All About Dresses

Buying & Designing a Dress

Designing a dress for Irish dancing is a very tall order – but not one that is unattainable. There are some handy hints and tips you should bear in mind if you want to design a dress that is truly yours and that you can wear for your next feis. And if you’re not quite ready to get to that stage yet, we’ve got plenty of other ideas and tips for you too.

Buying new dancing dresses

Designing your own dress is a tall order and one you might want to save for later on. But you still need a dress for your first feis so it’s best to head straight for a dance store that sells such items.

You will usually find they stock a range of brand new dresses as well as used ones, so you get a good choice of dresses to choose from. When selecting a new dress consider which colours will best suit you – it can make all the difference to the finished result.

What about used Irish dancing dresses?

If you are just starting out and still getting some experience in Irish dancing, you may be looking for a cheaper dress. In this case a used dress could be a good option. They are indeed cheaper and you could end up with a few used dresses for the same amount you might spend on just one or two new ones.

Creating your own design

This is the ultimate step. If you want to be sure no one else has the same design of dress that you do, you should have a go at designing your own dress. It is important to think in practical terms as well as attractive ones. You want your dress to look good but you also want it to feel good while wearing it. Remember you need to have a certain amount of movement in order to dance properly.

It’s also a good idea to take some inspiration from existing dresses you see. Don’t copy any of them – after all you want something unique – but see if any of them trigger some worthwhile ideas for your own design.

Finding a reliable and good quality dressmaker to help create your design

Unless you happen to have a mum who is a superb dressmaker, or you know another relative who has the same excellent skills in this department, you’ll have to find a dressmaker who can turn your ideas into reality.

Ideally you want someone who is situated fairly close to where you live and also has experience in creating Irish dancing dresses. Needless to say they must be designed in such a way to be comfortable as well as giving you the freedom of movement you need to dance. If you find an experienced dressmaker who understands these elements, you will be more likely to get the exact result you want.

If you search online you will undoubtedly find a whole host of suitable dressmakers you can find out more about.