Costumes 2014

Mrs. Murray seems brave......costume people talking her into cutouts and a hip high skirt split

Alison promises to be a challenge. Mind you she did well in the red ruffles.

And finally

Why was Claudia in 80s retro?

Alison looks lively and seemed to move well! Judy I think wanted to be feminine but not sure how much she wanted to bare!
C.laudia still in black thou! Bring out the colour please.
Frankie I feel can dance and think Pixie will be all legs like bambi

Looking forward to your costume reviews again HL

Thanks Sid. I think I still do them because you are all so supportive and the discussions are interesting. Our membership does seem to be shrinking....

Hello HL
I often look at the costumes and think  'nah- that's not working for me' but I couldn't explain why. After you've explained some of the more technical issues it suddenly starts to make sense.
I'm also looking forward to your excellent reviews

Thank you B4P.

Looking forward to your reviews too Hatlady! We may be dwindling but we are a very dedicated bunch!

Thank you sax, I'll do my best!

I'm glad that you will be hosting the thread again this year Hatlady - I'm also really glad that despite smaller He is. And we obey him., the forum is still going.

I'm sure some more familiar faces will pop up on the forum once the show starts properly. I think my own visits to the forum will be intermittent until the show is up and running again - it has been great this week to check-in again and see that everyone is still here!!!

Another one checking in and looking forward to the reviews!!

Hi again lualen

Please pardon the delay, my sister is visiting from the US.......she likes to schedule 27 hours for every 24. I have my notes and a plan. I will do it.

If I make no comment Hatlady, that's because I'm pretty clueless on the topic. I do however, read and learn. My Biggles leather helmet, chequered plusfours and Albert Steptoe brown and white brogues seem suddenly less than vogue. Keep up the good work..

Loving that image Mr T! Reminds me of Gethin in uniform mmmmmm.Please BbC lets do a fifties/sixties uniform theme!!

Late, yes I know.  At this point I’m just going to give a general feel rather than too many specifics.


The costume department appear to have embraced the current fashion trend of  colour blocking; bright often clashing colours put together in solid bits.  In particular, there was lots of pink and red.

The Pros Group dance
Pixie and Trent
Simon and Krystina

There was  pink with other colours

Jennifer and Tristan
Scott and Joanne
Claudia on the first night  (Everyone falling backwards in their chairs!) odd little black detail to indicate a fold, visually distracting)
Mark and Karen

Our next ‘colour story’ was mint green.  Must put my hand up and say straight off that I don’t much like this colour and think that it is not easy to wear.

Jake and Janette (Mind you Jake’s green tie was spring green, more yellowy and did not match Janette’s mint dress)
Frankie and Kevin This one did work, she had a lovely Audrey Hepburn vibe going.

half way house

Judy and Housewives choice blue and green
Tim and Natalie mint green full skirt with blue and white sequinned knickers Tim in blue and white

The blue story:

Alison and Aleash
Sumetra and Brenden

The yellow story

Caroline and Pasha
Thom and Iveta
Kevin with his mustard shirt next to Frankie’s mint green…..not a happy mix

Structure comments

The costume department seems to be getting more precise about what works and what doesn’t.  Fringe showed up were it would specifically help give a strong sense of movement to Latin dances: Alison, Joanne and Caroline. Bodice fringe on Sumetra give a bit of edge.  Lots and lots of circular skirts, plenty of fabric to move and show off. The pros group dance had this to the nth degree.  Amongst the couples; Natalie,Janette, Iveta, Sumetra.  Then we got the currently trendy skater skirts on Aliona and Krystina.  Straps featured, Olga most notably but also Joanne. Lots of elegant 50’s/Audrey feel, Aliona, Iveta and Frankie.  Finally a note on the men:  We got two black wife beater tops on Mark and Steve.  I suspect that rather than the virtually topless  open waistcoats and jackets (think Artem) that this is a way to do flesh without male nipples showing.

Final thoughts: I think perhaps too much ‘riot of colour’.  On another thread I mentioned Pixie’s shoes or how to sabotage a jive, high 30s/40s shoes when actually low heels would have been period with her 60s dress.  Boy, are the costume department enjoying Judy’s long slim shape, lovely dress with the edge of the chain detail.  Carolines dress was very successful and good for the dance. Last word……Pasha does love those 50s shirts, his go to choice.  Costume just whips them out.

Thanks HL Hope you're having a lovely time with your sister - if a slightly exhausting one!

I was going to comment that I very much like the shades of green they're using. I didn't even mind the non-traditional green for Janette's Tango dress, thought it looked gorgeous. Loved Nat's dress too.

Felt there was an unflattering amount of fringing on Caroline's Cha Cha outfit - made her look twice the size she is!

They've dressed Judy beautifully so far.

I know I'm a bit odd on the subject of mint green Sid which is why I so stated. Not fair to say Ghastly Colour when I know others like it. I didn't mind the fringing on Caroline because it was a dance which moved. As the fringing swung we knew she was smaller underneath. The same happened with Alison where WHOOSH out went three layers very effective. Judy has actually had arguably the nicest dresses.

Wonderful to have your fashion critique review back!!

Thanks sax......nice to get compliments for late post.

The only shade of green I have problems with is "bottle green!" My teenage wardrobe blighted with it.If i liked a skirt top or trousers the only colour in my size (12) bottle green I do like fern green and sage

Ah, well bottle green is my colour. I search for it, makes my eyes look bluer and everyone thinks I look gorgeous.....

hatlady28 wrote:I know I'm a bit odd on the subject of mint green Sid which is why I so stated.  Not fair to say Ghastly Colour when I know others like it.

Not at all, I'm probably biased because my room has mintish green walls - god that DOES sound ghastly when you type it but it looks nicer than it sounds honest! And I find the colour soothing

I think it is interesting from the perspective that SCD doesn't seem to have done much 'Green' in the past for some reason??? They certainly made up for it last week. I did note that my old friend the 'buttermilk' dress made an early showing last week on Iveta............(boy it must be getting old and much altered now ) but I do love it nonetheless!!!

Not wishing to intrude, but back when I was a lad and ladies wore clothes to keep out the cold, topcoats and cloaks and stuff (it was draughty in those stagecoaches and, if such weren't available they went hither and thither on horseback) Green was much more popular that today. The climate favoured dark colours also because washing them by pounding with stones on riverbanks wasn't too much fun for the ladies in winter. Indoors, various shades of pastel green right through to Darcy horseback, riding jacket, bottle green, were all the rage.

I confess to letting the colour slip from my palette for a fair while, preferring reds and blues, until a visit to Spain changed my views completely. Spanish middle-aged ladies are as elegant as anywhere in the world and they have this habit of combining very pronounced deep shades of the primaries combined with white and worn with black trousers or skirts, to dazzling affect. The contrast is total, yet it works so very well. With green it's particularly striking. Mind you, their weather helps somewhat, but the overall effects are superb.. (Goes exceedingly well with redheads too)

TANGOLERO wrote:(Goes exceedingly well with redheads too)

And I thought red and green should never be seen