A vital item

lizaj · 08-13-2008, 10:54 AM

Can you pinpoint one factor..be it fabric or a dancer herself that revolutionized what we wear?

Marya · 08-13-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizaj

Can you pinpoint one factor..be it fabric or a dancer herself that revolutionized what we wear?

Lycra! really good stretch fabrics.

Marya

Aisha Azar · 08-13-2008, 02:05 PM

Dear Lizaj,
I agree with Marya. Lycra and other fabrics with a good two way stretch and great strength are absolutely a costumer's dream. You can attach anything to it, you can stretch it a million ways. You can do cutouts in it and it still fits. It comes in a great variety of colors, patterns, etc. And it sometimes takes a dye if you get the right Lycra blend. It comes in shiny and matte. It is washable.... Who could ask for more except for it to perhaps sew itself up in the night while I am sleeping!!
Regards,
A'isha

lizaj · 08-14-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aisha Azar

Dear Lizaj,
I agree with Marya. Lycra and other fabrics with a good two way stretch and great strength are absolutely a costumer's dream. You can attach anything to it, you can stretch it a million ways. You can do cutouts in it and it still fits. It comes in a great variety of colors, patterns, etc. And it sometimes takes a dye if you get the right Lycra blend. It comes in shiny and matte. It is washable.... Who could ask for more except for it to perhaps sew itself up in the night while I am sleeping!!
Regards,
A'isha

Yes I think Lycra..... and is lycra the reason for the demise of fringe?
What effect does mainstream fashion have on dance costume, do you think?
What about Hollywood...a defining effect?

Mya · 08-14-2008, 12:12 PM

So the demise of fringe - who thinks it's a good thing? I think here in Trinidad at least, lots of fringe shaking conveniently disguises a not so great dancer with lots of flash whereas a less fringe-ful costume forces audiences to look more at the movements themselves.

Aisha Azar · 08-14-2008, 02:00 PM

Dear Gang,
I think that dance costumes go through fashion phases just as clothing does. Right now we are in what I would call rather a backlash phase from the mid 80s through early 90s when the fringe was often more than knee length and dragged us around the floor at times. It was just too, too much. Then Dina came along with her cute little short skirts and much less fringe than the other dancers were wearing, and she opened up a fashion rebellion. I think that fringe is not the most important element of a costume, and actually I still see it in many costumes. It is just being used in new and different ways now instead of being so lavishly applied. In some cases, I think fringe actually hides movement instead of enhancing it. Right now all the rage seems to be pave ( pronounced Pahvay since I can't find an accent thingy on my keyboard) and diamonte. It too is a phase. However, I do love fringe, too, and like it a lot when I get to actually make a costume that is lavish with it.
Regards,
A'isha

Mya · 08-15-2008, 11:16 AM

Who started using those sheer chiffon-type materials, i only have access to limited video, so i could just be completely off here but it seems like the older stuff i've seen doesn't feature chiffon type materials but alot of solid stuff instead.

I think whoever started using sheers did a big thing!

Shanazel · 08-15-2008, 02:47 PM

Depends on what you mean by "older." I took some flack for making a plain dark green satin circle skirt about 1978 when most folks were wearing as much chiffon as they could get around themselves. I liked the look of chiffon- I just hated sewing it.

Aniseteph · 08-15-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

I took some flack for making a plain dark green satin circle skirt about 1978...

Flack is an overreaction to a non-chiffon circle skirt IMO.

Shanazel · 08-16-2008, 05:15 AM

Yeah, it was, but dancers can be remarkably conservative people when it comes to fashion.

08-13-2008, 10:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
lizaj Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 1,241	A vital item Can you pinpoint one factor..be it fabric or a dancer herself that revolutionized what we wear?

08-13-2008, 02:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,463	Dance Dear Lizaj, I agree with Marya. Lycra and other fabrics with a good two way stretch and great strength are absolutely a costumer's dream. You can attach anything to it, you can stretch it a million ways. You can do cutouts in it and it still fits. It comes in a great variety of colors, patterns, etc. And it sometimes takes a dye if you get the right Lycra blend. It comes in shiny and matte. It is washable.... Who could ask for more except for it to perhaps sew itself up in the night while I am sleeping!! Regards, A'isha

08-14-2008, 02:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Aisha Azar V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 4,463	Fringe, etc. Dear Gang, I think that dance costumes go through fashion phases just as clothing does. Right now we are in what I would call rather a backlash phase from the mid 80s through early 90s when the fringe was often more than knee length and dragged us around the floor at times. It was just too, too much. Then Dina came along with her cute little short skirts and much less fringe than the other dancers were wearing, and she opened up a fashion rebellion. I think that fringe is not the most important element of a costume, and actually I still see it in many costumes. It is just being used in new and different ways now instead of being so lavishly applied. In some cases, I think fringe actually hides movement instead of enhancing it. Right now all the rage seems to be pave ( pronounced Pahvay since I can't find an accent thingy on my keyboard) and diamonte. It too is a phase. However, I do love fringe, too, and like it a lot when I get to actually make a costume that is lavish with it. Regards, A'isha

08-14-2008, 12:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mya Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Trinidad Posts: 567	So the demise of fringe - who thinks it's a good thing? I think here in Trinidad at least, lots of fringe shaking conveniently disguises a not so great dancer with lots of flash whereas a less fringe-ful costume forces audiences to look more at the movements themselves.

08-15-2008, 11:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mya Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Trinidad Posts: 567	Who started using those sheer chiffon-type materials, i only have access to limited video, so i could just be completely off here but it seems like the older stuff i've seen doesn't feature chiffon type materials but alot of solid stuff instead. I think whoever started using sheers did a big thing!

08-15-2008, 02:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,578	Depends on what you mean by "older." I took some flack for making a plain dark green satin circle skirt about 1978 when most folks were wearing as much chiffon as they could get around themselves. I liked the look of chiffon- I just hated sewing it.

08-16-2008, 05:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,578	Yeah, it was, but dancers can be remarkably conservative people when it comes to fashion.