DWTS-Season 10: Week 8 Costume Critique

Satin Stitches | May 12, 2010 | 0

First half of the show, with elegant "Ballroom" costumes

This weeks Dancing With the Stars was a real treat! First of all, I was able to watch it, in the comfort of my own home, and able to see both shows in their entirety. Second of all, the dancing just keeps getting better, as all the Stars have been adding more and more practice time. I was sad that we will no longer see Niecy, but figured either she, or Chad would be leaving this week. If America votes for dance talent, then Chad should go next week.

The entertainment during the results show keeps getting more fun to watch, also. And now for BROOKE-WATCH. Brooke wears some interesting dresses. And by interesting, I mean that in the Scandinavian way, as in weird! Loved the horizontal striped dress from Monday, but what was she wearing last night-a big, thick, bumpy black thing on her shoulder? What ever it was, it was NOT pretty! I know she is trying for edgy-but that design fell off the edge! She definitely has hits and misses with her wardrobe.

On to the show! The first half of the show had almost everyone all decked out in their Ballroom finest. Generally, the Ballroom dances are more elegant and flowing, except of course, for the Argentine Tango, which is usually presented as very skimpy and sexy.

The Fifth Element-inspired futuristic costumes on Evan & Anna

One of many Fifth Element-inspired costumes by Satin Stitches

Cheryl and Chad danced the Tango. Chad was ho-hum, in his classic red satin shirt with black vest, pant and necktie. Cheryls costume was beautiful from the front, but a little weird on the back. The bodice was lace, lined with black on the front, but lined-I hope anyway, with skin-toned fabric for modesty, on the back, with sheer sleeves and a sheer skirt. Did you notice the zipper on the front? Tricky! But the back bodice had a zig-zag transitioning to the skirt. Actually two zigs and one zag that actually looked sort of like the tails on a tuxedo jacket. These two points extended into the skirt area, which in fact was the rear-end area, with the faux-sheer area running down each cheek and the black non-sheer looking area, rising at the center back, seemingly to cover the crack area. Hmmmm.

Neicy and Louis were very elegant in peach double georgette. Double-georgette is a semi-sheer, woven fabric. Her skirt was lined with matching, satin charmeuse. Safe and simple, Louis coordinated with his peach shirt, wearing a sport coat and slacks in navy.

Last week, several ladies wore rhinestone encrusted, basic bodices with beautiful, flowing skirts. It was Neicys turn this week. Did you notice the nice transition to her skirt, by gradually thinning out the stoning, so there was no sharp waist seam definition?

The angles created by her deep neckline and attached sleeves were flattering for her, and the small tulle or organdy ruffles added dimension to the hem of her skirt. These ruffles seemed to take the place of feathers, a more preferred hemline accent of mine, but still visually effective. Thankfully, the small wrist drapes did not overpower the clean, tailored lines of her silhouette.

Maks was fully clothed this week, thank goodness! His dapper, tailored black crushed-velvet jacket with gray shirt and pant, beautifully coordinated with Erins Argentine Tango dress. Colors always play a part in costuming. I think 90 percent of all the costumes created for Dancing With the Stars Tango routines, incorporate the Color of Passion-RED. Black rhinestones decorated Erins black lace-over-red bodice, which coordinated with a very small satin surplice, or wrap skirt. AND, did you notice the lovely, laced straps on her dress? REAL straps-NOT those nasty nude elastic straps. SO much nicer!

Anna also wore a light blue gown with a double-georgette skirt that was sun-burst pleated. Sun-burst pleats radiate out from the waist, on a skirt, getting wider at the hem. These are not pleats that any dressmaker can easily create. You need to cut your half circles from your fabric, and send them out to a pleating company. They were very en vogue back a couple of decades. But as we all know, styles-details and silhouettes always come back, right?

I was not enthralled with Annas dress, although it DID have nice, REAL straps. As with her dress from last week, the trimming of her dress was a little off. The stripes created by the rhinestoning created a not-so-sophisticated look. The cut-outs on her bodice were nice, but the decoration was not top of the line. Evans semi-sheer double-georgette shirt was elegantly tailored, but pretty basic. Ho-hum. Luckily his costuming stepped it up a notch or two, for his second dance!

Nicoles dress was similar to Niecys, this week, with her bronze Fox Trot gowns bodice totally encrusted with rhinestones. Her fabric was some sort of foil-coated Slinky or mesh. It was stretchy, yet light and moveable. Unlike Niecy, Nicole had gauntlets rather than sleeves and very deep V seamlines, connecting her skirt to her bodice. Her straps were embellished with rhinestones-a VERY nice deviation from the way-too-frequently used nude elastic straps. Thank you, Randall! I really appreciated all of the decorative straps this week. And if you noticed in the close-up, there were dyed-to-match lace flowers on her neckline and I think I caught a glimpse of at least one at the back deep V-bodice-to-skirt transition. Derek was boringly dapper in his vest ensemble. But lose that hat, Derek!

The second half of the show mixed it up a bit! The theme of the second set of dances, was the random combination of a type of dance with an era. This section was ushered in with a demonstration of a Futuristic dance routine by a professional couple.

How can you evoke a certain era? The obvious answer is with costumes. But equally important is the use of appropriate makeup and hair design. The possible eras to be featured, were the Fifties, Sixties, Seventies, Eighties, Nineties and the Future.

Each era brings to mind certain cliche silhouettes, fabrics, colors and accents. You do not need to be historically absolutely correct, but just create the feel or ambiance of an era by a few memorable details. This, along with your music will sell your theme.

The Sixties Jive was presented by Chad and Cheryl. I am mentioning the guy first here, because Chads costume was as interesting, if not MORE interesting than Cheryls! Deep red, crushed velvet with Zebra accents on his jacket AND pants. Yeah, baby! Cheryls tufts of black fringe on her Zebra mini-dress were cute, especially with her thigh-high boots. BUT, go-go boots would really have been a better choice. I think she just wanted to ratchet up the sexy-factor with those thigh-highs, what do you think? Maybe Chad really liked them, or maybe Len?

The Nineties Paso Doble danced by Niecy and Louis was nicely done, but it did NOT scream 90s to me. But maybe the 90s were just too recent to conjure up a real vision of that era, for me. Big girls can carry big prints. The black corset look helped to slim Niecys shape. The black and gold satin charmeuse print was beautifully rhinestoned, color on color, for Niecy. The shirt on Louis just looked sort of hokey.

The Eighties Rhumba Flash-Danced by Erin and Maks was really boring, costume-wise, even though they were absolutely right on the money with evoking that era. Maks was Don Johnson and Erin played the part of Flash Dance, with leggings, legwarmers and off-one-shoulder long, bulky sweater with a belt. No glitz. No glamour. No fun, for me!

Then off to the Future, with Evan and Annas Futuristic Cha Cha! I LOVED it! Their costuming paid homage to the costuming from the movie-The Fifth Element. Did you see it? It was the PERFECT movie for my husband and I. We both like Science Fiction, and I LOVE fabulous costuming! If you have not seen it, rent this movie! It came out in 1997 with Bruce Willis, off in the 23rd century. Just under 1000 costumes were created by Jean-Paul Gaultier, the very talented French Fashion Designer. At Satin Stitches, we have created several dance costumes, influenced by the signature costume from The Fifth Element. Wonderful costuming in this fun movie-rent it!

Back to DWTS-Annas cute white, rhinestoned, strappy shorts costume nicely complimented Evans sheer black mesh shirt with matching white, rhinestoned, straps on his sleeves. But what sold the look, was their makeup and hair, so do not forget the accessories and body decorations!

Then to close out the show, Nicole and Derek danced their little butts off, with their weird combination of a Fifties Paso Doble. They may have nailed their performance, but their costuming was not quite right. What was wrong? Derek was a 1950s greaser, but Nicoles hair and costume was more 1940s than 1950s, to me. Yeah, yeah, not everyone studies fashion history, as I do. So I will forgive them. Her NEW LOOK styling-late 1940s was very cute and stylish. The retro print bra-top and high-waisted skirt were HOT! I loved the red rhinestones glued to the top of her skirt. It sort of transitioned from the red belt to the black charmeuse, ruffled skirt.

So, realize that costuming does not have to be historically correct, to present an exciting theme for your audience. It needs to work with your music, your choreography and your body. Spending lots of money on themed costuming is great, when you can do it, but just a few touches will evoke a look or an era. Dance on!

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