And all I have to show for it are these lousy videos
Waltz:
Quickstep:
Viennese Waltz:
Okay, I don’t just have these videos, I have about 400 pictures, with which I promise not to bore you. At least not with too many. But this gives you a good idea of the dress in action. There are some more changes I would like to make to it – adding another petticoat layer first and foremost. Maybe even with some tulle. We’ll see. The next competition isn’t until February.
So how has your weekend been?
Happy sewing!
Love Tatiana’s dress. So elegant! But that silver, pink and grey thing is awful!
Thanks Becky! You are so sweet, and what I have to say next is not directed toward you, but comes as a rumination on several years of working on dance outfits.
I wrote a really snarky post about the tackiness of ballroom and Latin costumes ages ago. It’s still up on the interwebs if you look hard for it. But here’s the thing. Dance costumes are just that – costumes. And yes, they are tacky as hell a lot of the time. There was one gown today that I called the “tribbles gown”, and that my husband called “massacree at the Cottontail corral.” It was so over the top that it was breathtaking. But these things are meant to attract the judges eyes. That means that they get all sorts of, um, gewgaws to rise above the crowd. The problem is that it becomes an issue of taste. And you know what? Taste is a personal matter. I have definite opinions, and I’m sure there are a LOT of folks who don’t like my dresses. But I do, and more importantly, Tatiana does, so that’s what matters to me.
But to be a little snarky, there are some things that I see on the dance floor that I would NEVER put on a real body. Yikes!
Well done on taking on dance costume making so successfully. The leopard print looks great!
Wow – your dress just stands out so wonderfully, Ann – there are some out there that make you do the ‘prom cringe’ if you know what I mean. Question: Is there some sort of set of guidelines on this – for example, could someone wear something in a vintage style? Or a specific period? Or knee length?
There are definite requirements for ballroom dresses, Toby. I’m still learning what they are. I’m not sure if a vintage (say, 50s style) look would be well received for ballroom. And I know that floats are optional for International Standard, but barred from American Smooth dresses.
It’s been quite the learning process. Ballroom dresses are WAY out of my wheelhouse!
Tatiana’s dress looks great. As I watched the videos, before reading your last remark about adding another petticoat, my first thought was “needs some fluffy bits at the hem”, followed by “maybe more sparkles?”. They seemed to disappear when they got to the other side of the floor – but I’d hope the judges have a better view of the whole floor? Or maybe it was the lighting for this particular competition?
It look like DS the Younger the only young-un in these videos? He looked like he was doing a grand job.
It definitely needs more sparklies, Gail. I finished it on Wednesday and there just wasn’t time to get it really good and stoned
. The good news is that we can always add more. Phyllis pointed me in the direction of heat transfer paper, which I’ll use on her next dress. You have to plan the designs in advance with it, and lay them out flat, so it’s best to do before sewing the seams.
The floats on Tatiana’s dress looked really good, well worth the thought you put into them. Much better than the ” I collided with the drapes” approch of some of the other dresses.
Go ahead and post the pictures. I would never get bored. Your son is adorable. As far as the silver and pink dress it is quite hideous. I should know I twirled baton and had to wear some pretty tacky outfits. I looked like mini hooker wearing a tiera twriling a sparkling stick.