Practicewear - I just don't get it.
- Thread starter dancinrina
- Start date
s2k
Well-Known Member
Lioness
Forum Master
I thought you were a sewing goddess these days, Lioness...
Hahahaha! I should probably practise on leotards to be honest. I haven't had time to sew for months.
danceamandadance
Member
Sooooo, it seems yoga-esque wear is acceptable for most for practice/lessons? I have a practice skirt for smooth (mostly because my foxtrot routine has a lot of skirt play in it), but up until recently I was taking my lessons in mostly street clothes (often what I wore to work, including *gasp* jeans....but our studio is pretty relaxed with an emphasis on come as you are). But now that the work we're doing is getting so rigorous, I don't really like wearing normal street clothes because I'm usually DRIPPING 20 minutes in. I also don't like looking schlubby. Is it possible to look presentable yet wear clothes appropriate for working that hard?
mindputtee
Forum Master
I've started wearing leggings to practice/lessons because they are the most comfortable for me and I just don't own enough practice wear. I pay my floor fee like everyone else, if they don't like my attire they can deal with it.
danceamandadance
Member
I'm less concerned about what others think and more about wanting to present myself a certain way. But I'm also a serial overdresser. my instructor doesn't care what I wear, and we have no dress code, so this is all on me!
MaggieMoves
Forum Master
Capezio has some cheap(er) ones available, especially when they have their summer sales.
Practicewear works for me as well even though it's expensive. I've ruined a few dresses and jeans even social dancing in them. Also sweating a lot... practice wear does make that more comfortable.
I wear a lot of travelsmith tops--they have nice stretch and wash well. I have switched to wearing pants a lot of the time because smooth length skirts cover up too much. I sometimes wear a short practice skirt for rhythm, largely just to get used to it and not feel like an idiot in my rhythm dress. 
I started dancing in street/work clothes but that quickly became very uncomfortable - can't really move and then the sweat factor. Typically leggings and an inexpensive but nice top - and I've found quite a few at Forever 21 or other junior shops that work fine. I do like to wear a skirt for smooth, though - it does feel different, and I'm glad I got used to the feel before competing. I have one practice skirt from a local dance shop (don't recall the price but was definitely less than $100) and a couple of dresses from local consignment shops that are not dancewear but have the feel and work very well. Have not tried any of the pricey practice wear - if I did I might be spoiled for anything else, so perhaps best to not find out!
MaggieMoves
Forum Master
In all fairness I find that that at least the major brands practice wear lasts long.
Lately I've just been sticking to leotards with a Latin skirt.
Lately I've just been sticking to leotards with a Latin skirt.
I generally wear a t-shirt and yoga or other exercise pants. I do own a couple practice skirts that I break out maybe right before an event or for an outside coach technique lesson. I probably should upgrade my normal threads, one coach encouraged it (in a positive way), but I guess I feel pretentious and like an imposter, like I'm taking myself too seriously. Many at my studio wear normal work clothes (business casual), but I can't move well in dress slacks.
I usually wear yoga pants, too, but I recently bought a couple of practice skirts because the whole feel of dancing in a skirt is different for me. It definitely makes me feel more feminine and I want to improve the way I present myself. Plus it feels a lot closer to my costumes which are skirted and I need to learn how to play with the skirt~ 
No way should you feel pretentious or like an imposter. I kind of felt that way, too, but to me, it falls in the realm of "fake it till you make it!" One other lady student in our studio wears practice skirts and I feel like it makes her look more like a pro (which I think we all would like) and that she's not just there for an expensive exercise session. So I'm trying to get over that, too!
TakeTwo
Active Member
[...]the whole feel of dancing in a skirt is different for me. It definitely makes me feel more feminine and I want to improve the way I present myself. Plus it feels a lot closer to my costumes which are skirted and I need to learn how to play with the skirt~
+1 - particularly with a "practicewear" skirt. When I started working on Smooth, I practiced in a maxi skirt I bought at TJMaxx. That was fine until I did a run-through before a comp in the gown I was planning on wearing. The dresses have a lot more weight and fabric, and I had to adjust my dancing to accommodate the difference.
I now have a practice skirt that's reminiscent of something I may compete in and think it's very much worth it (that said, keep an eye out for sales - and try it on before you buy it!!). It feels good to dance in it and gets me more into a productive mindset during lessons. I have one "dancewear" top that matches the skirt because sometimes I like to look a little more put together, but usually I just go with something drape-y and comfortable that I bought at another TJMaxx or what-have-you.
Miss Silly
Well-Known Member
I a, usually in yogawear (hey, i live in Vancouver after all HAHA). But now that we have open routines, i've had to start practicing latin with a skirt so I can coordinate myself with picking it up for certain parts of the routine.