Are you in the market to buy a used or off-the-rack Latin, Country or Skate dress?
If yes, this article is for you.
P.S. Ballroom dancers and skaters, don’t miss this video. All the alteration and fitting tips I suggest here work for ballgowns and skate dresses too!
In fact, all the fitting training I offer in my free blogs and in the new Fabulous Fitting Techniques course are perfectly suited all types of dance and skate costumes for women and teenagers.
Fun facts about today’s blog:
Back on March 26, 2014, I got the idea to create the world’s first online sewing school specifically for making competition-quality Dancesport, Country and Skate dresses.
Within a week of getting the idea, I purchased cameras, lights and a microphone so I could begin filming.
I had a lot of information in my head from decades of dressmaking. It was bursting to come out!
YouTube alone was the answer back then since I didn’t have a website.
The video I share with you today is one of three I filmed in April, 2014. Long ago I posted the original version on YouTube and it has over 1,300 views so far.
But I never turned it into a blog so non-YouTubers could see it. …. What a shame because there are some FANTASTIC tips on necessary sewing alterations, plus common fitting problems to look for so you can choose the best used or ready-made Latin or Skate dress!
So here you go. Total retro video with fresh editing. Can you spot differences in how I say or do things in this video compared to recent releases? 🙂
Additionally, if you aren’t sure where to start dress shopping, be sure to check out my blog about Dance Dress Couture, a dance dress consignment shop.
Get the best fitting dress for your money.
Things to consider when buying a used or off-the-rack competition Latin, Country or Skate dress.
#1 How well does the dress fit? Will it need a little or a lot of alterations?
Is the dress too tight or too loose? Are the sleeves and the skirt the right length? Do you need to exchange the bra cups for a better look?
All this and many more possible alterations can impact how much work is needed to make the costume suitable for your body shape and size.
Sew Like A Pro™ Dressmaker Tip:
NOTE: To get a true view of how the dress looks on you, I suggest taking photos of yourself wearing the dress – front, back and each side –
#2 Can you do some or all of the alterations yourself? Will you need to hire someone to do the work?
If you are a seamstress and can do all the alterations yourself, estimate how much time it will take. Add three hours to your estimate. I’m not kidding.
Estimate how much money it will cost to do the alterations and add at least 15% to the total.
Then ask yourself:
“Is the overall dress – both in fit and style – worth the time and money when compared to the asking price?”
In other words, is the dress a good bargain or is it something you like enough to put time and money into it?
Check out this blog in which I demonstrate altering a ballgown when the owner lost weight.
If you do not know how to sew and need to hire someone to do the alterations, be sure to get a written estimate. Having a ballpark price of $200 or several hours is perfectly acceptable.
If you need to save money, ask the dressmaker if you can peel off any rhinestones that need to be removed for the sewing alterations to be done.
Once you have an idea of how much the alterations will cost for your stock or used dress, you will then be able to decide if you like the overall dress enough and if the asking price is low enough to make the dress worth investing more money into alterations.
Check out the video for more details.
Do you have a dress search tip you’d like to share so other women can avoid buying a dress that isn’t a good value?
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