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amethyst73 be holding an ISI Open Competition in October, and Huz and I are dipping our competitive toes in the water, as it were, by signing up to compete in Dutch Waltz (the first 'real' dance you learn). Clearly, it would be inappropriate to compete in my usual skatewear (ripped jeans and old sweatjacket), which means that I've spent the last two days looking for a reasonable ice-dance dress.
I looked around online first to get a feel for what was out there. Most skating outfits are designed for females with a maximum age of sixteen - enough sequins and sparkles to blind the viewer, and skirts that would be illegally short in any other venue. I had seen a couple of longer, more flowing skirts at ISI Worlds, so I knew they had to exist. They do; they're just a little hard to find. More on that in a moment.
Yesterday we went up to Caprezio's in San Mateo, one of a handful of places listed by our local coaches when we asked where to go to get dresses. Like most places, they specialize in what I'll generally call floor dance, and had a very limited selection of ice stuff. The one thing I tried on did, admittedly, fit pretty well, but it was (1) glittery and (2) short-skirted. (Just to top it off, the base color was black, which I kind of hoped to avoid.) I think it was really more of a figure skater's dress than a dancer's dress. We laughed, and headed south to Hillsdale Mall, where Huz was able to find black pants and sweater to make up the bulk of his costume. Sometimes men just have it easier with clothes!
Today we went to Dancer Du Jour in Menlo Park. The online reviews warned that it was hideously expensive; that may be if you're buying little girls' ballerina outfits, which is admittedly where the bulk of their products are. They did have a small handful of honest to gosh ice skating dresses, one of which fit, had a skirt of a slightly more modest length, and even looked moderately okay. (I can't find a photo online, sorry.) But we'd done a lot of looking online the night before, and had found dresses that I thought I'd be happier with, so I passed it up. Hopefully that dress will still be there if what I've ordered turns out to be a disaster.
The dresses that I found online that I rather liked were the following:
Jerry's Silver Bell Dance Dress. This was pretty, but I was a little worried about the skirt shown all flared out like that. Yes, it would probably have been fine, but... Also, that's not one of my better blues.
Sequins Blue Dress (can't figure out the maker). I love the skirt, but the completely-sequined top was a little distressing.
Snowflake Blue Diamond dress which I also can't find the brand for. Alas, this was leftover stock from a previous year, and was only available in Adult Small. (One useful thing we learned today is that when it comes to skate/dancewear, sizes are physically smaller than they are in the real world, and therefore I can't wear an adult small.)
Main Street's Long Sleeve Bow Dress (except in royal blue, not black). This is what I ended up ordering. It's almost more simple than I'd like it to be (but it's all open in the back, which makes it a bit more elegant). It should be here in about a week, which gives me time to change my mind and go back to Menlo Park if the dress I've ordered turns out to be a disaster. Pictures will be forthcoming!
I looked around online first to get a feel for what was out there. Most skating outfits are designed for females with a maximum age of sixteen - enough sequins and sparkles to blind the viewer, and skirts that would be illegally short in any other venue. I had seen a couple of longer, more flowing skirts at ISI Worlds, so I knew they had to exist. They do; they're just a little hard to find. More on that in a moment.
Yesterday we went up to Caprezio's in San Mateo, one of a handful of places listed by our local coaches when we asked where to go to get dresses. Like most places, they specialize in what I'll generally call floor dance, and had a very limited selection of ice stuff. The one thing I tried on did, admittedly, fit pretty well, but it was (1) glittery and (2) short-skirted. (Just to top it off, the base color was black, which I kind of hoped to avoid.) I think it was really more of a figure skater's dress than a dancer's dress. We laughed, and headed south to Hillsdale Mall, where Huz was able to find black pants and sweater to make up the bulk of his costume. Sometimes men just have it easier with clothes!
Today we went to Dancer Du Jour in Menlo Park. The online reviews warned that it was hideously expensive; that may be if you're buying little girls' ballerina outfits, which is admittedly where the bulk of their products are. They did have a small handful of honest to gosh ice skating dresses, one of which fit, had a skirt of a slightly more modest length, and even looked moderately okay. (I can't find a photo online, sorry.) But we'd done a lot of looking online the night before, and had found dresses that I thought I'd be happier with, so I passed it up. Hopefully that dress will still be there if what I've ordered turns out to be a disaster.
The dresses that I found online that I rather liked were the following:
Jerry's Silver Bell Dance Dress. This was pretty, but I was a little worried about the skirt shown all flared out like that. Yes, it would probably have been fine, but... Also, that's not one of my better blues.
