonders of toupee tape for holding strapless garments in place.

[pygmalion]

Yeah. It is a can of worms, but why should other people have to learn the hard (and expensive) way? People in this forum have already been down that road, and can share their wisdom, so why not?

Yes, I've done stick-ons too. Would have thought of it before, if it hadn't been five AM. :lol:

First, the old-fashioned ones had glue. Newer styles have tapes. Both have pretty intense adhesive that works, if you're SURE your skin is oil-free. Use alcohol. My own personal preferences: The individual cups I don't care for. The ones I like look like a whole bra, only without the straps around the back, and have adhesive tapes on each side.

There's a new one out, called nu-bra, or something like that, that I haven't tried yet. It supposedly sticks without any adhesive, because it uses the surface tension of your skin. I've heard great things about it, but haven't tried it yet.

[Swing Kitten]

Well be sure to keep us posted !! :wink:

[MissAlyssa]

I prefer the built in cups. I'm not very fond of layering LOL. I have tried stick on bras for high school dances before but they aren't very smooth looking :?

[pygmalion]

I can relate. Definitely try on first, though. Positioning is everything! Location, location, location. :lol:

[pygmalion]

And while we're on the topic of women's undies, one last thing. If you're in a performance situation that requires costume changes, plan ahead to make sure your foundation garments work with every outfit. Nothing derails a quick costume change like having to change undies. Ugh!

Any other costuming advice or experiences, girls?

(Notice how I steered the conversation into AND out of that can of worms? Smooth, not? :lol: )

[MissAlyssa]

If you have to change quickly make sure your pantyhose (if you wear them) don't get snagged by your dance shoes. Nothing tackier than ripped pantyhose in a competition :lol:

[pygmalion]

Yes. And make sure your fingernails are completely smooth, preferably freshly done. I have stuck a fingernail through brand new hose more times than I can count. Speaking of which, that's why I always take an extra pair of hose, along with clear nail polish, with me in my dress bag.

Nothing to do with hose, but my emergency kit also contains a mini sewing kit, tape, safety pins, bobby pins, a comb and brush, backups of any makeup I'm wearing, anti-perspirant, and a few other things I'm sure I'll think of later. Better safe than sorry! :D

[pygmalion]

What kind of hose does one wear for a dance competition? Fishnets? Tights? (Don't worry. I know about sheer to waist. :lol: )

[SDsalsaguy]

I've seen everything...bare, nylons, and fishnets. No hard and fast rule as long as it looks good.

[Swing Kitten]

(Don't worry. I know about sheer to waist. :lol: )

may I ask about the particulars as to why this is of crucial importance? (I don't do much ballroom and seldom in any sort of ballroom setting) I dance in pants.

[SwinginBoo]

Well if you are spinning and your skirt goes up...you don't want people to see a control top panty line you know what i mean? :P

[pygmalion]

Sheer to waist, because, if you're dancing in a dress, particularly one of those ballroom dresses with a full circle to two-circle skirt, when you spin, your butt and thighs show. Even in a floor-length gown. You must wear sheer-to-waist hose and dance trunks. Or else yuck! :shock:

[SDsalsaguy]

You must wear sheer-to-waist hose and dance trunks. Or else yuck! :shock:

Well.. :wink:

[Swing Kitten]

I see... of course! yes-- sheer to waist!

[pygmalion]

lol! :lol:

Yuck from the woman's perspective. On that note, I was really shocked the first time I saw someone spin in a full length gown. I never realized that those gowns do spin like crazy. You got a full view of her dance trunks, for sure. Always pays to wear those dance trunks.

Oh yeah, and for swing, there are a lot of decorative and frilly dance pants out there designed just to be seen when you spin. WAY cute. :D

[SwinginBoo]

Definitely. Check out www.dancestore.com It's under "innerwear"

[pygmalion]

How did you know what I was talking about? I LOVE those things. I have the ruffly ones in red and in black. SO cute. :D :D

Plus, the swishy and twirly skirts are tops, and if you're looking for a forties-era retro look, the snoods and authentic military-surplus jackets and pants can't be beat. And the prices are reasonable. AND the people there are so nice. Definitely a thumbs up. :D

[SwinginBoo]

How did you know what I was talking about? I LOVE those things. I have the ruffly ones in red and in black. SO cute. :D :D

Plus, the swishy and twirly skirts are tops, and if you're looking for a forties-era retro look, the snoods and authentic military-surplus jackets and pants can't be beat. And the prices are reasonable. AND the people there are so nice. Definitely a thumbs up. :D

I have the black ones too!!!! :D

[pygmalion]

You know, I think this thread really belongs under general dance discussion, because it is so dance-related.

Anyway, here's the deal with competition hose. Go for the fishnets. I got some capezio fishnets, and they are indestructible. Fingernails, shoe heels, whatever. Those babies just keep going. Don't like the bare-legged look, and nylons rip to shreads. But these dance weight/quality fishnets? Thumbs up. Way up. :D

[redhead]

Need help. Is there any regular store that carries toeless fishnets? Last time I asked at Victoria's Secret and they had only imitation. Is online the only place to go?

[pygmalion]

The only ones I've ever seen were the expensive, heavy-weight dance hose. At a dance supply store or in the catalog. About $20, but they last forever.

Jenn

[Vince A]

Thanks for the Website . . . I forwarded it on to my wife.

[pygmalion]

Yup. It's a good website with nice merchandise and timely, friendly service. :D Tell her to get at least one twirly skirt. They're so fun to dance in. :D

[pygmalion]

About the hose for competition dancing. The general consensus seems to be fishnets for Latin/rhythm, non-shiny tights or regular nylons for smooth. Just no white legs showing, no matter what! If you're going to go bare-legged, make sure they're tan. :D (Info from another bulletin board discussion group.)

[MissAlyssa]

I love fishnets, sexy!

[pygmalion]

Pointer from my salsa teacher/ballroom competitor. Must wear false eyelashes. Yuck! The things we do for ballroom excellence. :cry: :lol:

[Swing Kitten]

I suppose it make a certain amount of sense but ewww! Can we get a tad more artificial? Mandatory plastic surgery or something?

[pygmalion]

Yes. Artificiality is the word. And I forgot to mention the theatrical makeup, body glitter, etc.

[SDsalsaguy]

Think stage make up SK...

[Swing Kitten]

When I think stage make up, I don't get a glamorous picture... I do understand the nessesity. It's just not a part I enjoy that much... so it's good I don't have to wear it. I enjoy designing it and applying it... but wearing can be quite uncomfortable.

[Sarah]

When I think stage make up, I don't get a glamorous picture... I do understand the nessesity. It's just not a part I enjoy that much... so it's good I don't have to wear it. I enjoy designing it and applying it... but wearing can be quite uncomfortable.

Yep - glamour at 10 meters = stoopid clown face in the mirror.
Oh well......

Cheers
Sarah

[Swing Kitten]

yup! exactly... it's a nessesary evil I suppose


Although in theater the stupid clown faces aren't nessessary... there have been improvements in stage lighting in recent decades that they provide the nessesary lumination while not washing out the details of every thing. In some shows (especially with a smaller house) actors can get away with very little accentuation of features... this is when the make up is not making it's own design statement which can be a wonderful opportunity to further the production.

[pygmalion]

Yup, SK. Exactly why I'm wearing more makup than usual, but not going for the clown makeup thing. I don't think all that is necessary. I guess we'll see when I get the photos back.

I usually don't wear any makeup at all, so it's a huge concession for me to wear highlither, eye shadow, and false eyelashes. Add some foundation and some lipstick, and I'm done.

I do know or know of a few women who actually have their hair colored for these events -- seemingly the brighter, the better -- I mean candy apple red, or bright orange. Yikes! :shock:

[Swing Kitten]

What ever floats their boat I suppose.

just because I don't understand it doesn't make it wrong

[pygmalion]

Hey. You have to admit candy apple red hair really gets the attention. In competition, that's the goal. Get attention. Then use your dance skill to keep the attention on you as long as possible. Yup. Weird, maybe, but definitely not wrong. Logical even. :D

[pygmalion]

Stuff I learned from my first comp, as pertains to clothing, etc.

1. When it comes to makeup for competitions, more is more. Body glitter, big earrings, rhinestones everywhere, lots of eye makeup, false eyelashes. The whole nine yards.

2. When it comes to hair, keep it simple. Short works, or securely in a bun. Make sure it's secure, and it doesn't obscure your top line.

3. Floor length gowns aren't. Too long, and you could trip on them.

4. Try dancing in your costumes a bit before the big event. Make sure they're comfortable, and the right length. etc.

5. What's in style now, at least for ballroom, is stuff with simple lines. Forget the boas. They'll date you.

6. You don't have to pay a fortune to get nice costumes. There are less expensive alternatives -- a couple of the web sites are posted in this forum.

7. Take backup clothes with you, just in case.

8. Take a jacket or wrap, to keep warm between heats.

9. Edit. I'm adding this. Acrylic nails are a big plus. I'd never tried them before. You can get all kinds of cool eye-catching colors and designs, and they last a lot longer on acrylic nails than on natural nails. Pretty inexpensive too, if you go to a strip mall nail salon, not a spa.

[pygmalion]

Woohoo! I'm on a roll today! I found this website where you can buy ballroom dance patterns and a manual with instructions. A little pricey -- about $100 for a pattern, and $50 for the manual. But a nice alternative for people, like me, who can sew, and would like custom made costumes. Yay! :D

You know, one of these days, I'll figure uot how to post commercial information without making it look like dance forums is trying to sell something! :doh: I posted the link under web sites for rhinestoneguy. Check out the patterns there. :D

[pygmalion]

Oh yeah, and one more thing about competition wear. NO BLACK SHOES! They shorten your leg lines and draw attention to every flaw in your footwork. If you can only afford one pair of shoes, go for tan satin or taupe leather. Edit: No black shoes for ladies. Men's ballroom shoes are all pretty much black. They get choices, though. Standard heel -- 1 inch or less. Latin heel -- more flexible sole and 1.5 inch heel or so.

[samba ajr]

Great list, Pygmalion! I wouldn't add a thing.

I finally broke down and bought the :twisted: fishnets. My instructor promises that they'll become my best friend. We see after wearing them a full day of competition (coming up this Friday!).

[SDsalsaguy]

Good luck samba ajr :!:

[pygmalion]

Best of luck, samba ajr! :D I'm sure you'll do well. Please be sure to check in after your comp and let us know how it went! :D

And about the fishnets -- here's why they're worth the $20+ investment. First, the things are indestructible. You can literally poke a fingernail through them, and they don't run. You can wash them in the washing machine on the regular cycle -- no problem. I still have the first pair of fishnets I ever bought -- a year and a half ago. And, best of all, even the chubbiest legs look better in fishnets. It breaks up the cellulite, if you have any, which most women do.

Fishnets do fit very snugly -- they feel like support hose, and they leave little diamond shaped indentations in your legs. Yuck.

But still, I recommend them highly. :D

[samba ajr]

It breaks up the cellulite, if you have any, which most women do.
Fishnets do fit very snugly -- they feel like support hose, and they leave little diamond shaped indentations in your legs. Yuck.
But still, I recommend them highly. :D

On that note :roll: , I'm going to wear them all them time!


And thanks everyone for your support! I'll check back in on Monday--hopefully with photos!

[bouncybouncyweee]

Ummmm...
Don't mean to sound too naive, but considering the fact I don't even own a skirt--
what the on earth does sheer to waist mean?
and how could you have imitation fishnets?

[pygmalion]

Wow! You haven't been around long, have you? :D Most pantyhose have a darker knit-in "panty" at the top. Unfortunately, the panty is usually long enough or the wrong shape, so that it shows under dance skirts. Very unsightly! :shock: Solution, sheer to waist, which has no panty knit in. So when you spin, all that shows is your legs and your dance trunks.

Imitation fishnets? Not sure, but I'm guessing what was meant was this. There are a several different grades of fishnets you can buy -- the $3 Halloween costumes ones you can buy at Walmart. Those, I don't recommend. They're cheap quality, don't last long, and rarely come in flesh tone. Or you can buy the mostly decorative ones at a department store. Better quality, but still too lightweight. Instead, buy the $20 - $25 ones at a ballet or other dance supply store. They're heavy-duty, they come in fleshtone, and they're designed to take the rigors of dance.

[bouncybouncyweee]

Hee hee, I haven't been around the forums long. I'm a sophomore in college, I just avoid skirts and pantyhose and shaving legs like the plague. The UCSD danceport team had their tryouts last night, and I did it the whole make up like a clown thing with a bunch of new make up that I just got for these purposes, but I wore pants!! Yay pants! Yay freedom of legs!! boo pantyhose!

[Swing Kitten]

you can still have the freedom of legs in a skirt...

... mind you... I seldom wear them :shrug:

[bouncybouncyweee]

Not really. In a skirt, I can't jump around with out flashing the universe, and I tend to bounce around quite often. So, my legs must be kept together. Furthermore, when I sit, I have to cross my legs and keep them together, when after I dance, all I wanna do is sit down with my legs staying where ever they land, and comfortable, and not have to be concious of where I put them. See? Freedom yay! Except for long, flowy pritty skirts. They're lovely

[pygmalion]

Not really. In a skirt, I can't jump around with out flashing the universe, and I tend to bounce around quite often. So, my legs must be kept together. Furthermore, when I sit, I have to cross my legs and keep them together, when after I dance, all I wanna do is sit down with my legs staying where ever they land, and comfortable, and not have to be concious of where I put them. See? Freedom yay!

Don't worry about flashing the universe. That's what dance is for. Just wear your dance trunks! :lol:

Yes. Your legs must be kept together, pants or skirt. Every dance I've done has taught both men and women, but especially women, to avoid that "circle of light" -- the space created when your legs don't brush. Ugh! :shock: :x :lol:

And yup, pants do afford a lot more freedom. Maybe you can get our dance team to pick pants for your costumes. :D

[bouncybouncyweee]

Oh, of course one has to keep the legs together for dancing! I mean, the only times I would really splay them was if I was merengue-ing and doin' the boogie down to the floor! I meant in everyday life-- Like, when I'm skipping through campus or jumping on my friends as greeting. :D

I haven't been dancing for long, so I don't have an entourage of skirts yet. But I would only wear them for dance, just to watch them fly up and WEEEE! yay. that's the best part

[pygmalion]

hmm. Now I'm beginning to understand where your user name came from. Wee! :lol:

Skirts are kinda nice to dance in, and they feel really good swishing around, especially when you spin. But to each her own. The down side of wearing skirts is that your leg action, good or bad, shows a lot more clearly in skirts. A good thing, if you've been doing the leg work. Not so good, if your leg action is sloppy. :cry:

[Sagitta]

So samba ajr did the fishnets work well? I checked out with some of my friends and "danskins" are good.

With all the bouncing around in this thread I'll never forget your name bouncybouncyweee :)

And if any of you are going to allow them legs to show make sure that there is nothing unsightly! That's all I have to say as a guy!

[pygmalion]

LOL! Check out my pix in the photo album. Very nice legs, if I must say so myself! :tongue: :lol:

But you're right. Nothing quite so distracting as sausage legs. The problem is that, for genetic reasons, lots of women have chunky thighs and bottoms, but because of dance convention, they're still expected to wear skirts. In fact, skirts are often required. For dance exams, skirts are required. For dance comps, they're not required, but 99% of people are wearing them. So what do some of you out there do, to compensate for unsightly bulges, for example? Wearing fishnets is one thing. Are there other ways to work around a non-ideal body type?

And this raises the whole larger issue of dancers and body type. Hmm. Maybe I'll start a thread on that. Thanks, Sagitta! :D

[Swing Kitten]

:lol: if anyone knows of a way to fix think ankles please be sure to pass along the info ;)

[pygmalion]

Random thought (wrong thread I know.) Why do women hate their bodies so much? Mine's not perfect, I know, but hey. It's the one I have, and it's been pretty reliable so far. Thank G_d for my chunky tush! :lol:

[samba ajr]

Well, the fishnets did great for about 3 hours of rhythm competition. Sat down to wait for the awards and , hmmm, starting to feel a little chafing. I had time before the open events, so went and changed. Yikes! That breaking up of cellulite that Pygmalion mentioned--well, let’s say that a portion of my inner thighs has undergone some resurfacing! :doh: Luckily I had some nice soft tights to put on. I won’t be wearing fishnets again until I’ll fully healed.

So--a warning. If you’re not ballerina thin in the thighs (as most of us aren’t)--you might experience a bit of discomfort to say the least. Honestly, the tights looked just fine.

We’re there to have fun, not pain. If I was a professional competitor--that would be a different story. But I would have started dancing 15 years ago and be a size two, so no problem with the fishnets. When the “body type” thread begins--I’ll have a bit to say.

[pygmalion]

Yup. Support hose. With diamond shaped indentations. Super tight. :lol: And check out dancers' bodies thread. :D

[Sarah]

:lol: if anyone knows of a way to fix think ankles please be sure to pass along the info ;)

Don't look for a way to fix them - be pathetically grateful for them! The loading strength of a bone or a joint is pretty much proportional to its cross sectional area. I reckon that the force on said joint is going to be related to the length of the levers attached - that is how long the legs are.

So tall skinny people are more prone to ankle and knee injury![1]
The short squat ones may not be dancing prettier, but we will be dancing longer!

Cheers
Sarah

[1] This is my delusion, and I'm sticking to it! Actually I have a certain amount of anecdotal evidence for it, mostly from the Aikido mat.

[pygmalion]

So--a warning. If you’re not ballerina thin in the thighs (as most of us aren’t)--you might experience a bit of discomfort to say the least. Honestly, the tights looked just fine.

We’re there to have fun, not pain. If I was a professional competitor--that would be a different story. But I would have started dancing 15 years ago and be a size two, so no problem with the fishnets. When the “body type” thread begins--I’ll have a bit to say.

You'd be surprised. I'll have to see if I can find that ballroom discussion forum again. It's almost a rule. Fishnets for Latin, anything but fishnets for standard. And people get quite emotional over it. I guess they think it's worth the suffering. Actually, I didn't think the fishnets were all that bad, and I have fairly generous thighs. Mostly muscle, though. I wonder if that makes a difference? Hmm.

[EnjoyingLife]

I have another question regarding pantyhose/tights. What type(s) and brands to you find to be the warmest and most comfortable?

I have worked for about four years in an office where the temperature near the flour of my desk is quite cold in the winter (often in the 40's). Thermals are just too thick under my dress pants.

Someone suggested to me to wear pantyhose. To my surprise, they worked. I have found that different brands and styles vary in comfort and warmth.

I am a guy and am embarrassed o spend much time "browsing" the hosiery department. I understand many hunters swipe their wives hose after they have runs. But since I am currently unattached, I can't do that. In addition, my female friends don't seem to wear them much anymore.

[pygmalion]

Hi Enjoying Life! Welcome to the forums. :D

When it comes to hose, in my experience (a LOT!) the more opaque, the warmer. The super sheer ones are designed to make legs look pretty, not keep them warm. There used to be a line of hose called Winter L'eggs, which were reasonably priced, around $4 a pair, and heavyweight enough to keep me warm through below zero degree Farenheit winter days in a skirt.

In your case, though, I'd recommend that you go to a dance supply store and buy a pair of men's ballet tights. They come with or without feet, and they come in black. Nobody will ever be able to tell by looking at your ankles that they're not manly, manly socks. Plus, tights last forever, and take abuse very well. You won't have to worry about runs, or about buying lots and lots of hose. The investment up front will be about $25, but they last a long, long time. :D

[samba ajr]

Hello Enjoying Life!

I don't think you should have to wear extra clothes in the office to keep warm. Can't they turn up the heat? If not, how about a small space heater under the desk--I've done that when I worked in a basement, and also when I was in the reception area. Most of us ladies would prefer not to wear hose if they can help it (that's why we started to wear slacks)--I'm not sure that that should be your solution.

Stay warm! :)

[EnjoyingLife]

Unfortunately those solutions cannot be done. The problem is that my office is in a historic building built in 1852. My desk is next to a 12' (floor to ceiling) drafty old window. The radiator sits in front of it, which heats the upper part of my body. But my legs and feet remain cold.

We tried to get permission to replace the windows, but were denied by the historic association. As far as a space heater, that was denied by code enforcement. The code enforcement officer is in my office daily.

Those were good suggestions. I am hoping we can try for new windows again in a year or two. Perhaps the administration at the historic association will have changed, giving us a better chance.

[pygmalion]

Sorry to hear about the work conditions, Enjoying Life. Hope the tights work. :? :D

[DancingMommy]

And while we're on the subject of hose, for you newbies out there, three important words : SHEER TO WAIST. :D

Enough said.

With a reinforced toe. I like the Hanes you can get at Lord & Taylor - it's a white package with a fuschia color thingy on the front. "Little Color" is my color of choice. Just enough color to not look pale, but also not so dark that they look wierd. This particular color *also* just happens to be an exact match for beige leather ballroom shoes. :D Also, the Hanes run true to size (unlike drugstore varieties). It's nice to be able to by a size A when you are a size A. There's something demoralizing about buying a size "Q" when you are really a size A. If you are on your feet for hours, try support hose. They are a little more opaque than their less supportive brethren, but belileve me, they make your legs feel like a million $$ if you have to be on your feet for hours n hours a day (reminds me of whenI worked 2 jobs).

As for us preggies, I *love* the ones from Motherhood. Support out the wazoo and nice colors and did I mention they fit?

[DancingMommy]

Since you've opened this can of worms...

Have you ever heard of the stick-ons? I've never used them but I know of some gals in the colorgaurd have... I don't know how they would handle the riggers of dancing but it's another option.

I have also heard of the wonders of toupee tape for holding strapless garments in place.

The pasties are only good if you are tiny. Beware the C cup that tries to use those things... You'll end up using 2 or 3 per boob... Don't ask how I know this....

[pygmalion]

Oh yeah! Finally a brand of sheer to waist hose with a reinforced toe. I was wondering where to find them -- I've shredded many a pair of sheer toe hose. :x Thanks. :D

[DancingMommy]

And while we're on the topic of women's undies, one last thing. If you're in a performance situation that requires costume changes, plan ahead to make sure your foundation garments work with every outfit. Nothing derails a quick costume change like having to change undies. Ugh!

Any other costuming advice or experiences, girls?

(Notice how I steered the conversation into AND out of that can of worms? Smooth, not? :lol: )

From my aunt who danced on broadway and in Branson, Mo...

If you have multiple tights changes - ie from black to tan and back, wear the tan ones underneath *everything* and pull the black ones over the top... They stay nice 'n' smooth. Same goes for back seamed/fishnets.

Wear an undergarment *over* tights. Capezio makes these things called "overs and unders". They come in all shapes/sizes/varieties. I like a full nude bodysuit with clear straps - especially with a 2 piece outfit. It makes everything look all smooth.

[DancingMommy]

Pointer from my salsa teacher/ballroom competitor. Must wear false eyelashes. Yuck! The things we do for ballroom excellence. :cry: :lol:

It will be a cold day in H-E-Double Hockey Sticks before I put false eyelashes on. An' I don't care who knows it, LOL!

Funny story.... When I was in high school (Northside High, Class of '90) tour company, we had to wear those nasty things. I refused. I just gobbed on the mascara. The boss couldn't even tell, heheheheh.

Beyodiyodi... Pivot around.... (Sorry have Jitterbug Stroll on my WMP)

[DancingMommy]

Yup, SK. Exactly why I'm wearing more makup than usual, but not going for the clown makeup thing. I don't think all that is necessary. I guess we'll see when I get the photos back.

I do know or know of a few women who actually have their hair colored for these events -- seemingly the brighter, the better -- I mean candy apple red, or bright orange. Yikes! :shock:

I'm with you. I used to be a hair color junkie. I had to go to rehab (seriously). It wasn't pleasant. :evil: Now I just let my natural color shine through - gray and all, heheheh...

As for competition makeup, I refuse to do the clown thing. Ain't no way. Been there, done that. For us since we only hit the local comps which are in small rooms - with no tv cameras - I usually do a little more "Intense" look. Think holiday party+++. I add a little glitter to the decoletage (the part above the cleavage) and have some super shiny lip gloss to go over my lip color. Black eyeliner (instead of forest green), black mascara (instead of brown) and a GOOD dose of powder.

My personal fave which can get me from street to dance floor in under 10 minutes: Lancome.... 8) They have this new product called "star gloss" that stuff is the shiznit. It is super shiny, smells good and lasts and lasts. My personal favorite color is "prima donna"...

http://a1034.g.akamai.net/7/1034/2886/20020813183600/www.lancome-usa.com/images/product/990353_l.jpg

http://www.lancome-usa.com/_us/_en/catalog/ProductMakeup.aspx?prdcode=990353&categorycode=AXEMakeup^F1_Lips^F2_Lip_Gloss^F3_Lip _Glos_Gloss&vname=name&

The website says prima donna is a brown shade - believe me it ain't! It's a reddish-goldish shade that is awesome. I wear it with red all the time.

Eyes: http://www.lancome-usa.com/_us/_en/catalog/productMakeup.aspx?prdcode=890905&categorycode=AXEMakeup^F1_Eyes^F2_Eye_Shadows^F3_E ye_Sha_EyeShadows&vname=name& These are some of the best color selections ever. If there's a loud colour to be had, Lancome has it!

Mascara: http://www.lancome-usa.com/_us/_en/catalog/makeup2.aspx?CategoryCode=AXEMakeup^F1_Mascara^F2_ Mas_Mascara&?CategoryCode=AXEMakeup^F1_Mascara&& They even have groovy colored mascaras....

OK, so I sound like a Lancome rep.....

Foundation: http://www.lancome-usa.com/_us/_en/catalog/productMakeup.aspx?prdcode=765022&categorycode=AXEMakeup^F1_Foundations^F2_Fou_Found ations^F3_Fou_Fou_DrySkin&vname=name&

I like this much better than the regular Photogenic - it's a little heavier, but not *heavy*. It provides a much better coverage - especially when applied with a foundation brush. A foundation brush is a MUST MUST MUST!!! I just learned this after close 20 years of wearing cosmetics... Oh what we learn....

http://a1034.g.akamai.net/7/1034/2886/20021009185640/www.lancome-usa.com/images/product/990361_l.jpg

If I have more info I'll pass it on as I remember it - preggo-brain today, LOL!

[DancingMommy]

Stuff I learned from my first comp, as pertains to clothing, etc.

2. When it comes to hair, keep it simple. Short works, or securely in a bun. Make sure it's secure, and it doesn't obscure your top line.

5. What's in style now, at least for ballroom, is stuff with simple lines. Forget the boas. They'll date you.

9. Edit. I'm adding this. Acrylic nails are a big plus. I'd never tried them before. You can get all kinds of cool eye-catching colors and designs, and they last a lot longer on acrylic nails than on natural nails. Pretty inexpensive too, if you go to a strip mall nail salon, not a spa.

Fake hais is GREAT. I keep my own hair fairly short (just between the chin & shoulders) so I can pull it back in a tiny pony tail and slap some curly pouf on it when I need a "fancy" do. The shades available are so great now!

Not all boas can date you - heheheh - especially if you look stylish in 'em. 8) My dress is one of the Italian style jobbies that has like no layers of skirt with this mega slit up the thigh but it's trimmed in ostrich. It is slick and looks like a million $$$. I only wish it hadn't set me back so "much".

Acrylic nails are a MUST! I wear them 24/7 and have a place I go that specializes in super fancy stuff. If I can find the website for their school, I'll link to some pics....

[DancingMommy]

And about the fishnets -- here's why they're worth the $20+ investment. First, the things are indestructible.

Steel belted radials of legwear. I still have a pair I bough at Showtime in my last life (close to 6 years ago). I can't ruin even if I try....

[pygmalion]

Not all boas can date you - heheheh - especially if you look stylish in 'em. 8) My dress is one of the Italian style jobbies that has like no layers of skirt with this mega slit up the thigh but it's trimmed in ostrich. It is slick and looks like a million $$$. I only wish it hadn't set me back so "much".


Yep. I was talking about the ten-years-ago styles. You know the ones with multiple layers of skirting and huge dyed-to-match feather boas all around the hemline. Not done anyomore. At least, I haven't seen any, anyplace other than on old ladies at comps and on the consigment racks. But styles do change pretty quickly, so you'd better check dancescape before you buy anything! :lol: :lol:

[DancingMommy]

Not all boas can date you - heheheh - especially if you look stylish in 'em. 8) My dress is one of the Italian style jobbies that has like no layers of skirt with this mega slit up the thigh but it's trimmed in ostrich. It is slick and looks like a million $$$. I only wish it hadn't set me back so "much".


Yep. I was talking about the ten-years-ago styles. You know the ones with multiple layers of skirting and huge dyed-to-match feather boas all around the hemline. Not done anyomore. At least, I haven't seen any, anyplace other than on old ladies at comps and on the consigment racks. But styles do change pretty quickly, so you'd better check dancescape before you buy anything! :lol: :lol:

Well, since that sucker was bought right before I got pregnant, it'll be a while before I can wear it (ever). It rocks my world though... It's sapphire blue (which sapphire being my birthstone makes me happy) and is awesome. It's got the handpainted 2-tone thing happening. and stones out the ying-yang! I wish I had a picture it is sooooooo pretty. :)

[pygmalion]

Don't worry, Nina. I have eleven nieces and nephews, and, believe it or not, my sister who had FIVE kids is the skinniest one of us. You WILL get into you beautiful gown, and before you know it! :D :wink:

[DancingMommy]

Don't worry, Nina. I have eleven nieces and nephews, and, believe it or not, my sister who had FIVE kids is the skinniest one of us. You WILL get into you beautiful gown, and before you know it! :D :wink:

Gads I hope so... Hubby doesn't even know I bought it... Muchless how much it cost.... Oops...... :oops:

[pygmalion]

He doesn't need to know how much the thing cost. All he needs to know is that you're worth it. :D

[pygmalion]

So, um. I vote that this thread be moved to general dance discussion, since virtually eveything in it is about clothing, etc, for dance. Anyone object?

[pygmalion]

Has anybody tried Edie the salsa freak's posture halter for ladies? It fits right over the shoulder blades and holds the shoulders down and back.

I'm thinking about getting one. Anybody have experience with it?

Oh yeah, and is there such a thing for men? They need good posture too.

[bordertangoman]

I thought it was de rigeur to know how to dance tango whilst your partner adjusts her pantyhose/tights whatever or I need to scratch my ear or swat the fly that's landed on my head. It just requires good co-ordination, like navigating past the bar so you can swig a drink whilst passing!! :wink: :wink:

[Swing Kitten]

Has anybody tried Edie the salsa freak's posture halter for ladies? It fits right over the shoulder blades and holds the shoulders down and back.

I'm thinking about getting one. Anybody have experience with it?

Oh yeah, and is there such a thing for men? They need good posture too.

It sounds like the brace for someone who's broken a collarbone-- like a figure 8 that crosses between your shoulder blades (I've found myself in one on a number of occasions) -- is it different?

[pygmalion]

It sounds like the same thing. From what she says in her article (aka shameless advertising LOL) it gave an immediate posture improvement. I'm willing to try it. After years of perpetual slouching, I'm willing to take drastic measures.

[Swing Kitten]

well those things are made so that you can't slump your shoulders forward and I once made something very similar with a very small metal plate on the back and bolted fairy wings to it... well the bolts went through the costume and the wings screwed on the other side... it was quite effective and I don't recall slouching when I wore it... but then again I wasn't really in the circumstances where I would slouch. :shrug:

Let me know how it goes :D

[Sagitta]

It sounds like the same thing. From what she says in her article (aka shameless advertising LOL) it gave an immediate posture improvement. I'm willing to try it. After years of perpetual slouching, I'm willing to take drastic measures.

Noooooo!!!!! Using devices to give you what you should have using your own muscles is a dangerous thing. Immediate gratification is not always worth the price you pay! It allows you to cheat!!

I was sitting a lot posting in DF, surfing the web and started hurting my left chest muscles and so I had to sit properly to prevnt it bothering me. I have got back much better posture, now. There also is pilates/somatics...It takes longer, but the results are longer lasting and healthier.

Another tale. A while back, in undergrad, I used to have some knee problems. I discovered that using a knee support on the problem leg actually did me disservice. While it allowed me to actually go about my regular routine my knee with the support actually got worse!! Since then I have rarely used any such devices. I find that I recover faster and end up stronger that way.

[pygmalion]

I don't want to link to her article, because it's WAY slow loading and shamelessly commercial, but the goal is not to use the brace long term, but to retrain your muscles which have years of bad posture habits to overcome, then stop usind the brace. It looks worth a try, although, from what Edie said, the retraining process can be quite painful -- you're learning to use your muscles in a totally new way.

[Sagitta]

Don't bother with the article. I could find it if I wanted to. I agree with you Pygmalion!! Just get a little excited when I have had a good time. :)

[Swing Kitten]

Just get a little excited when I have had a good time. :)

don't we all? ;)

[redhead]

I have that brace you're talking about. You CAN see it under clothes (very thick thing) and it's very uncomfortable, but that's the point. It doesn't do the work you muscles should do (at least for me) - but it hurts your upper arms/shoulders a lot if you get lazy. I wear it may be once a month at home for an hour just to recall how it feels, and after that I try to do a good enough job on my own so I can finally put this thing away! So it works in a way, I guess.

[redhead]

Imitation fishnets - those are just nylons with fishnet-like pattern on them.
For fishnets, I like Givenchy - you can buy them for 8-10 bucks.

[redhead]

Oh, does anyone know if "toeless sheer to waist" exist?

[MadamSamba]

I know I shouldn't laugh, but hey, you gotta!!! I got burned once when I wore a twirly skirt and underwear the same colour as my skin...people thought I had no underwear on...no wonder the guy kept twirling me during the jive...never did that again...mind you, I don't think I've worn that skirt since...

Seriously, re the problems with stockings, I wear pants and the mini stockings, the knee-highs. They run less and if you buy the best quality you can afford, they tend to last longer and can be washed. I was spending waaaay too much on stockings, but it's much less a problem now...besides, do you know how many group classes you can have in twenty five bucks? :)

PS: MissAlyssa, are you really not allowed to wear pants? I don't think that's even legal anymore...sheesh, you should look into that. I believe it's now legally discrimination to force women to wear skirts/dresses.

[pygmalion]

I have that brace you're talking about. You CAN see it under clothes (very thick thing) and it's very uncomfortable, but that's the point. It doesn't do the work you muscles should do (at least for me) - but it hurts your upper arms/shoulders a lot if you get lazy. I wear it may be once a month at home for an hour just to recall how it feels, and after that I try to do a good enough job on my own so I can finally put this thing away! So it works in a way, I guess.

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to try it. What's a little (a lot LOL) of discomfort when it comes to dancing well and looking good? My problem is that I have pretty good posture, but a slight forward slump of the shoulders that's so habitual that I can't feel when I'm doing it. I think the brace will make me more conscious of what I'm doing, and maybe help me correct myself.

[pygmalion]

I mentyioned this in another thread, but it bears mentioning here as well. Take a look at the dancesportcomps.com website. This month's newsletter has an interesting "coaches sound off" article which has some great tips about costuming.

Ideas like trying out costumes in advance, which is pretty obvious. But there's other, less obvious stuff. Like preventing body jiggles, and this goes for men as well as women. The coach here said she doesn't want to be distracted by jiggling body parts -- if you stop dancing, but your body parts are still moving, find a way to tame it, glue it, tape it ,restrict it. Just don't let it distract people from your dancing. Pretty interesting.

[pygmalion]

Too funny. I just found a costuming tip for guys that I'd never seen anywhere else. When competing, wear black underpants. That way, if a seam of those tight, tight pants rips, there's less likelihood of embarassment. Makes sense, doesn't it? :wink:

[Blondie]

Does anyone know where I can buy pantyhose that are non-glare and sheer to the waist, preferably in suntan or tan shade for dance comps? I actually saw such a thing at Walmart a few months back, but it was in the wrong color and wrong size. I'm not sure what the fabric is, but it was sheer and was pantyhose. It was not tights. And I do not want fishnet. I already have several pairs of those.
:?:

[pygmalion]

I believe DancingMommy recommended a brand she likes somewhere. I'll see if I can find that post. Hanes? Burlington? I don't remember, but I'll look around.

Lately, since I like control top but have to wear sheer to waist, I've been wearing No Nonsense Transparent Control hose -- pretty sturdy hose, with an actual control top you can feel, but you can't see. Sheer reinforced toes. About $4 at Target or Kmart -- but somewhat hard to find. You can order them on line at the No Nonsense web site, too.

[pygmalion]

It was earlier in this same thread, Blondie. DancingMommy likes the Hanes sheer to waist hose with the reinforced toe -- department store hose. Apparently, just the right color for tan ballroom shoes. 8)

[SamanthaDance]

I wear Leggs Sheer Energy, as they last the longest for me and are available sheer-to-waist. But their color choices aren't the widest range.

There is a style of Hanes Silk Reflections that are a tanga panty, and are cut very high on the legs. And Hanes are less glossy than Leggs, if that is important to you.

Well, I finally made my first post! :D

SamanthaDance

[pygmalion]

Yay, SamanthaDance. :cheers: Welcome to the poster's club. 8) :D

[Blondie]

Thanks for the suggestions on pantyhose. I forgot to mention that I want them for rhythm/Latin dancing (competing) when I wear shorter dresses that show more leg. Our studio frowns on shiny pantyhose, and I think Sheer Energy are very shiny on the dance floor. I've seen some shimmery legs at various comps, which does not show well.

[SDsalsaguy]

Well, I finally made my first post! :D
Yay!!! Welcome to the family of active posteres SamanthaDance! :cheers:

[Christina75]

I've seen the toeless stockings and hose advertised on several websites and I even saw some for sale at Walmart a few weeks ago. Has anyone tried these? Do they look strange if you are wearing a colored pair and your toes are obviously a different color? I'm not a competative dancer and don't know if I ever will be so I'm wondering if I should even bother to invest in anything more than regular panyhose. Any advise?

Christina

[johndude]

my friend...she is a dancer....she gave me 4 pairs of pantyhose to wear when im snomoiblling and just to wear haha

[pygmalion]

Here it is. Take a look, if you haven't seen this thread before. Some good tips, and some hilarity too, IIRC. 8)

[cocodrilo]

I think I wore pantyhose back in 2002... :roll:

[pygmalion]

Sorry. There was an errant pantyhose advertiser on the loose this morning. :evil: So I decided to give folks a non-commercial alternative. :wink: :lol:

[cocodrilo]

BTW, what ever happened to that guy who was into women's hosiery? The questions that guy posed were riotous, to say the least!

[Twilight_Elena]

So fishnets are the thing for Latin? D'you think they might be a bit too much for a girl my age? (I have this samba choreography to do, if anyone recalls)

Twilight Elena

[pygmalion]

BTW, what ever happened to that guy who was into women's hosiery? The questions that guy posed were riotous, to say the least!

lol. I'd forgotten about him. Hmm. I thought he was just an "ordinary" guy who happened to like ladies' hose. I bet there are a lot of guys like that. *shrug*


So fishnets are the thing for Latin? D'you think they might be a bit too much for a girl my age? (I have this samba choreography to do, if anyone recalls)

Yep. A lot of ladies wear fishnets for Latin. IMO, it's not too much for someone your age. You're about as close to a woman as a teen can get, IMHO. So go for it, unless the idea of fishnets makes you uncomfortable. They make your legs look nice and hide figure flaws and cellulite quite well (although you're only seventeen, so that may not be an issue. *shrug*) And they're very durable. More expensive than regular hose, true. But I still have my first pair undamaged, years later. 8)

[randomMysh]

TE, aren't you going to wear pants? If you are, your lovely fishnets won't be visible anyway. They do, however, sell fishnet socks, which might be a good alternative. Just make sure they aren't too scratchy since they usually don't have the nice ballroom solid footbed.

[Twilight_Elena]

So fishnets are the thing for Latin? D'you think they might be a bit too much for a girl my age? (I have this samba choreography to do, if anyone recalls)

Yep. A lot of ladies wear fishnets for Latin. IMO, it's not too much for someone your age. You're about as close to a woman as a teen can get, IMHO. So go for it, unless the idea of fishnets makes you uncomfortable. They make your legs look nice and hide figure flaws and cellulite quite well (although you're only seventeen, so that may not be an issue. *shrug*) And they're very durable. More expensive than regular hose, true. But I still have my first pair undamaged, years later. 8)

Thanks. I'll make sure I get a pair. :D I wonder, though, is getting tan coloured hose such a no-no? Do they tear up easily?

Twilight Elena

[randomMysh]

TE, tan hose looks weird with open-toe shoes, IMHO. Especially if you have nail polish on your toenails, but even if not, I think that sandals=bare feet or fishnets. Otherwise, what's the point of sandals??

[Twilight_Elena]

TE, tan hose looks weird with open-toe shoes, IMHO. Especially if you have nail polish on your toenails, but even if not, I think that sandals=bare feet or fishnets. Otherwise, what's the point of sandals??

Point is that it's Latin and you HAVE to wear open toe. You can wear closed toe too, sure, but it's much better for tango than for Latin.

Twilight Elena

[pygmalion]

I wonder, though, is getting tan coloured hose such a no-no? Do they tear up easily?



They shred. Edit: Unless you get reinforced toe hose, which are a total and complete no-no, in sandals, IMO. Inside court shoes, nobody'll ever know. (Just an aside, in case you decide to do standard at some point. 8) :wink: )

[cocodrilo]

I guess in latin BALLROOM women wear hose, but I can't say I've ever seen a woman wear hose when dancing a performance of salsa, merengue, or bachata...

[pygmalion]

Um... with all due respect, cocodrilo. T_E does ballroom. And in ballroom comps and exhibitions, bare-legged usually doesn't happen. *shrug* Two different worlds. :? 8)

[cocodrilo]

Um... with all due respect, cocodrilo. T_E does ballroom. And in ballroom comps and exhibitions, bare-legged usually doesn't happen. *shrug* Two different worlds. :? 8)
All the ladies doing latin in Jonathan's photos seem to be bare-legged. Are you referring to other dances?

[pygmalion]

Wow. That's nasty. Wonder why. 8)

[cocodrilo]

Wow. That's nasty. Wonder why. 8)
Actually, it's sexy! With the skimpiness of the costumes it would be impossible to hide any stockings in there! 8)

When I dance street latin, there is nothing more gross than the feel of sweating inside a pair of stockings. I wear knee-highs with my jazz shoes but never stockings, even with a dress...

[standardgirl]

I do see a lot of professional latin dancers and amateur dancers wearing fishnet (nude) during competitions.......

[Twilight_Elena]

For one thing, I do BOTH ballroom and salsa, bachata, merengue. I'm an all-combo girl. :D :P Secondly, ballroom does include smooth dances over here, so I also do foxtrot, waltz and tango except for latin. And since hose is a no-no with open toe, my only choice is fishnet. :D :? :shock: Boy, am I gonna get comments...

Twilight Elena

[pygmalion]

Why? Do fishnets have some negative connotation, where you are? If so, why not ask one of the more experienced dancers at your studio what they recommend. 8)

There's actually a pretty lengthy discussion of the whole hose issue at another forum. Lots of tips and pointers. Hmm. I wonder if it's accessible. I'll see if I can find it, and PM you link. 8)

[Joe]

And in ballroom comps and exhibitions, bare-legged usually doesn't happen.
Actually, it's quite common in Latin ballroom.

[pygmalion]

Damn! That's $22.50 wasted. :wink: :lol: Yeah. I guess, if you wear a size zero, you can get away without needing to disguise your jiggly bits. :lol:

[randomMysh]

Correction: it's quite common to skip hose in ballroom latin if you're TANNED. Once you're wearing five layers of self-tanner, hose would be excessive, but pasty legs do need a little something, even if you are a size 0, IMHO.
That said...
I'm not a size 0 and I do have pasty legs and I don't wear hose anyway. Hose annoys me, and if anyone doesn't like my pasty legs (or jiggly bits! :lol: ), they don't need to look at them! :twisted:

[Twilight_Elena]

Damn! That's $22.50 wasted. :wink: :lol: Yeah. I guess, if you wear a size zero, you can get away without needing to disguise your jiggly bits. :lol:

Jiggly bits... :lol: :lol: :lol: ROTFL! *cackles*

Twilight Elena

[IsabellaCruella]

I never wear pantyhose. It is so consuming and i feel as if I am beeing swallowed by fabric. Sweaty, tight and uncomfortable. No tights is sexier and cooler.
What is the point of dancing in tights when you are uncomfortable??

[Twilight_Elena]

I never wear pantyhose. It is so consuming and i feel as if I am beeing swallowed by fabric. Sweaty, tight and uncomfortable. No tights is sexier and cooler.
What is the point of dancing in tights when you are uncomfortable??

Not all tights are uncomfortable. Some are good for hiding jiggly bits, as pygmalion said. And some are pretty sexier than naked, pasty legs.

Twilight Elena

[pygmalion]

And not all people are uncomfortable in hose. *shrug* To each her own. 8)

[Joe]

And some are pretty sexier than naked, pasty legs.
Yeah...you know those black ones with the seam up the back of each leg? ;)

[Twilight_Elena]

And some are pretty sexier than naked, pasty legs.
Yeah...you know those black ones with the seam up the back of each leg? ;)

I do know those. Very "Chicago" lookin'. :wink:

Twilight Elena

[pygmalion]

My Mom swears by those. Of course, she grew up when only stockings (not pantyhose) existed, and I believe her first stockings were pre-seamless and pre-nylon (at least for public consumption.) Very sexy. A necessity for her generation, though.

[Twilight_Elena]

My Mom swears by those. Of course, she grew up when only stockings (not pantyhose) existed, and I believe her first stockings were pre-seamless and pre-nylon (at least for public consumption.) Very sexy. A necessity for her generation, though.

Then I suppose you'd know where I can find a pair? :D

Twilight Elena

[pygmalion]

To dance in? Try dancestore.com -- they have the seam-backed pantyhose and also stockings, if you want a little more authentic look.

If you're just looking for stockings to wear (which might be less sturdy than the dance variety,) my last pairs I got at Fredericks. But I've also found some at regular department (not discount) stores. 8) The seam back ones are more difficult to find, these days, but virtually any department store I got to has thigh-highs without seams. 8)

[pygmalion]

Just checked. Fredericks has the stockings with or without back seams on their web site. Very sexy, IMO. :wink: 8)

[Twilight_Elena]

Just checked. Fredericks has the stockings with or without back seams on their web site. Very sexy, IMO. :wink: 8)

Indeed. Checked them too. Cool stuff. I'll check my local lingerie shop and see if they've got them.

Twilight Elena

[Nubina]

I apologize for my ignorance, but what does IMO stand for? :oops:

[Sagitta]

I apologize for my ignorance, but what does IMO stand for? :oops: IMO = In My OPinion

:cheers: :)

[leftfeetnyc]

back seem panyhose...$2 at dancestore.com i bought the stockings which are $7 (I like my garter belts) and they seem to hold up well with a lack of runs/tears.

[cocodrilo]

I apologize for my ignorance, but what does IMO stand for? :oops: IMO = In My OPinion

:cheers: :)
If you're in Japan, "imo" means potato... :lol:

[cocodrilo]

back seem panyhose...$2 at dancestore.com i bought the stockings which are $7 (I like my garter belts) and they seem to hold up well with a lack of runs/tears.
What's that around your neck in your avatar? Curious! 8)

[leftfeetnyc]

a cape... :oops:

My friends made it for me at an event and made me dance in it. The pic is from it's first appearence. The part around the neck is a Kippy belt...a rhinestoned scary belt...the clasp is an eagle head which makes it even scarier.

[pygmalion]

Ah yes. The infamous kippy belt. :roll: :lol:

[chandra]

WHY, might i ask, are those belts... well... INFAMOUS... I mean where did it all start? Ive read the threads over at whydance- but i still dont fully get it.

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: Have you been to Kippy Blair's website? :wink:

[chandra]

No, what is the addy? (im bored hear folks- so KIPPY BELTS HERE I COME)

[leftfeetnyc]

www.dancefanatics.com/Products/KippyShop/kippybeltsmain.htm

Kippy Belts are a joke and a reality depending where you look. They were very popular in CW and WCS back in the 90s. The Lindy Hoppers would make fun of the Westies for them. The joke and stereotype still hangs on. There are some people, more CW based, but some WCS based (and now popular in Hollywood) who still wear them.

They are all rhinestone and crytal. Some are very simple but sparkly, others (like the one in the cape which starts slender and gets wider with an eagle head buckle) are really really tacky.

Rather than get offended at the jokes about kippy belts and westies always wearing sparkly clothing, we adopted the joke. It's more fun. One of the whydance.com members had a few from back in the day when she lived in Dallas (the belts are still popular in the midwest). She converted one into a cape for me as we have an inside joke of superhero personalities. I'll like being classy with a touch of goofy or tacky, so I've been riffing on Kippy Belts for a while, one joke being that I need a Kippy Cape. So she made me one for our latest event and I got roped into posing all superhero-y..there are many more pictures than that. I even ended up dancing in it.

[leftfeetnyc]

:lol: :lol: Have you been to Kippy Blair's website? :wink:

Bad!! WCS Commandment 1: Thou shalt not make blaspheme by using the goddess of WCS and tacky attire in the same sentence!

[cocodrilo]

They look kinda cool, if ya ask me :wink: !
Now that stuff Elvis was wearing in the 70s, now THAT'S tacky!

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: Have you been to Kippy Blair's website? :wink:

Bad!! WCS Commandment 1: Thou shalt not make blaspheme by using the goddess of WCS and tacky attire in the same sentence!

:tongue: :lol: :lol:

[chandra]

(the belts are still popular in the midwest).


Thanks for the explanation :D :notworth: :tongue:

I wonder if Ill see some at the grand prix in Kansas, if they are still popular in the midwest! :D :lol:

[cocodrilo]

That style of belts is popular in Japan now- rhinestones and studs. Looks pretty cute on the college girls!

[flashdance]

That style of belts is popular in Japan now- rhinestones and studs. Looks pretty cute on the college girls!

:shock: my imagination has just gone into overdrive :oops:

[leftfeetnyc]

Chandra,

You might see one or two. When I say they're popular, I just mean people still wear them. It took me four event weekends to see even one that was worn in earnest. They were much more abundant in the mid-90s.

[Sagitta]

Kippy belts? Pantyhose? :? :car:

[chandra]

:uplaugh: :uplaugh: :uplaugh: :uplaugh: :bouncy: :applause: :) :lol: :lol: :lol: : ) ;)

ROFLMAO

(thats a really bad picture that just started flaoting threw my head unbidden. The infortunate model is wearing nothign but a kippy belt, cape, and panythose.)
8) :? :shock:

[pygmalion]

Uhhh... No comment. :lol: :lol:

[tanya_the_dancer]

So fishnets are the thing for Latin? D'you think they might be a bit too much for a girl my age? (I have this samba choreography to do, if anyone recalls)

Yep. A lot of ladies wear fishnets for Latin. IMO, it's not too much for someone your age. You're about as close to a woman as a teen can get, IMHO. So go for it, unless the idea of fishnets makes you uncomfortable. They make your legs look nice and hide figure flaws and cellulite quite well (although you're only seventeen, so that may not be an issue. *shrug*) And they're very durable. More expensive than regular hose, true. But I still have my first pair undamaged, years later. 8)

I have a question regarding fishnets. I found that they appear to come in only 2 colors - black and caramel/suntan (but darker than suntan pantyhose). So I got myself a pair of caramel-colored ones. But still they looked to me a bit too dark, especially with flesh-colored shoes. Is it still OK? because when I do wear pantyhose I try to make sure it is not darker than my shoes. I think this is something my mom got into me when I was a teen.

[alemana]

i don't much like it either, when the hose are darker than the shoes. i get my 'nude' fishnets from Hue.

[tanya_the_dancer]

i don't much like it either, when the hose are darker than the shoes. i get my 'nude' fishnets from Hue.

Can you find them online? I got mine from discountdancesupply and they only have 2 brands of fishnets: capezio and danskin.

[alemana]

it's a department store brand, very common. i haven't searched online but you are welcomed to.

[tanya_the_dancer]

it's a department store brand, very common. i haven't searched online but you are welcomed to.

Thanks, I found a few websites which appear to carry it.

[Twilight_Elena]

For one thing, I do BOTH ballroom and salsa, bachata, merengue. I'm an all-combo girl. Secondly, ballroom does include smooth dances over here, so I also do foxtrot, waltz and tango except for latin. And since hose is a no-no with open toe, my only choice is fishnet. Boy, am I gonna get comments...

Twilight Elena
Hmmm. I wrote this no too long ago. Back then I was frightened at the idea of exposing my legs to the public. Now I'm not that self-conscious. Strange how dancing can change a tomboyish, awkward teen into a growing woman. Thanks, dancing! :D

Twilight Elena

[FTL]

Oh, I'm sorry I think I'm in the ladies dressing room! I didn't see anything.

[cocodrilo]

Oh, I'm sorry I think I'm in the ladies dressing room! I didn't see anything.
Ha ha! (Yeah, right!) Reminds me of the fashions show I was in a few weeks back- we were getting ready for the full dress rehearsal and I'm putting on this strappy backless top and turn around and the event planner was there, looking over the screen! Oh well, you know the saying about boobs- "You've seen one, you've seen 'em both!"

[pygmalion]

Ha ha! (Yeah, right!) Reminds me of the fashions show I was in a few weeks back- we were getting ready for the full dress rehearsal and I'm putting on this strappy backless top and turn around and the event planner was there, looking over the screen! Oh well, you know the saying about boobs- "You've seen one, you've seen 'em both!"

*giggle* How embarrasssing. :oops:

[cocodrilo]

Strange thing is, I'm not terribly shy if someone catches a view of me nude. Guess it comes from hanging out a lot with th' boys at hot springs, or camping or something. Being modestly endowed might also have something to do with it...

[chandra]

I have a question to the more than modestly endowed out there:

Anyone ever found a bra that gives support to D or larger chest sizes, without using so much padding that the result could nock someone out???

[pygmalion]

Incidentally. Has anybody ever tried "Bring it Up" instant lifts? (Instant breast lifts, that is. :oops: :lol: ) Just noticed 'em on The Dance Dresser site. They look like ... well.

Anybody ever tried 'em? :cool:

[mamboqueen]

Incidentally. Has anybody ever tried "Bring it Up" instant lifts? (Instant breast lifts, that is. :oops: :lol: ) Just noticed 'em on The Dance Dresser site. They look like ... well.

Anybody ever tried 'em? :cool:

No, but I probably should ;)

[pygmalion]

I couldn't tell whether they were intended to be instead of a bra or inside of a bra (a la saggy old ladies lol.)

Either way, it's probably worth the twenty-five bucks to find out. lol.

[tanya_the_dancer]

I have a question to the more than modestly endowed out there:

Anyone ever found a bra that gives support to D or larger chest sizes, without using so much padding that the result could nock someone out???

I found a few:

http://www.onehanesplace.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prnbr=4698

http://www.onehanesplace.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prnbr=7717

They're also easy to mutilate and turn into clear-strap bras.

[waltzgirl]

Manhattan Theatre Supply has the "Bring It Up" lifts for $9. I don't know if the packages contain the same # of lifts, though.

They have a bunch of other adhesive bras and cups under Non-Bras and Clothing Tapes.

Did you watch the instructional video on Dance Shopper? Yikes.

[pygmalion]

Just the picture looks intimidating enough. lol. Non-bras? Sounds intriguing. Must check it out. :car:

[Sabor]

didn't read this long thread ofcourse.. but i like the title.. so just thought i'd support it!

[tangotime]

Funny-- Funny and very funny !!!!!!!!!:D :D :D