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Subject: Adult Costumes


Author:
Anonymous
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Date Posted: 16:18:15 03/11/01 Sun


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Replies:
[> Subject: Help! Adult Solo Dress! What do we wear for competition?


Author:
Anonymous
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Date Posted: 16:26:25 03/11/01 Sun

Hi Everyone,
Ok, I have a load of questions so if this is long I'm sorry. First, I have this wonderful woman named Sheri who will be making my solo dress.

Here are the problems, what to do...

1) I'm 28 years old. I will not compete in my first feis for a while. The only adult feis I've seen was nonsanction one. The adult costumes where bad. Some had dirty and discolored skirts. And some didn't wear briefs under their dress-yuck. Most wore a black skirt or kilt, and a white shirt.
What do adults wear to a real feis? Do they wear costumes like the teens? Or are they toned down a little?

2) Can I get away way with a more form fitting dress?

3) What type of fabric do adults use?

4) I am not wearing poodle socks. I will have black tights and briefs. Do you think pale green is ok as far as a color choice for the dress? What color knot work?

5) Does anyone have a web sight for Celtic knot work that they know of? I need to get an idea of what I want?

6) Do I have to have a brat, or can I wear a plain scarf?

Replies:
-I took pictures at my last few competitions, and took many pictures of adults. I'm in the western Canada region. I think you'll find that adult costumes range the wide spectrum. Some dancers wear solo dresses just like the kids, others a plain blouse and skirt. Give me a few minutes and I'll sort out the pictures for you, and put up a few more that I have. I'll put them up at http://www/geocities.com/inniu_ire

-1st link to the Antonio Pacelli website and read the costume rules:
http://www.antoniopacelli.co.uk/cgi-bin/publisher/display.cgi?1817-4100-52546+news
Currently, few judges are enforcing the rules -- but the grace period may end. If you are making a new costume, best to abide by the new rules.
2nd -- to quote the Wimbledon ad: "only the ball should bounce!" All adult women should wear sports bras (Please, you wouldn't want to hear some of the comments from audience about this)
3rd -- most adults look silly in an elaborate solo dress (there are exceptions), try for a more elegant look appropriate to your build.
4th -- be sure to check the back view -- the hem needs to be marked with the dancer wearing the dress. Most of us need a little more length in back! Don't show too much when you bow.
I am starting to see a variety of dresses on adults, some very attractive ones. Lots of black, but also burgundy & navy. Adult costumes are evolving -- design something that the rest of us can use for inspiration!

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[> Subject: Adult fabric combination


Author:
Anonymous
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Date Posted: 12:55:18 03/15/01 Thu

I am about to start making an adult dance costume for myself. I made a "practice" dress from cotton, (to fit the pattern) because I am not an experienced seamstress.
The dress is actually a jumper with an A-line cut. I would like to make the dress from black poly-gabardine (or something similar) except I was thinking of making just the front panel from Black Velveteen. It will be faced on the top, and the skirt fully lined with satin. We made a similar jumper for my daughter except the whole jumper was velveteen (and not black). Is there any reason that making the dress with the one panel of velveteen won't work?

Replies:
-Should work if the weights are similar. Just be sure you thoroughly pre-shrink both fabrics -- twice through the washer and dryer will prevent any disappointments. Also be sure to preshrink the lining and interfacing. If the velveteen is much heavier than the other fabric, the dress may tend to shift forward at the shoulders, especially if it is not tight fitting. You could anchor the waist with a grosgrain ribbon inner waistband similar to those used in wedding dresses to take some of the skirt weight off the bodice.

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[> Subject: Fabrics


Author:
Anonymous
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Date Posted: 13:09:14 03/15/01 Thu

I’m creating new dresses for our adult dancers (myself being one). I’ve picked out a pattern that’s a basic a-line, no zipper (to make it easier for the non-sewers), but am having major problems with fabric. We’re on guidelines of using black and white, with the possibility of silver. I’ve decided on black crushed panne for the skirt, but then run into problems. The teacher suggested using white lace on the sleeves, and possibly the bodice. Here’s where I start to wonder… The teacher really doesn’t care about the dresses, nor do most of the people who are going to be wearing them. I like the lace on the bodice over the black, but not over the sleeves. However, the lace seems too lightweight to be on its own for the sleeves. Would it be getting too busy to go to another fabric? As well, with just the plain black and white lace, would it look horrendous if the shawl was a black a silver meshy fabric?

Replies:
-If you feel the lace is too lightweight to stand alone for the sleeves, you could underline it with a lightweight fabric, perhaps a black to keep it looking like the bodice, or even a flesh toned lining fabric -- would give the illusion of lace only sleeves. Nice of you to find a pattern without a zipper for the non-sewers -- do you think panne would be difficult to handle for beginner sewers? I'm making a dress for my PW U13 daughter out of polyester shantung and it is very easy to handle and work with --had you considered using something like this?

-Thanks for the ideas on the sleeves. It's definitely something to look at. Personally, I know that when I first started sewing zippers were the most horrid thing, and I still think they're the trickiest part of a dress so was trying to save others. :-) As for fabric choice... Unfortunately we're in an area that does not have innovations like polyester shantung and ordering it in would add too much cost to our dresses. The panne is so inexpensive (less than $10 Canadian/metre) and the crushed has such texture under light. Actually, the teacher had wanted velvet, or crushed velvet, so the panne was a slightly easier option. Believe me, there are so many fabrics I'd rather use, lol. I think I'm going to have to take a trip to a nearby 'big city' in order to get a look at this shantung as it seems very popular now. I'm a fabric junkie, so would love something new.

-Just a thought why not try to line the sleeves with a liquid silver to give it a different shiny effect. you could do the same thing with the cape instead of the mesh over the lace.

-When in doubt, simplify! One of the nice things about dancing as an adult is that a lot of the time the simplest dresses can really be the most effective! I really like the idea that someone suggested about lining the lace with silver and then making a cape to match. If the cape and sleeves match, then they all look as though they were meant to go together. If the cape is one color and the sleeve one color... maybe you could use a silver lame under your lace (if it's a loose pattern) or even just silver? Also, as much as zippers stink to put in, panne is so hard to work with!!! I made the kids a bunch of scrunchies out of it once and never wanted to do it again because the fabric migrates and migrates as you sew it. If you can find a nice shantung, it might be worth the hassle of putting in a zipper to avoid the panne!

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