As you all know, I love evening wear and glitzy, blingy, sparkly glamorous things. I would love to find an affordable replica of this dress to wear to watch some of the ballroom shows I go to. Even more, I would love to find a Ballroom dress similar to this style and color to wear at competition. I think this would stand out on the floor, don't you? It's not a common color at the comps...so that's a plus!
I may have explained in a previous post that street dresses don't work for ballroom, but I could have something similar to this dress made.
On August 30, I am competing in the Windy City Ballroom competition in Chicago. One of my favorite designers will be there and I will be looking for my next competition dress. I will be sure to post some pictures of my choices and ask all of you to help me choose!
Until then...I'm going to be dreaming about dresses.....and this color is the star of my dreams right now!
Lisa, what about checking at bridal stores? There's one near where I work that carries dresses like this for bridesmaids - I bet they sell off their samples! I used to work at a store that sold bridesmaid's dresses and I did buy one of our try-ons (I got rid of it when I lost weight).
ReplyDeleteI do love a good ballroom dress! I have two big black ballroom skirts that I like to wear for special occasions (I wore one here for my company's Christmas party last year: http://sheilaephemera.blogspot.ca/2011/12/red-hat-christmas-party.html)
Sheila....I usually do check the big sales at bridal stores. I also check the resale and consignments shops. I'm sure I will eventually find one.
DeleteFor competitions, dresses are made differently; they are made of material that has at least 2 way stretch, they have a built in body suit and must fit like a glove (not tight, but snug so they stay put and don't ride when dancing). They are also elaborately stoned with thousands of Swarovski crystals. The skirts are very, very full...even more so than prom type ballroom skirts and they have two, three of four layers. I just love them. At competitions, vendors bring racks and racks of them..and I spend hours looking at them, trying them on...hoping to find the perfect one. It's quite addicting!
Speaking of ballroom skirts....I have been looking for one. I still love Sharon Stone's styling (I think for the Oscars one year) of that big ballroom skirt with a white shirt. I found one at Goodwill...but it was about a foot too long!
Oh goodness that green is to die for! I also love this green right now. I'm excited for you for the competition in Chicago. So awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you...I agree it is just so beautiful. I recall in one of your recent posts you were wearing this shade of green and it looked great on you.
DeleteThis green is fabulous! I'm curious to know what is special about the ballroom gowns that a street dress doesn't have...
ReplyDeleteTerri....ballroom gowns are carefully and intricately constructed. First, the fabric has stretch...at least two way stretch that can move with the body and doesn't ride up. The ballroom dress has to fit snugly...but not tightly. There can be no gapping or drooping. Ballroom dresses also have bodysuits built in that help keep the dress in place and keep them from riding up. The bodysuit also hide body flaws! You have to total freedom of movement.
ReplyDeleteBallroom dress also have very, very full skirts. Competitive dance also includes moves such as kicks and lifts and the legs must not be constricted in any way. Ballroom movement across the floor requires long strides and a street dress, even one with a big skirt is usually too constrictive for that. There are also several layers to the skirt...which swirl and flow around the legs and you dance. The swirl is HUGE.
Ballroom dresses also have thousands of Swarovski crystals glued to the dress in elaborate designs. It takes days to place all of them and they are all placed by hand.
Fabrics are usually much flowier...silk chiffons, silk and stretch satins and lycra.
The crystals create a ton of shine on the dance floor...which is necessary to both stand out from the crowd and to be seen.
If you watch dancing with the stars...you see the sparkle and shine..but you can't really see the detail. A dress with sparkle in the fabric does not stand out on the floor, believe it or not.
Ballroom dresses are amazing works of art. A quality dress will cost between two thousand and five or six thousand dollars and there is also a HUGE resale trade. Many dancers who compete frequently turn over dresses frequently too.
I got lucky with my first dress (the hot pink one pictured at the bottom of my blog home page), which I purchased used from a friend. My second dress..the pale green also posted at bottom of page was a gift from my husband..it was my gift for FINALLY finishing my undergrad studies.
There are many many ballroom dress designers and usually one or two at the comps...but in November ALL of the dress designers converge at the biggest comp in the US...the Ohio Star Ball in Columbus. There are probably at least 50 dress vendors there.
I can send you some links to dress makers if you would like.
IT looks very glamorous - I agree. What a beautiful colour too. Good Luck with your search.
ReplyDeleteThank you......I'm not a huge hurry...I figure it will come to me...just like the other green dress (the one like Christina Aguilera's in the movie Burlesque.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible that I may have plenty of formal dresses....
That is such a beautiful dress! And that color!! So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteXoxo Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com
Thank you...I agree, the color is striking....I couldn't resist posting it.
DeleteHope you find th perfect dress, that shade of green is one of my favorites. =D
ReplyDeleteI love this color too. I'm not in a huge hurry, but hopefully will stumble upon one sometime.
DeleteGoodness! I'll take two of those emerald tone dresses! I think this is a universally flattering color.
ReplyDelete- Muthoni
FashionBeautyInsight
I agree; this color looks great on everyone!
DeleteI love emerald green! My sister in law made a dress for me in this colour for a ball we attended:) Have a lovely weekend!
ReplyDelete~Anne
It's such a flattering and lovely color. I bet your dress looks fabulous. How fortunate that your sister-in-law is so talented with a needle and thread!
DeleteI love this style.
ReplyDeletehttp://purrincup.blogspot.com/
Mine too!!!!!
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