DWTS-Season 10: Week 2 Costume Critique

Satin Stitches | Apr 01, 2010 | 1

A nicely covered, Edyta!

It was a BANGLE BRACELET BONANZA and FRINGE FEST this week!  Some fringe on the celebrities, but two sets of fringed costumes for the Pros, during their featured dancing during the musical guests performances on results night! Bracelets seem to be the MUST HAVE accessory. But why??

This week featured some really good dancing and some really bad dancing. The costuming was a little more even. Pamela Anderson has me in her court. I do not believe it, but the blonde bombshell has reinvented herself, once again, as a beautiful, graceful and elegant dancer. My love-hate relationship with her is definitely in the love mode! But oh my goodness-in the bottom two? Ladies, we need to vote for her, because I for one, want to see more of her-IN her costumes!

There were many elegant and interesting costumes, INCLUDING the mens costumes. And Brooke looked elegant in a gunmetal, pleated mini-dress on Mondays show and beautiful in her copper gown for the elimination show. Thank you for showcasing your bustline in a more tasteful neckline this week!

A beautifully covered, Pamela!

Shannen and Mark danced the Jive. As with last week, Shannen wore black and white. Her dancing was better, her costume was good. Did you notice that there was an under-layer of bright purple, under her black petticoat? This adds depth and interest to an otherwise monochromatic color scheme. Mark wore his trademark nerd-Michael Jackson-esque costume with short black pants with glittering white sox! Luckily, he is cheek-tweaking cute, and pulls it off well!

Aiden and Edyta improved their dancing AND their costuming. Edyta had an elegant pink chiffon gown, with big ruffles accented with horsehair braid, which gives the ruffles 3-dimensionality. There were little pleats on Edytas bodice. This is one of my favorite details on gowns of all types. This pleating was also used on Ashys blue dress. These mini-pleats are referred to as Fortuny-style pleating. Mariano Fortuny was a fashion designer who created little mini-pleats in the early 20th century. Aiden looked very dapper in a more squared shouldered, dark suit with coordinating shirt, tie and pocket square.

Lets call Annas costume INTERESTING. I did not love it, but I did not hate it. Motorcycle jacket for Evan. Some type of a tough girl, 80s tank top, frou-frou look for Anna. I was not sure exactly what it was. Did you notice the cutouts in the midriff area? I believe they were actually nude mesh. If I am wrong, then she had body glue to keep the black sections from gapping out. The black parts of her costume bodice stayed close to her body and did not shift or gap out, which is what the use of mesh can do for you.

Niecy and Louis were elegantly attired for their Foxtrot. I always love to see how Randall and his crew work with the larger women. Large women and older women have to be careful with exposing their upper arms. Gravity is not your friend! Niecy had skin-toned mesh from her bosom to her neck to her wrists. It was tastefully done, with using the ever popular bracelets to camouflage the hem of the sleeves. Her pink satin bodice was structured with visual, if not actual boning, to give some interest to the dress. Of course, lots of rhinestones were used. The beautiful chiffon scarf drape elegantly accented her neck. Full ostrich feather boas lined her flowing skirt. Louis wore one of my favorite color combinations. He wore a tailored cranberry suit with pink shirt, tie and pocket square.

Chelsie was outfitted for her Jive in another INTERESTING costume. Her costume had black lace over a sky blue under layer, with the horsehair braid at the hem, for dimensionality. But some funky little ruffles on the bust area worked OK for Chelsie, but would NOT work for a bustier dancer. Jake, in his large plaid sport coat, string tie, short pants and white sox looked like a nerdy date at a 50s formal dance. Think theme, of course.

Low dance scores, but popular Buzz and Ashly danced the Foxtrot. In his dark navy 3-piece suit with funky silver bow tie and large rhinestoned buttons, Buzz was dapper. His partner wore an understated bright matte blue dress with Grecian influence, with the Fortuny pleating and a flowing back cowl drape. As with last week, Ashly was wearing a beautiful dress, suitable for an older couple out on the town, yet still stunning on a young professional dancer.

Nicole and Derek. The best dancers this week, and a stunningly beautiful silver beaded Jive costume for the Pussycat Doll! Of course she has a stunningly beautiful body to show it off! The asymmetry of both the top and the skirt, with the complete back to the bra-top made the costume pleasing to the eye. Of course from past blogs, you know I am NOT A FAN of the nude elastic straps. Beaded straps would have added, not taken away from the look. Derek was wearing a Safari gray shirt and basic black pants, which were pretty ho-hum.

On my television, Erins Foxtrot gown looked lavender. It consisted of many floating layers of chiffon, with a much darker shade as the under layer. Her dress was very unique, with a 3-D waist area. A section of the skirt was probably boned and was extended out from her midriff. A stoned bodice with interesting back-interesting as in NICE back, with a stoned belt at her natural waistline. And of course, bracelets. It seems you cannot compete in ballroom dances without them, these days! Definitely seemed to be a MUST HAVE accessory! Maksim stepped it up in a panne velvet vest and pant outfit that featured narrow satin banding, accenting the front of the double-breasted vest. Nice!

Damian strutted in a cutaway formal tuxedo look, complete with ascot, and of course, but not always on this show, a white shirt for his and Pamelas dance. Pamela was channeling Marilyn Monroe with her silver-gray charmeuse gown with fade to white and fade to nude mesh bodice, with thousands of Swarovski rhinestones. The opera length gloves added to her elegant look. Again, the hem was finished with horsehair braid and was titillatingly tasteful. Sorry, I could not help myself. I had to add this comment!

The show wrapped up with two couples that did not dance very well. Of the four dancers, Kate looked great. Her costume, that is. It had diagonal rows of chainette fringe on an angled skirt, with rhinestoned sections of trim. Diagonal lines are generally so much more interesting and flattering than horizontal lines. It was modest, yet pretty, and very flattering for a non-skin and bones gal. But oh my, Tony! Tony had the misfortune to wear a black Matador-inspired outfit with garish red passamentary braid. This is narrow braid that is stitched in loop-de-loop designs. I said I dislike boring mens costumes. But I would have MUCH preferred a plain, boring outfit here, Tony! Ugh!

Chad was a sad dancer this week. No, he did not smile, but he also did a terrible job dancing. Maybe he spent too much time flirting with Cheryl and not concentrating on the lessons? His two-piece suit in silver-gray looked nice, with white shirt and lavender tie, to coordinate with Cheryl. I usually like what Cheryl wears, but NOT this week! It gets my UGH award. It appeared to be made out of lavender organza, which is not a crime. But the attempt at Red Carpet looks of late, with the large 3-D thing on the bodice was not very attractive. But it was better than the silly angled peplum sort of tails that extended down over her organza skirt. Not attractive AT ALL!

For the results show, as I mentioned, there seemed to be a FRINGE FEST! The Pros are always fun to watch, and their costume theme was multi-options of fringe. Some good, and some bad, but they sure can dance!

Tune in to next weeks show, and VOTE for Pamela!

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