Having spent over ten years training in this sport, the dresses played a large role
Back In the 1970's I have to say I don't ever recall shopping for figure skating dresses; I was fortunate to have a Mom who could sew dresses for me. What I enjoyed most was being able to design my own dress styles, then mom would simply create a pattern based on that design. Thanks to Mom, I sure had some gorgeous dresses.
Nowadays, many moms are much too busy to sew their daughter's figure skating dresses so they'll either have them made by a seamstress or purchase them from a local figure skating store, other skaters, or online.
It's actually quite affordable to select a figure skating dress from Amazon. If you have to take it to a seamstress for adjustments, you can still do that. However, if the skater has a fairly typical body frame, the likelihood is the dress will fit just fine.
You'll notice the online selection is quite vast and most dresses come in alternate color choices as well as various size options.
HOW ABOUT THE FIGURE SKATING SKIRT?
Have you ever felt that you invented a new idea..lol - I remember in the 1970's arriving at my Figure Skating Club wearing the first ever Figure Skating Skirt. I do mean 'the first'. Since I had always worn a different style top over my dresses during practice, just the skirt would be seen. So one day I asked mom, 'let's not sew a full dress, let's just do the skirt portion - we'll cut it off at the waist'. That way I can wear any top I want with it during practice, changing it daily as I always did.
So there I was showing off what I believed was my invention in our skating club...after that, other club members started having them made! Of course, today they're quite common. I often wonder, did I invent this idea?
Of course you can easily find Figure Skating Skirts at Amazon as well. I've featured one here.
So go ahead and research those pre-made dresses before you decide to go to the expense of having them made! But for competition, we always love custom-made dresses don't we!
by Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Wow, Barbara, I didn't know you used to be a figure skater. I LOVE to watch the figure skating competitions and especially the Olympic skaters and always take note of their outfits. How lucky you were to have a talented seamstress for a mom to create the ideas you had for figure skating dresses.
ReplyDeletePat, I spent my youth on the ice, and taught for a year or so as well (way back when). It was a huge part of my life :)
DeleteOh what fun ideas for figure skating dresses! How lucky you were to have a Mom who could make original ones for you to skate in! I love that you are probably the one who started the trend for figure skating skirts!
ReplyDeleteBeverly, thanks! I guess I'll never really know if I did invent it, lol
DeleteI have always admired the beautiful ice skating costumes. Part of the fun of watching ices skaters is to see their fabulous costumes. You were indeed quite blessed to have a mother who could and would sew your designs for you. I've always believed when you are wearing something made especially for you, that is was like wearing a hug. Every costume is an act of love, not just an outfit, when it is specially made for you by your mother.
ReplyDeleteWell said Cynthia, and to take it even one step further, my skates were custom made for my feet too, so there wasn't anything in my skating life off the rack, lol
DeleteI remember when I was a child how I wanted to be a figure skater, but I didn't live close enough to a rink to get there on my own, and my mom had too much else on her plate to be my taxi, though I'm sure she would have been able to make my outfits. I love that stunning blue dress you displayed above.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was a child how I wanted to be a figure skater, but I didn't live close enough to a rink to get there on my own, and my mom had too much else on her plate to be my taxi, though I'm sure she would have been able to make my outfits. I love that stunning blue dress you displayed above.
ReplyDelete