DWTS-Season 10: Week 6 Costume Critique

Satin Stitches | Apr 28, 2010 | 0

Yes, Yes Evan, No, No Anna!

This week on Dancing With the Stars, when all the couples made their grand entrance down the staircase, my eyes were treated to gorgeous gowns and oh-my-what is THAT gowns. It was a night of just that-really stunningly beautiful costuming and then some eyebrow raising mistakes, or near-mistakes.

I was anticipating seeing what the STARS designed for themselves and their pro-partners this week, but I did not hear any comments about it.  Did I miss it, was the plan dropped, did I misunderstand, and it was last week? Hmmm. Oh well.

I will get right to it! The BEST costumes this week were the very similar, sleek lace numbers worn by Niecy and Cheryl. The beautiful clean, asymmetrical lines were VERY flattering for both dancers. You will notice that both dresses were lined with non-sheer nude fabric, so you see the beauty of the lace patterns. Both dresses were enhanced with thousands of Swarovski rhinestones. Neicys stones were scattered, while the stones on Cheryls dress were in clusters.

Both classy and flashy. The deep, asymmetrical back neckline was lovely on Cheryl. Cheryls dress also had thick chainette fringe that moved wonderfully. Someone in the costume department painstakingly trimmed her fringe from short to long. No, it does NOT come that way. It was luscious! And the extended, angled hemline of Niecys dress was divine.

Being fit and toned naturally, or with Spandex under-pinnings makes these dress designs work, no matter what measurements you are. Not as much skin showing on the back and midriff area for thicker girls, but still, Niecys costume was not the least bit matronly for her.

And now I will get right to my OH-MY looks...

A little too much flop!

OH MY! NOT a good look!

Nicole was wearing a skimpy 2-piece costume for her Samba. The shiny, floppy ruffles on her bustline-I am NOT a fan of those. Too much bouffantness, to make up a word, is not really attractive, in my view. Maybe on stick thin gals, but definitely NOT on anyone else.

Her skirt had multi-levels of ruffles that did not create a horizontal line across her thighs, so this was much more pleasing to the eye than the ruffles stuck on the front of her chest. Sorry, Nicole, but it just was not a good look. Plus, with those infamous orange-nude elastics on her back, it seems that those ruffles ARE just stuck on her front. Then with her extra-large bustline, they REALLY are not a good look. It might have been a better look on a flat chested gal.

Chelsies outfit was a bit much. I am not against mixing prints. Well, OK, I am generally not a fan. The flower print with animal print was fine. But what was that weird little ruffle doing, crossing diagonally across her bodice?

Her skirt was REALLY cute! I liked the black sheer woven organza tiers, with the wide decorative satin banding at the bottom of each tier. Perhaps a simpler bodice would have been better, but at least without that weird bodice ruffle on it!

Annas criss-cross extravaganza was not a classy, elegant design. She is really thin, and she can get away with lots of horizontal lines, but on someone a little thicker? NO-not very flattering. The bra top extended around the back, though. The orange-nude elastic was only for the straps.  But, they certainly could have been nice rhinestoned straps, right?

I really liked Pamelas black satin slip dress. Obviously it was an homage to sultry lingerie that could have been worn by a Lady of the Evening, which is who originally performed the Argentine Tango. The beaded or rhinstoned lace appliques on the front and back neckline of the dress and also accenting the hemline, were beautiful. The faux dropped strap on one arm was a nice touch. Unfortunately Pamelas too bountiful bustline ruined the look of the dress. OK, we should be looking at her footwork, right?

I read recently, that Disney is no longer hiring babes with unnatural boobs for their historic movie productions. Bravo! Thank you for sticking to the reality of naturalness for their ladies looks. I only hope that this will influence at least a few young ladies to flaunt what they have, and not feel that they need to enhance what God gave them, to win their acting, or singing or dancing jobs.

Now for the guys.
I LOVED Evans outfit, especially his sheer white shirt with the satin back yoke and tucked satin shawl collar. It was PERFECTION! Much better than Maks and his NO-shirt look. It was the sexiest shirt that I have seen this season. It was classy, tailored and fit like a glove. It fit close to his body and did not gap out. Wonderful look! AND, if you are a thick gentleman, maybe going non-sheer with this style, or sheer and over a tank shirt, would be a very flattering look, for any size.

Several other mens shirts this week, DID gap out. Jakes shirt was way too open, and moved and flopped all over the place. Not an attractive look. There are ways to control mens shirts to keep them in place, when dancing. The easiest, is to button them up, of course. It seemed this was the week to show off mens chests. OK, fine. Maks did that. But the BEST open, naked chest look was Evans shirt, and oh, with Evan in it! Dereks shirt was so uncontrolled, that it came untucked and unkempt by the end of his furious Samba with Nicole. This red, rhinestoned shirt was attractive but too loose and uncontrolled. Men, control your shirts!

I have saved the WORST for last. Can you guess?
Erin was in a joke of a costume. I like the color purple. I have been a fan of Minnesota born-and-bred, Prince for DECADES. We even share the same last name. Sorry, no relation. And then our love-to-hate Minnesota Vikings, are all very purple. My bedroom was purple, as a kid. And I like feathers! Ostrich feathers are great. Soft and fluffy, with lots of movement. I am good with purple Ostrich feathers. I love rhinestones. I love decorative appliques.
But I did NOT love Erins costume!

It was hideous! Refer to my blog on naked costumes a few weeks ago. Naked costumes can be done beautifully. This one was not done beautifully. It had no flow. There was a blob of applique on one boob, and a blob on the other boob.  A blob of applique on one arm, and a zig-zag of appliques to blend into the skirt. Then there was the overdone BIG BLOB of feathers. It was too little on the top and too much on the bottom. The costume was out of balance and embarrassing to look at!

But what did I REALLY think, right?
One way to envision if a costume is flattering or not, is to imagine it on a larger person. I work mainly with groups, and it is my mission to think about how EVERYONE will look in a costume or uniform.

Flattering is only really flattering, when it lets every group member, no matter how short, small, big or tall, no matter how disproportionate their body shapes are, fit in and blend with the group, and not stand out, in a bad way. A truly flattering costume emphasizes the faces of the performers. There is a visual flow to take your eyes from the face down and diagonally across the body. It generally has diagonal lines and details, not horizontal. And it does not pull the eye directly to the bustline, the waist or to the hips. Erins purple costume was NOT flattering. AT ALL.

This week I am not bothering with much discussion about the guys costumes, as there were not many standout designs. I have given you the highlights and the lowlights.

The Swing Dance-Off involved cartoon-like costuming.  Bright, bright colors on everyone except Evan and Anna, who seemed too sedate in their black and red. Otherwise, Cheryl and Nicole had mid-calf length print dresses, which were low-key, but when paired with the bright red outfit worn by Chad and the red pants with polka dot tie worn by Derek, the cartoon look intensified.

Niecy and Louis in yellow and lime green, Chelsie and Jake in white accented royal blue, and Pamela with Damian in pink.  Erin and Maks in bright Kelly green. Most outfits had larger than life banding and accents that were very over the top. I am assuming that the idea was that the Swing is more of a fun, theme-evoking dance. There may have been a little glitz, but that is not what you remember.

Did I enjoy the looks. No. Give me my glitz! Preferably with some soothing sophistication rather than hokey homemade handiwork! But then if ALL the costumes were perfectly crafted to MY taste, the show would probably be a little boring for me, AND for my critiques. So bring on the good, the bad and the ugly, next week!

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