Salseros - What kind of fabric for Salsa dance clothes?

D

danceguy

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

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

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

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

Any help would be greatly appreciated! :P

Best,

SG
 
peachexploration said:
Hi SG. Funny, I was just browsing the internet and found this link. http://www.salsaobsessions.com/merchandise_pants.html
I see alot of salseros wearing these. Hope this helps. :D
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Santa Madre, who the hell pays $110 for pants? I tend to stick with two layers, a cotton undershirt and any random club/work shirt on top. Fashion doesn't really matter that much as it is too dark in the clubs anyways for people to see. For socials, long sleeve athletic shirts that soak up the sweat without making the stains too obvious. I don't think anyone really cares about what the guy wears, and since accidents, rips and spills are bound to happen, it doesn't really make sense to spend that much on salsa clothing anyways.
 
Very interesting topic for me as I am somewhere where I can get clothes tailored fairly cheap. Pair of black slacks for 10 dollars are being made as we speak. I actually chose a material that felt good to the touch and skin...I think it is synthetic, and am going to test it out when I collect it on Saturday.
 
and since accidents, rips and spills are bound to happen, it doesn't really make sense to spend that much on salsa clothing anyways.
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right on!.. matter of fact bikinis for the beautiful ladies and shorts for the gents is all whats really needed.. :oops: .. ok ok i'm kidding .. u can throw in a pair of socks if u like LOL
 
brujo said:
Santa Madre, who the hell pays $110 for pants? ..
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Well, you can always buy a pair of shorts like Sabor suggested. :? Anyway, I was suggesting the style. You can have them made for much cheaper as Sagitta does.
 
Sagitta said:
|Pair of black slacks for 10 dollars are being made as we speak. I actually chose a material that felt good to the touch
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Hmmm, who touches you in the pants when you dance?
 
brujo said:
Sagitta said:
|Pair of black slacks for 10 dollars are being made as we speak. I actually chose a material that felt good to the touch
Click to expand...

Hmmm, who touches you in the pants when you dance?
Click to expand...

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

Don't usually notice much about how the fabric of the guy's slacks feels though. At least, not when dancing salsa. :lol: :lol:
 
MacMoto said:
brujo said:
I don't think anyone really cares about what the guy wears
Click to expand...
:shock: Not true!
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I will second to that! Nice fabric makes a world of difference. The style doesn't have to be anything over the top, as long as it's flattering and fits well.

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

(ok, $110 for a pair of white pants is WAY too much...)
 
OK, this post hits home with me. As I am a hand-full of Salseros in NY City who show up to any dance venue looking "spiffy". I really can’t stand that salsa lost its glamour with time. It is a great feeling to put something nice on and walk out the door looking presentable. I do it to exude confidence, that I take care of myself, in some subliminal way that I care for the frame as I do about the engine, and that what you see on me will be matched in skill on the dance floor.

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

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

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

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

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

I feel we all should look presentable and approachable. Please don’t dress like you are at a rehearsal! But that is just my Opinion. Not to mention I think it looks tacky…
 
Hmm, thanks for the replies folks...but no one really answered my question directly! For shame. :D

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

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

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

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

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

I'll go out shopping more later this week and see what I can find...there's bound to be a few stores out there that actually sell somewhat 'normal' clothes. :wink:
 
scorpionguy said:
Boriken - it can certainly lead one to over-confidence borderlining on excessive hubris...and unfair judgement of others. I have shown up to dance events over dressed a few times, leaving me looking like quite the fool to put it mildly. :oops:
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It's easy to let the ego speak instead of the soul, but not doing so gives a person a quiet sense of confidence which an elightened ego can never achieve.

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

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