Wardrobe Tips For Women
Toupee Tape
Toupee tape is also known as fashion tape, topstick strips or hairpiece tape. It is a woman’s best friend! This tape will dramatically increase your clothing options. Finally, you will be able to wear that sexy top dancing without worrying about things falling down, off, or popping out. Apply it directly to the skin or to your bra (my preference) and then stick it to your clothing/costume. I have tried using several brands but Vapon is the only one I’ve tried that has the correct level of adhesion. You can buy this clear double sided tape at most beauty supply stores like Sally Beauty Supply or Target.
Strapless Bras
If you need to wear strapless bras for dancing, buy them is one size smaller than you normally wear. For example, if you normally wear a 36B buy a 34B to wear dancing. Also, look for strapless bras that have grippers (plastic lines) along the band. Follow these tips and your strapless will stay securely in place.
Spankies
Ladies, please wear spankies. Often the audience is seated and watching you from below. Quite often photographers and videographers will lie down on the floor or place cameras on the floor and take upskirt pictures of you while you are dancing. (So creepy!) You may be giving more of a show than you intended, if you don’t wear spankies.
Spankies are worn under your skirt or dress and over your pantyhose (and/or underwear). They are sometimes called dance pants, bloomers, spankies, tights, or lollipops. You’ve seen them on cheerleaders and ice skaters. They can bought at any dance store. Ideally, they are the same color as your dress or skirt. The problem with flesh colored spankies is they make you look naked and people think they are seeing your bare butt. Attention competitive dancers! Flesh colored “panties” violate the International DanceSport Federation’s Dress Regulations and can get you and your partner disqualified from ballroom and Latin dance competitions. There are also some fancier options out there. If you are going for a vintage look, you can buy some nylon and lace trim bloomers to wear as spankies. Vanity Fair makes them and they can be bought at department stores. There are several swing clothing dealers and trendy stores that offer very lacy colored spankies. Though cute, they are also bulky and don’t work well under most skirts or dresses so consider the cut of your dress or skirt when shopping.
Hosiery
There have been several improvements in the pantyhose industry lately. There are now toeless pantyhose available! These are great to wear with open toed shoes. You can find them in most upscale department stores- Nordstroms, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, etc. Great news if you like wearing low back dresses or costumes. You can also now find low rise panty hose at Victoria’s Secret, online, or at upscale department stores. Make sure your pantyhose don’t have visible control top lines. They will be seen while dancing.
If you are a competitive ballroom or Latin dancer you need to wear flesh colored fishnets. If you live in LA, Champion Dance Shoes carries a good supply of fishnets for dancers. Stores that cater to jazz and ballet dancers often have fishnets as well. If you are wearing flesh tone or black shoes your fishnets should be the same color in order to make you have a nice long leg line. Brown fabric dye can be used to dye your fishnets if they are not quite the same color as your shoes.
If your hosiery is giving you a “muffin top” cut slits in the elastic waistband to expand it and resolve that issue. If that doesn’t work or if you need to lower the top of your fishnets because they are peaking out of a cut out on your costume, you can cut the elastic waistband off entirely (and make it as low as you need them to be) and then make a new waitband by threading a piece of thin elastic through the fishnets to make a tie off belt. You will want to cut the elastic to be longer than the measurement of where you want the fishnets to sit so that you will be able to tie it off.
Wear some cheap pantyhose (like No Nonsense Sheer to Waist) under your fishnets to prevent chafing! You might find these up at Save-On, CVS, K-Mart, or the grocery store.
Mary’s Thrift Store
Buy dance costumes, dance tops, dance dresses, cummerbunds, and more online from Mary’s Poshmark Closet.
Save $10!
Recieve a $10 credit when you sign up for Poshmark with @adornfashion as your personal invite code.
Wardrobe Tips For Men & Women
Your socks should match your pants.
Wear socks that are long enough to cover your ankles when wearing pants.
Don’t wear shorts with men’s dance shoes or the women’s version of them (ballroom practice shoes, etc).
If you are going to a club or dance studio you haven’t been to before, it is better to be overdressed than to have embarrassing problems at the door.
If you sweat a lot, bring along dry shirts to change into. It is common for people (especially men) to bring workout towels with them to dry off with.
Performance and Competition Clothing
If you want to buy ready made new or used competition or performance clothes, check out Notably Unique and Champion Dance Store. They sell a variety of ballroom and Latin practice and competition style clothing.
Notably Unique
www.notablyunique.com
1311 S. Brookhurst
Anaheim, CA 92804
(714) 778 – 8801
Store Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 10:30 – 7
Saturday: 11 – 5
Champion Dance Store
Tell them Mary Scanlon sent you!
www.ChampionDanceShoes.com
3383 Barham Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 874-8704
Store Hours:
Monday – Saturday 10 -5
If you just need alterations done, I recommend Georgiani’s in the Los Angeles garment district on (they just moved near re-vamp I’ll update soon). It is the cheapest place around to get expert alterations. Ask for Mike and tell him Mary sent you. They are great at all men’s attire – suits, pants, costumes, etc. However, if you need major dress alterations go to Janet Domino or ask Mike to show you to his parent’s shop down the street. With all tailors call ahead and make sure your order is done before you pick it up. Never assume it will really be ready when they tell you it will be. If you need the alterations done for a performance, get them done far in advance.
Georgiani
Alterations & Tailoring NO.2
804 S. Los Angeles St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 489 – 4048
Custom Made DanceSport Costumes
Dance costumes have to be more flexible and sturdy than regular clothes. Women will want lots of movement in their costumes. Ideally fabrics will be lightweight and breathe well. Any fitted fabric should be 4-way stretch. When having a dance costume made it is important to work with someone who is experienced in making dance costumes- especially if you are new to designing your own costumes. They know how to make your outfit flexible and sturdy.
LeNique
6178 West Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016 (Postal Address)
Culver City, CA 90016 (GPS Address)
(310 ) 838-9390 Phone
(310) 861-5448 Fax
(866) 45 DANCE Toll Free
admin@lenique.com
http://www.lenique.com/
Kalina Dancesport Gowns
(602) 481-1903
kalina@designsbykalina.com
www.DesignsByKalina.com
For women doing theme routines, I recommend Janet Domino. Bring Janet your wildest ideas and she can make them come alive. In addition to working on my ballroom gowns, she created my salsa “Fire dress” and some crazy sea creature hats for my sister’s work.
Janet Domino
Couturiere
Bridal/DanceSport Gowns
(310) 649-0146
For men who need custom tail suits (International/American), tuxedos, or Latin outfits, I recommend Garo Ashikian. His shop is close to the Westmoor in Korea Town. He’s the tailor for Dancing with the Stars. He’s on set a couple days a week when they are filming, so call before you go to make sure he’ll be in.
Onik
Garo Ashikian
3968 West 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 380 – 3272
onikdesigned@aol.com
dancewearformen.net
Most styles of competitive dance encourage or even require rhinestones, sequins, and beads.
Stoning
Putting rhinestones on can be tedious, but the look is well worth it. You can have your dress maker stone your dress, but most dancers do it themselves to save some money. First arrange all your rhinestones in the desired pattern. Then apply E6000 adhesive to the back of each stone with an opened bobby pin. Set and allow 72 hours to dry.
You can order rhinestones and diamantes from Swarovski and Preciosa on-line at www.dance-shop.com. They are based in London and have a good reputation for quick deliveries.
The cheapest place to buy quality rhinestones and E6000 adhesive in Los Angeles is:
Bohemian Chrystal
(Maple & 8th in the Garment District)
812 South Maple Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 627-9553 Phone
(213) 627-9554 Phone
(213) 627-6991 Fax
Store Hours:
Mon. – Fri. 9am – 4pm
Sat. 8am -1pm
Also at Maple and 8th is a great bead store:
Beads & Trims
321 E. 8th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 689-1000 Phone
(213) 689-1460 Fax
Another good one nearby is:
Berger Bead Specialty CO.
413 East 8th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 627-8783
Vintage
Guys, do you want a Zoot Suit or Zoot Suit Accessories? For about $445 you can get Zooted out from head to toe including all the accessories at El Pachuco. They have a HUGE selection!
El Pachuco Zoot Suits Inc.
www.elpachuco.com
801 S. Harbor Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 526-3743
Store Hours:
Mon. – Fri. 11 am to 6 pm
Sat. 11 am to 3 pm
If you want to get that vintage look without smelling like moth balls or having your clothes tear when you dance, check out Re-Vamp. Located in the Los Angeles garment district, they have a good variety of vintage re-makes from 1910-1950. The store is very cute. I have had shirts, skirts, dresses, bikinis, a winter coat, crop tops, and even a santa costume made here. The owner is a dancer herself and understands how to make dance clothing that you can dance and do aerials in. Make an appointment to see what they have in stock or if you have something specific in mind they create custom orders for a similar price.
Optimo
A great resource for buying, cleaning, or blocking men’s hats is Optimo. They are located in Chicago, but you can ship them your vintage hats to be cleaned and/or blocked or order hats online. www.optimo.com
Thrift Stores
For those on a limited budget, a popular way to go about getting that vintage look is to hit the local thrift stores. You never know what inexpensive gem is waiting for you to re-discover it. Larger sizes are generally harder to find in vintage styles (esp. in vintage shoes). As a nation, we’ve grown over the years and the larger vintage sizes are more in demand now than when they were created. Another reason has to do with smaller people purchasing and taking in items that are too big. If you live in Los Angeles, check out the thrift stores when you travel. I have found better luck finding swing clothing in cities where swing dancing and movie making is not as popular. In Los Angeles thrift stores, there are a lot of dancers and costumes designers scouring the racks regularly.