DWTS long gown dress Season 18: Week 10 Costume Critique I enjoyed this season of Dancing With the Stars immensely, for both the costumes AND the dancing, and I will enjoy having the summer off to enjoy some beautiful Minnesota weather, but I will be ready for more dancing, more costumes when season 19 begins, this Fall!
It was my birthday the night of the swimwear manufacturer Finale, so I watched this week sans commercials, on a delayed basis – which isn't all bad! But once I cozied up to my television, after a fabulous dinner at my favorite NE Minneapolis restaurant, I was truly waiting and hoping to see some costuming that matched the level of the dance performances, But after ranking all the costumes, I confess that my only ‘10' went to Derek for his fabulously glitzy black Salsa jacket with red stoned lapels. Worn with plain black trousers and no shirt, his look was very classy and glitzy.
I gave an ‘8' or a ‘9' to most of the costumes, this costume manufacturer week. The ‘9' went to Peta's Tango dress, both Meryl and Maks' Argentine Tango costumes, Candace's Quick Step gown, Meryl's Freestyle Palazzo costume, Mark's gold lame vest Freestyle ensemble, Amy's Fusion Challenge dress, and Meryl and Maks' Fusion Challenge togs.
I loved former winner Amber's gold costume, along with all of the supporting dancer's gold and black outfits. They all nicely coordinated with Amber for her rousing performance. I replayed it, so I could see it again – both for her singing, the dancing and the costumes!
Erin, our new host this season's DWTS, wore a boring yellow dress on Monday, and then an ugly green gown on Tuesday. All season, I really liked her short dresses – they were always fresh and classy, but these dressier, more formal looks really feel short of my expectations.
Costumes on the ‘Stars' and ‘Pro Partners' that fell short of my expectations this week, included Amy's red fringed Salsa jumpsuit (how many times have we seen this costume?) with rhinestoned nude areas under the fringe, Maks' saggy, sad loungewear pants were very shabby looking. Derek also was adorned in a shabby looking white knit loungewear shirt with loungewear pants for the Freestyle performances. What were the trends in costumes, this season? Lots and lots of all types of fringe, lots of rhinestone embellishment, Too many costumes with ‘nude' or taupe or tan as the base fabric color, still too many unsightly nude elastic straps, although there were many costumes that did make use of decorated, nicely designed straps. Decorative strapping details have been integral parts of many ‘edgy' designs. Ruching (gathered fabric) is still very popular and flattering.
Palazzo pants seemed to be on every show. This is a style resurrected from a couple of decades ago, and of course it is a fad. Of course the Palazzo pant is attractive when it fits correctly, but keep in mind that they DO need to fit correctly. Sunburst pleating has been making a comeback, its too bad that many pleaters went out of business back a couple of decades ago, when this specialized pleating went out of vogue, making it difficult to easily secure this type of treatment. It is not something you can do yourself. And of course feathers of all types have been used in many different ways.
Besides all the ‘usual' stretch performance fabrics, woven fabric such as chiffon, double-georgette (not as sheer as chiffon) and lots of satin charmeuse (a very fluid, shiny fabric) continued to be dominant in costumes that require a skirt. Stretch lace and fancy Bridal laces were dominant fabrics and have been used lined and unlined. Printed, woven fabrics have been popular, as they have been, with regular dress fashion, this season.
Trends that I didn't enjoy, include the droopy-in-the-crotch pants. Really…they don't flatter anyone, as they make your legs look short and squatty. They just show that you are aware of the current fad… Naked men's upper torsos continued through this season. Me? Men and women's bodies are beautiful, I don't disagree…especially when these bodies look healthy and toned, but give me a man in a dapper tuxedo any day, over a shirtless man!
As much corsets wholesale as I love and advocate for handmade corsetry, I know that spending $300 on a garment that youre not sure youll wear often and possibly cant even try on first is a hefty investment. Be it for waist training, back support, shapewear, or fashion, there are many reasons to start wearing corsets. For many of the same reasons its more practical to buy a standard-fit corset before investing in custom, you might find yourself buying a mass-manufactured corset to test the waters before upgrading to a high-quality handmade piece. Orchard Corset Steel-Boned Overbust in Satin (CS-511)
My first corsets, purchased wholesale halloween costumes 10 or so years ago, were like this factory-made pieces bought off of eBay. Budget corsetry has come a long way since then: styles are curvier and the price point has dropped for some brands and increased for others. I havent tried any of the brands listed, but these are the three names I hear come up most often. Be aware that sizing, customer service, and even quality control for budget brands can be inconsistent. Though even a starter corset is often considered an expensive garment by consumers, consistency is one of the first corners that is cut in order to make that price point. Orchard Corset CS-426 Longline Underbust Corset w/ Hip Ties in Satin, $88
Orchard Corset is probably the most popular brand wholesale christmas costumes of starter corsets. Their corsets run from $65 to $103 (there is only one style that even hits the three digit price point). The shaping of an Orchard Corset is moderate and they are very popular with those just beginning to waist train, and certain styles have waists up to 46. They have a wide variety of styles and fabric choices available. Mystic City MCC-68 cotton longline/high-back underbust corset.
Mystic City Corsets are probably the only eBay store from which its safe to buy a corset, as eBay is generally rife with shoddy knock-offs. Their shaping is more extreme and accommodates a high reduction or dramatic natural hourglass.
Which of these brands have you tried? What were your experiences with them? If you started wearing budget corsets originally but have transitioned to handmade, what did you think when you made the switch?
DWTS halloween costumes outlet SEASON 21: WEEK 5 COSTUME CRITIQUEClosing out the show, was Nick and his new partner, Witney performed a Paso Doble with costumes that I rated both a 10. Both wore black leather with quilt-stitching and studding. Nick's featured lots of shoulder and side-striped metallic studs and Witney's featured rhinestone studding. The original Matrix movie gave inspiration to their looks, with some space-aged influence for Witney's yoke, belt and boots. These were perfect costumes – showing their non-traditional Paso Doble fabrications, created with traditional Paso Doble silhouettes.
"The (dreaded) Switch Up" happened this week, on ‘Dancing lingerie manufacturer china with the Stars', with the celebrities having to learn their dances with new Pros, which was stressful for all! Some were very successful and others were not. Many 10's were given out this week for excellent dancing and I have also scored several costumes with a 10, including guest judge, Maksim in his VERY DAPPER suit!
Tamar danced a Samba underwear manufacturer china with her new partner, Louis. With feathers, fringe and rhinestones embellishing her white outfit, her costume reminded me a little of a cliché Moulin Rouge ensemble. I'm not sure of the inspiration, but Louis wore a white band uniform-style suit with gold trim. I wasn't enthralled with either costume, and the judges weren't enthralled with their dancing.
Hayes with new partner, Allison, danced a Viennese Waltz with Hayes in a very dapper silver-gray traditional tailed tuxedo with pink and aurora borealis rhinestones outlining his satin lapels. I loved this look on him, but Allison's blue embroidered lace, dirndl-skirted gown looked a little matronly on her. Perhaps she was extending the Mom-Teacher mystique to her costuming. With her nude-mesh cap sleeved bodice, it seemed too old for her style.
Paula and new partner Mark, danced a lively Jive with costumes that anyone could pull together. The humorous routine outfitted Mark in an all-white old-fashioned milkman uniform and Paula in a red 1950's house-dress with apron costume that was not very flattering for her. It seemed to accent her ‘thick in the middle' silhouette which has been fabulously hidden in her previously sleek costuming. Her outfit was complete with a 50's petticoat and red ‘bloomers' that she felt the need to flash. It was the most disappointing costume of the week.
But then we were treated to a sexy and stylish costume set from Alek and new partner (and perhaps future date?) Emma for their Rumba. Alex seemed beside himself with excitement, with Emma in his pastel pink, minimally buttoned sexy satin and crepe shirt, worn with basic black trousers. Pink on masculine guys is HOT, and he didn't disappoint. Emma was also very sexy, yet classy in her sheer mesh, middle-connect panel dress with real stoned straps. This pair rated a 10 from me, for their costumes.
Bindi danced a vibrant Cha Cha with her new partner, Val. Her fully rhinestoned nude bodice maintained modesty with a not-too-low neckline with utilitarian, wide straps. Her ‘Big Bird' yellow Ostrich feathered skirt was flirty and fun, although it produced a very wide silhouette for her. Val didn't disappoint in his matching yellow sheer silk chiffon shirt with solid collar, front bands and cuffs. I loved the rhinestoned pattern – a feminine touch on a masculine dancer, again, is always a hit for me. Feminine touches can work wonderfully on masculine dancers, but they can fail on a less masculine guy.
Carlos then danced a very lively Quick Step in what appeared on my television monitor to be a deep blue suit. In searching for photos to illustrate this blog, I saw him in a purple suit that matched his new partner – Lindsay's purple costume much better than what I saw on my screen. His suit was beautifully tailored, whatever color it was. I didn't feel the same about Lindsay's costume, however. Her ankle-length, split-panel costume featured purple and white chainette fringe that was way too long. The fringe on her bodice camouflaged her svelte silhouette (one of my pet peeves). I found her costume to be very unattractive, even though it featured real rhinestoned straps!
Following her husband, Alexa danced the Tango with her new partner, Derek in sort of Mad Max meets Steam Punk costumes. I loved them! Created in - was it 50 shades of gray?…Alexa's costume included a longer knit, cropped top with a leather-looking skirt, with Derek in plain trousers with a raggedy, unique leather vest. I totally loved all the detailed trimming on his vest.
Andy danced an Argentine Tango with his new partner for the week, Sharna. They matched her hair with a maroon suit for Andy and a sultry, 1940's-inspired, sheer maroon costume for Sharna. The underpinnings of her costume emulated nude and black lingerie, and it was exquisite. Andy's costume was pretty sedate, but I rated Sharna's costume a 10.
So in my opinion, this week closed out with a bang, and very upbeat, with no one having to go home. What will next week bring?