DWTS-Season 8: Week 4 Costume Critique

Satin Stitches | Apr 06, 2009 | 0

Who's Costumes Rated a Satin Stitches 10?

Dancing for Week 4 was both fabulous and disappointing. The score of 10 was awarded-the first one given this season-to Lil Kim, and then a perfect score of 30 was given to Gilles and Cheryl, by the judges.

So there was some fabulous dancing! But there were many disappointing dance performances. Steve-O with Lacey, along with the double-eliminated Steve Wozniak with Karina, and Holly Madison with Dmitry, danced poorly. But, I am not the dance technique and choreography expert, by any means, but really bad dancing is pretty obvious. Costuming is MY thing! So here goes.

A recap of the costuming-there were a couple of tens. All, in all, most of the costuming was so-so, or downright disappointing. Maybe it was all the extra costuming for the professional dancers spotlight dances, that resulted in less attention being paid to the competition costumes this last week?

The spotlight dance costuming was attractive, especially the fun, pink beaded costumes that transformed with a wispy chiffon back-skirt into smooth costumes for the trio of professional dancers. The dominatrix-inspired black costumes, well, they were so-so.

Dancing With the Stars is inspiring adult amateur dancers across the nation, to sign up for ballroom lessons. Ask any studio, and you will find this to be true.

Why do adults take up ballroom dancing? Exercise? Social opportunities? To meet a future life partner? Maybe. But in talking with most of my ballroom costume clients, what the women really want, is the opportunity to wear glamorous dresses! The men?-generally the dance apparel is probably rather low, on the list, but not so, for women!

Many older, amateur female ballroom dancers did not have the opportunity in their childhood or young adult life, to be able to take dance classes. It might have been a financial decision, or dance classes may not have been available in their community.

When finances and time commitments allow, Ballroom Dancing is a current popular outlet for adults. I know that many adult amateur ballroom dancers really enjoy the exercise and social camaraderie and enjoy the option to expand their social circles.

Training for competitions can really push them to practice and stretch their skills, and help them gain lots of self-confidence. But, when they sign up for competitions, the REAL, secret reason is so they can live out their fantasy of dressing like a princess, with all the glitz and glamour that goes along with the heavy makeup, coifed hair, over-the-top jewelry and oh, those fabulous costumes!!!  

Week 4, of Dancing With the Stars, featured a sensual Argentine Tango, and a fun Lindy Hop, both dances that are not in the top handful of most danced, by Ballroom Latin and Smooth competitors.

Costuming for the Tango included costumes that fit into the princess-costume category, and they were generally sexy and glamorous.

Lil Kims brown scalloped lace costume was generally nice looking. It flattered her pretty well, except the skirt was a little weird. It appeared to be stuck on, and not as attractive as it could have been. And I kept staring at the open side section on the open side of the skirt, wondering if that could have been done better. I give it a 7.

Edyta was wearing a very sexy and pretty black sheer costume, except for the black ruffle that started on the front bodice and cascaded down her back. It looked messy, and I saw her partners hand get caught in it. You always need to remember where a partners hand is placed on the womans body and costume, as to not cause such problems. Take this ruffle off, and her costume would have gotten a 9 from me.

Hollys fringed costume was so-so. I enjoyed the use of the black and white fringe, in various lengths for the skirt. The bodice was nothing to write about. I give it a 6.

But confirming my thoughts, after Holly was revealed as one of the stars going home, she confirmed that her favorite part of the experience was the costumes. Well said!

Cheryl, one of my favorite dancers was wearing a beautiful, sexy and glamorous Tango dress with deep V necklines, both front and back. I am very impressed that the dress stayed in place with no visible elastic bandings to help! Bravo Randall! The dark colored lace was lined with a light color to show off the pattern, which was highlighted with lots of rhinestones, of course! The covered front midriff illustrated a sexy option that could be used for an older dancer who wants a sexy dress, but does not care to show off her belly button. I give this costume a 10. And Gilles was wearing one of the many pinstriped looks that were shown on the men this week. He gets my 10, also! Maybe just for sexiness?

Karina was naked, but oh, so stunning, in her bright red bra and draped skirted Tango costume. She gets my 10, as well. The red pocket square in the Wozs outfit gets my 2-thumbs-up!

And yes, I am currently dismissing most of the costuming for the guys, as they were generally tailored well, but pretty boring. Yes, pretty much how guys apparel is treated in the everyday world!

Because the Lindy Hop is not the most popular dance for ballroom dancing, maybe it was more difficult to come up with glitzy costumes.  Only Lacey wore something other than a petticoated 40s or 50s-style costume. Her cute-as-a-button little romper one-piece jumpsuit was different, glitzy and unique. This costume gets an 8 for trying! The accompanying shirt on Steve-O, maybe a 3 from me. It was not very attractive.

The Lindy Hop became popular in the late 1930s and continued through the forties and early fifties. Perhaps this was a chance for the costume designers to zero in on the retro looks.

Kym, Julianne, Chelsie, Melissa and Shawn also danced the Lindy Hop. Melissa and Kyms dresses were the most glamorous. Kyms was pretty, with a bright Hawaiian print encrusted with rhinestones. I give it a 9, as a hedge against the offerings for the rest of the night. The dinner jacket look on her partner, David, went well with her dress.

Julianne and her mans costumes were really disappointing. The retro-waitress theme was cute, but even with a minimal amount of rhinestones, it was not glitzy at all. To emphasize her legs, the petticoated skirt was short, but this just made it look low budget, to me. Maybe if she were the star, instead of the professional dancer, a little more effort into adding some glamour may have happened. The pair earned only a 5 from me. If they had more rhinestones, maybe a 6.

Melissas was hot in her hot pink retro dress, with polka dots. The addition of lots of rhinestones, and the cold shoulder look, a throwback to the 80s, gave it glam! I give it a 10. Tony, with his suspenders and bow tie was an OK accessory for her routine.

Did you notice also, that with the full hemlines of most of the Lindy-Hop skirts, they are still very smooth and sleek through the waist and torso? This is created with the gored skirt pattern, where it is seamed to stay sleek at the waist and hipline, and then flair out at the hemline. The petticoat is cut the same, to keep the volume of the ruffles at the hemline.

Chelsies pink plaid vest and petticoated skirt were more tailored and more glitzy than the ensemble worn by Julianne. But it looked low budget and ho-hum. Tys matching plaid tie, was the entire spark in his outfit. But, thank you for no western yokes! I give them a 7 for trying.

Shawn and her partner, Mark kept their Lindy Hop costumes under athletic warm-ups, which was a clue to what they might be wearing. Cute and dorky for Mark, cute and glitzy for Shawn. The choreography did not thrill the judges, nor did the costuming thrill me. I can only give a 7 to the athletic duo, mainly because of how cute Mark ALWAYS looks in his dorky costumes!

When doing retro costumes or funny costumes for adult dancers, you need to keep them attractive and sexy. If you are doing the designing or suggesting, keep in mind, that it is every amateur ballroom dancers dream to be wearing glamorous gowns and costumes. Help them attain their fantasy!

This last week, many of the ho-hum costumes seemed as if the producers of the show said, OK, the costumes budget is overspent on the first three weeks guys, lets hold back to save some money for the upcoming weeks.

I am hoping that tonights show features ALL stunning costumes!

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Ballroom, Teacher, Enthusiast, Parent, Studio, Costume Design, Costumes, Dancing With the Stars, Reality Television Shows (all tags)