Remember the ‘MAGIC’ tips are just a few of my humble suggestions, make of them what you will….
Day 5
C is for COSTUMES!
Those who know me will understand straight away what I’m talking about when I start today’s topic telling you that I love it when I go to dance events and people come up to me to show off their costume and they say “Look Julie, I did this for you!” Sometimes I’ve never even met them. It’s quite a proud moment.
Yes, it is commonly known that I like my bling and that I think the world should be filled with sparkles, so I’m never going to stop encouraging people to go for a bit (or a lot…) of sequin or diamante (ooh, Swarovski…) in a dance competition (or just for a trip to the local supermarket if I’m honest….).
But jokes aside, if wearing that stuff makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t do it.
Wear what fits with your style and with your body type. Basically, wear what you feel confident in, and your dancing will be confident too.
Having said that, this is a dance competition, so please make an effort. So if you feel ‘confident’ in your old faded t shirt that’s been through the wash 67 times and your one and only pair of jeans that are sooooo comfortable for dancing that you wear them every night…. do I need I state the obvious? That wearing that ensemble in the comp would not in my eyes be considered ‘an effort’? You’re catching on already, this is good……
So with that in mind, here are few costume tips:
– For Freestyle / Strictly Swing, wear something that matches your partner – this is usually something as simple as a colour match with the leader in a red shirt and the follower in a red top for example.
– Wear something that’s not going to fall off or need constant adjustment – a dress rehearsal before the day is always a good idea.
– Bring a sewing kit, maybe some Hollywood Tape or at least some safety pins ladies, some shoe glue, a spare costume and a spare pair of shoes just in case of any type of disastrous wardrobe malfunction. That includes a spare pair of pants for you guys – one over enthusiastic lunge is all it takes you know. Just ask Matt Fairburn.
– Bring deodorant, and don’t over do it on the perfume/aftershave unless you want to suffocate your partner.
– Ladies – Just because most girls wear pants and flat shoes, it doesn’t mean that you have to. If you feel good in a dress and heels then go for it (as long as you can dance in them of course). It’s actually a good thing to stand out on the competition floor (as long as it’s for the right reasons!), so go for it and start a new trend by being different to everyone else.
But if you’re not a dress and heels kind of girl, making an effort doesn’t mean you can’t still go for a more casual look with dance boots and smart jeans if that’s what you feel good in. Make my day and consider adding a blingy top though ☺
Oh and a bit of make up doesn’t go astray. And maybe some hairspray, unless you particularly want photos of your hair whipping dramatically over you or your partner’s face.
– Guys – consider replacing your favorite baggy jeans with some smarter jeans or pants, and substituting that old creased t shirt for a nicely ironed collared shirt or even just add a waistcoat/vest. Do that and you just turned yourself into a dancer right there.
But on the topic of vests, either do the buttons up, or if you want to wear it undone that’s fine guys, but cut the buttons off because I’ve seen too many girls get their hair caught in them (true story – Tracey and Alana who are probably reading this now can testify from recent experience).
Julie’s Big Costume No-No’s
1. The G-String under the circle skirt. Do a spin test first ladies, because nobody wants to see that. Well, I certainly don’t anyway….
2. Underwear coming up above your pants. Pull your pants up or get shorter knickers.
3. Skinny jeans and bad leg lines. If you’re going to wear tight pants, understand right now that you’re not going to be able to hide any bowlegs and bad ‘squnges’ (an awful combination of a squat and a lunge which actually doesn’t look good no matter what you’re wearing)
4. Jewellery that’s going to scratch or injure someone or fly off mid-dance. Feel free to leave any dangerous diamonds with me ladies.
So that’s it from me, Day 5 of MAGIC complete. I hope you’ve enjoyed your daily light-hearted reading material – I’ve certainly enjoyed writing it for you. Take away whatever tips you feel are relevant to you, but above all, have fun and enjoy yourself. It’s your time to ‘sparkle and shine’!