Sprucing up my Standard gown - sewing questions!

Thanks! Since it was a neck / open back, I just stretched the elastic a little bit (probably about 10%) as I pinned it to the opening. I also gave it more stretch on the verticals (along the sides of the back opening) and less on the horizontals (neckline / bottom of back opening) so it wouldn't pucker. It turned out quite well.

It has been interesting returning to costume sewing after so many years away - lots of little skills and pieces of information that I am having to relearn.

Next task: pin and sew on a drape to the big open back. Planning to put it on the dress form and safety pin in place, hoping I hit the right length / amount of stretch on the first try. :)
 
I walked into a local fabric store today that is going out of business and may or may not have walked out with 3 yards of lime green lycra. (Okay, maybe I actually did walk out with the fabric but it was only $3 a yard, I couldn't help it!) That being said I don't know what I want to do with it. I mostly compete smooth but need a new latin dress as well. I'm not that fond of being the brightest on the floor (sparkliest yes, brightest no) so want to contrast it with a color that might tone it down a bit. Suggestions for a tastefully green dress?
 
bia said:
I like lime green and black. Though I don't know that "toned down" is necessarily the effect.
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Okay, maybe toned down wasn't the right choice of words. I guess I just don't have the confidence to go out rocking the highlighter look yet. I think of myself as a more "classy" style dancer still learning how to own the dance floor. Not that there is anything wrong with bright dress that clashes against everything else on the floor. I just don't think I could pull it off yet.
I like the black idea, I'm also thinking maybe a silver/white mesh overlay to mute it. Hm, going to have to break out the colored pencils soon.
 
One ballroom dress I loved that included highlighter green used a much darker contrast colour on the shoulder/bust areas of the dress, with the brighter/lighter tones lower down. I thought it looked very classy, and no reason the colour tones couldn't be used for a latin dress. See Arunas Bizokas & Katusha Demidova, Honour Dance - 2011 Asian Open Dance Pro, Tokyo
 
:rolleyes: Van Gogh also used green and purple. And I've seen it on dresses. It did not evoke Barney, but that could be 'cause of the designers (Dore, in one case), and the stellar dancers.
 
I think a shocking colour in a very simple modest cut is a beautiful look, and can make a real statement. Think high neck, to-the knee straight skirt and open back with a drape, letting the colour do all the talking. I'm not even sure I'd stone the dress - maybe just a belt and bracelets.

(Now I totally want to make a dress like this for me)
 
Wolfie said:
I'm not that fond of being the brightest on the floor (sparkliest yes, brightest no) so want to contrast it with a color that might tone it down a bit.
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I think we have similar aesthetics :)
If it'll help, I just got a new standard dress made that's highlighter pink "toned down" with black. The effect turned out pretty well I think! Maybe it'll work for your lime green too.
I'm now in the process of shortening/altering the floats, and stoning the bejesus out of it :Ddress front.png dress back.png
 
In case it wasn't implied, I am also a huge fan of lime green and black, like Bia. Definitely a lot of cool design things you can do with the color combo.
 
I'm new to this group, been dancing about two years, have my first comp in one month and have some questions about a used gown I bought. I've been active in other forums, but not sure of your protocols here, but I'm so glad I found you all! I used to sew a lot, but not much anymore. I got a smooth, ball gown, this is the description from the seller who says it better than I. It's prettier on, than the photo shows. However, it had two "boob cups", foam pads, one inside the other, which didn't help or support anything. They were just tacked in. The seller suggested this:
"The Very Pink dress is NOT strapless. It has nude colored shoulder straps. Only your shoulder/arm joint are exposed.
It's not really that low cut of a dress. This dress is high enough that you could take the cups out and wear your own tan/flesh colored bra. Attach small snaps to your bra straps & the dress shoulder straps so the 2 sets of straps don't separate." The straps on the gown are too narrow to cover a bra, should I try a strapless bra? Look for a bra with really thin straps? Add new straps? I can also take it to a seamstress but don't know anyone who deals in ball gown. Thanks everyone!
Very pink Smooth gown.
No crystals No beads
Lot's of decorative ruching swags across the dress
Size 14/16
$89
Full body suit w/snap crotch, boob cups & a fishing lure dbl layer skirt.
This dress has peek-a-boo shoulders.
Back of the dress has nude colored stiff spandex with boning.
 

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So I have just had a xomp in my brand new latin dress and i love it but it is too short for my body type. It is a crepe dress on a Leo and is asymmetrical I really don't know how to fix it
 
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