How Many Times?

Dancebug

Dancebug

Well-Known Member
How many times do you wear the same costume for competitions? Most of ads for used costumes say they were worn only few times--two or three times. Does this mean one gets a new costume after two or three competitions?
 
The most I ever wore a costume was a theater arts dress, which got worn five times in one year. For the larger comps that year when people had already seen it, I wore something else.

But yeah, my ballgowns and rhythm costumes only got worn a few times.
 
Some couples are sponsored by dress-makers and thus get a lot of new costumes. They then get sold on "second hand" but it's still a significant profit for the dress-maker (or the couple, depending on their sponsorship arrangments).

I don't think anyone who buys their own dresses would get a new one every other comp!
 
I love gowns, but never really thought I change them that frequently. I realized that I don't have a gown I wore more than 2 times (except for one Chris made)... :shock:

Changing that this weekend though, it will be my 3rd time wearting a gown... (but I already posted it for sale so probly it wont be worn more then 2 more times)....
 
It depends for me...mostly whether I can afford another gown! When I'm not doing a lot of showcases and comps, I can't justify the expense of a new one so I just keep wearing the old one. I'd love to have a new one every other comp or so, so I learned how to sew my own! I'm making my current dress as a "modular" dress so I can interchange different pieces for a different look each time.
 
I wear gowns quite a bit esp. if i really like it. I have been known for only wearing a dress once though. I will also almost never wear the same dress to the same competition.
 
I just asked because, in my non-dance life, I rarely wear a "used" outfit for a special occasion. But, in my non-dance life, I have NO outfits that cost as much as a decent competition gown. There's gotta be a balance here, somewhere, right? :?
 
pygmalion said:
Wearing a gown that's already been seen is a problem, I take it?
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I wouldn't necessarily say that, but when you know you're going to be in front of the same judges over and over, I like to mix it up. Liked, I should have said. And I too didn't wear the same dresses year after year to the same comps, but with theater arts, I usually had a specific costume for each routine anyway.

It does make a difference that in your personal life, you don't drop $3,500 on an outfit for a special occasion. I'm all about going the used route; I fell in love with a former-Larinda dress several years ago. I ended up getting a different one because the designer cut me such an incredible deal but even so, you pay substantially less for a dress that a pro (or anyone) wore for maybe an hour, two or three times EVER. I've also had dresses made specifically for me and naturally now that I'm out of the dance biz, have had a really hard time selling them due to their size. Use a designer who will do trade-ins and don't give yourself a hard time about it. You'll look just as good but will save money in the long run.
 
To some extent, I have to class fancy costumes with fancy routines... they are so much fun, but unless you are really competing in the top divisions, all you really need is something that will let the judges see you as a dancer. Sure, if one can afford to have some fun, that's part of what makes dancing enjoyable. But afford is not measured so much in terms of "can find the money" as in terms of "can find the money and still have money to invest in sufficient lessons on core dance principles"
 
Chris Stratton said:
But afford is not measured so much in terms of "can find the money" as in terms of "can find the money and still have money to invest in sufficient lessons on core dance principles"
Click to expand...

I think once you can afford to find $3500 for a gown, you most likely can afford training as well :D

edit:

Afford training = skip lunches for couple months :? :?
 
And sleep on a park bench during comp trips...

In fairness though, the online costume trading across diverse geographic areas does seem to let the ladies change dresses often, without spending too much or very often having to dance against the costume's former owner.
 
I try to wear a gown four times before I sell it, but the truth is I get bored easily and often sell it after wearing it three times. I make my own dresses so my costs are miniscule compared to paying for a new OR used dress from one of the top designers. By doing it myself I can have between 7 and 11 dresses for the cost of one of the top designer dress, so why not :-)

By the way, Jen, you should see what I did to that black smooth gown...I lengthened it by adding black satin at the bottom, stoned it with 30 gross of cobalt stones, made a stoned lace hair piece, necklace, and bracelets, and added a cobalt blue silk float. Too bad for me you're making your own now, 'cause you know I'd love to pass it on.... :-)
 
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