The first day that I wore a skirt and tights was the first day that I learned forward crossovers.

And, instead of getting comments or wierd looks from the other adults in class, I had people (a million times better than me) saying that they might start wearing skirts, too. No one commented on my level, only how cute the skirt and (black) tights looked.

And honestly, if someone had made negative comments, I wouldn't have cared one tiny bit.

After years of ballet classes in just a leotard and tights or dance recitals in all manner of crazy outfits (like the very beautiful but very revealing harem girl outfit from last year's ballet... dancing in something like that two nights in a row in front of a crowd of strangers really desensitizes you to almost anything-- and motivated me to lose 10 lbs), I really have learned not to care what others think of my body or clothing-- all that I care about is learning to do what I want to do RIGHT. My opinion is that the money that I pay for classes and skates, and the hard work that I put in regardless of my level is what earns me the right to dress however I want to when I skate. And a skirt and tights is a million times more comfortable to me than pants (That's what I'm used to being in, anyway!).

And if I want to look "pretty" and be more comfortable, so be it.

Besides, if someone wants to laugh or point at you, they'll find a reason. For example, at a public skate last week, I was working (in jeans and a fleece) on my forward stroking (and straightening the back leg and gliding for longer and longer times) and crossovers, and two teenage girls in rental skates whose ability to skate was limited to mincing around on the toepicks and holding onto each other started to mock the fact that I was holding my arms out . But while they were making fun of me, I was improving and they were still toepicking. If I let it bother me, I would have gotten nowhere and wasted a perfectly good session.

So, I suggest that you do what makes you feel comfortable (and, like I tell my family every time they worry about what others think-- "Think of it this way-- in 100+ years, we'll all be dead and no one will care what I'm wearing or doing. In the meantime, I'm going to do what I want and enjoy it, because time moves by way too fast to waste it.")

I've had this before aswell, at a mornining public session that was quite empty any populated mostly by adult skaters like me, these two girls seem to find the fact that I had my arms out while doing outside edges hilarous. They started doing the same everytime they went paseed me while making airplane noises I think this shows them up more than anything it was so childish and they had to be at least 17.

I've also had such people try to do spirals when they see someone doing them, saying things like 'this is soo easy' loudly as they go passed you. What they don't seem to realise is the fact that there not doing a spiral. All they have done is lift a foot up and bend there knee so it is behind them oh and they also seem to hold their arms out in a mock bee type manner and flap their hands quite funny really

So yes I think people are going to laugh at you at some point no matter what, so it might aswell be for doing something you want to do.

I saw this too. I thought it would be kind of fun to recruit others into our addiction. he he he. Our rink is new and growing. I want to make sure that it stays around for a while. Plus it seems to be a great venue to share my passion for skating with others too.

.

I should have busted out my cell phone. It has *bling* all over it. I get compliments on it all the time . I am a little more humble in my attire for public sessions. I switch back and forth from leggings to skirts & tights for freestyle sessions though.

I do that at my husband, but that's because, if he's going to dance Intermediate (and he is), he should have his arms under better control than he actually does! Honestly, you'd think he was about to take off, not start a Fiesta Tango! And it's a great pity, because once he gets going, his Fiesta Tango's very good, but it does give an unfortunate first impression. And skating against the likes of Kateskate and Chantelly and FRBSkate, he can't afford that!

My coach sometimes laughs at me, but not wit other people - that's a difference. Time was, some of the other skaters/coaches used to laugh at me, but they don't now. They are actually apt to make complimentary comments about me to my coach, which is most gratifying. I've worked hard for their respect and I deserve it.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

well i find it to be the truth. I am not going to tell you what to wear or tell anyone else what to wear. I'm not asking you to agree with me. I'm showing one way of lookign at it that I know many girls would agree with.

if you misunderstood please refer to my previous example- the boy with $400 swim trunks who finishes last in the race.

Please wear what you are comfortable with, I am in no way responsible if it results in you looking stupid.

I agree that, on a public skating session, a dress or skirt draws attention, but it should not draw ridicule to the skater. It's wrong, especially on the part of the coaches you've described. Obviously, this is a common occurrence at your rink, so you're right to avoid overdressing.

As a coach, I really hate it when rank beginners come out wearing dresses because the first thing they have to learn is falling down and getting up. Once little ones get a chill or get hurt, teaching them becomes more difficult.

However, when I see a skater (even a slow one with bad form on a public session) wearing a skirt, I figure it's a motivational tool. Whatever works and I pledge not to mock anyone (even Steven) for wearing a skirt.

As for swimming, the spectators don't really notice the suit unless it's a bodyskimmer. A fancy (or skintight) suit takes microseconds off your time, rarely enough in youth swimming to win or lose the race. Plus, someone has to come in last,whether by a nose or a length. I assume your $400 swim trunk example is made up. Unless the trunks were made of gold and the weight held the poor kid back! LOL

Back to original topic: it takes some courage to change over from sweats to a skating outfit. As some posters pointed out, make sure the skirts/dresses fit properly. Try wearing the clothes at home so you get more comfortable in them. I know that, after wearing skirts/dresses for many years, you get used to wearing them. Which makes walking into Barnes & Noble after skating much more interesting. (Why are these people looking at me? Oh yeah...) What do the other skaters wear? Do they change afterward?

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It is a huge leap to change from street clothes into skating clothes. I switched for several reasons: needed stretchy clothes that would allow me to bend; the clothes would help me "feel" like a skater; less baggy clothes helps my coach see the line of my leg (good or bad).

When I switched, I felt less like a person in Learn-To-Skate and more like a freestyle skater...more mental than anything but it did help.

If I am going straight home after skating, I usually don't change (unless it's summer, then I do). If I have another place to go (lengthy visit or something like that) I will change. I usually don't change if I'm running into the market for milk and stuff. I usually wear legging type pants, but will occasionally wear dresses or leotard/skirt combos. With those, I can put pants on and go out. If I am going into the store, I throw on my skating jacket....usually covers me for any weird looks I get.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

yep, i can relate.
i think it's pretentious unless your competing. sorry if that sounds crass!
the 'naked-est' i get is maybe shorts with tights.
as for dance clothing,,, i just my recieved catalouge yesterday,,,wish i could remember the name! i'll check and pm you later.
also try dancediscountsupply... i've bought alot knit shorts, leg warmers and unitards from there,, not bad prices! lots of frilly ballet-jazz clothing too.

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JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE GETS TO YOU FIRST..

DOES 'THAT' MAKE THEM 'RIGHT'?

finally someone understands what i was getting at! Wearing a dress draws attention (good and bad). Not necessarily ridicule. And unfortunately it happens even more on freestyles where the 10 year olds stand around and talk instead of practicing.

as for the swim trunks example- I meantioned it because i have a guy friend who does swimming very seriously and I have had to sit through hours of complaining by him about how his mom won't give him money to buy this special bodysuit for swimming that supposedly all the prfessionals wear and it costs $400 and many of the other boys bought it.

What I was trying to point out is that my friend who swims in plain ol' speedos has won more races than like 20 of the $400 swim trunk boys combined and made it to state championships in his good ol' speedos. Proving that looking the part- doesn't make you a world class athlete.

I'm sorry sonic. =-( Folks can be poops.Your coach SHOULD be your skating support system.

I think Steven said things in a great way. Life is to be enjoyed and if wearing something makes you feel good do it. You should make skating be what you want because you won't get another chance to do things different some other life. Some kid skaters are great friends and supporters to adult skaters, coaches too, and others aren't at the rink. (Same with skating parents. Some of the nastiest wouldn't try skating for anything, they just talk about it.) You will learn unfortunately. Enjoy the one group and avoid the others. Thankfully I don't have but a few at my rink. Please don't fret about your skating clothes so much. Enjoy yourself.

Chico

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"I truly believe, when God created skating, he patted himself on the back."

Delurking briefly to add my $.02……. I’ve tried pretty much the entire spectrum of skating apparel over the years, and have found that the longer I skate, the less I care about what I wear. I’m at the point now that when I’m on the ice, I’m so focused on my skating, that what’s on my body is the last thing on my mind. I don’t skate any “better” or “prettier” in a skirt/dress – my coach expects my best effort regardless of what I’m wearing. I choose to skate in pants because the rinks I skate are very cold and require numerous layers of polar fleece, both top and bottom, to stay warm enough to be flexible. I consider myself an athlete first, and as an athlete I dress to maximize my performance. If I skated in a very warm rink (in my dreams, LOL), a dress or skirt might be the most appropriate. My advice is to wear whatever clothing allows you to perform your best, just like you did when you were swimming and not worry about what people think. What you wear doesn’t define you as a skater – your skills do.

If only that were true in Cleveland Ohio.

Steven

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"A sure sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." - Albert Einstein
"A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular." - Adlai Stevenson
"Got Edge?" - Steven J. Arness - Coachless, two years and counting.
"He who carves himself to suit others will soon whittle himself away."
"Sometimes you get what you want but loose what you have."

And yet another arrogant comment...
Sorry to hear that apparently there are quite a few petty people out there that just 'look' bad no matter what they wear or at how high a level they skate...

Very well said... thank you!

So true, which in a sense is sort of said since it shows that there is a fear of ridicule which really shouldn't be there.
I started out skating in jazz pants, had the same thoughts as many hear, that I felt only a good skater was supposed to wear dresses. Silly, really and purely a thought adult skaters have... no little girl would feel/think this way, quite on the contrary! And to take that thought further, don't we rather encourage than discourage it at that (a young) age thinking how cute and feeling it almost a necessary piece of equipment?

Any way, after some encouragement from my coach back then I decided to give competing a try (being a Gamma level skater at the time) and with that came the need to wear a dress. As I couldn't imagine anything worth than being nervous and uncomfortable in a dress getting on the ice during a competition, I figured I better get used to the feeling and bought a practice dress. The first time I wore it during group lesson I was soooo nervous and selfconcsious barely wanting to face the other skaters as they stepped on the ice! To my surprise though they were all very positive in their responses even those in much higher levels than me (and noone else wore a dress during adult class at the time). Then came the coach and I almost ran off the ice I was that nervous... silly I know and unfounded to boot... he looked at me and said "Nice, you finally look like the figure skater that you are!"
Never felt selfconscious about wearing a dress again.

Not just that but as the weeks went by other skaters started earing dresses as well... first the two teens in the class then the mother of one of them... it was just that one had to make the start to get everyone to realise that there was no reason to fear ridicule!!!

By now, almost 2 years later, I barely can imagine practicing in pants again... now there's another 'mind block' in that pants seem hindersome even if or when they're not.

Know the feeling... in Vegas I never changed after skating, just wore my skating dresses to do my shopping... no biggy there any way, not even any funny looks and only on occassion the question which casino I worked for.

Here I changed that habit a bit mostly because of the weather but right now, with the weather nice and warm you can still find me doing my grocery shopping in skate wear.

P.S. My competition dress is ofcourse reserved for solely that purpose, I don't wear during classes or practice time except for the last practice or so before a competition... dress rehearsal so to speak.

I do think it varies enormously from rink to rink. At some rinks, it's perhaps not "done" to wear a skirt and tights unless you are an elite skater. At others, it doesn't seem to matter what you wear.

At my own rink people wear anything from skirts and leggings to shorts and tights - some people ring the changes nearly every session, others always wear the same kind of thing. I prefer skating in tights and a skirt (I found some wonderful 100-denier tights last winter, which made it possible to do so all winter - usually I end up in trousers simply for reasons of temperature) for reasons I've already given, and I've noticed that most, but not all, of our women ice dancers do the same.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Shutterbug? Oh oh! Is that YOU? (Another lady from my home rink!)

I guess I am committed to being the giant grape popcicle now - LOL!!!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

well I've just ordered my first pair of skating tights, I just have to find the right skirt now!!!!!

I first made my daughter a couple of bright coloured lycra unitards with skirt sewn in. She had a competition coming up, and I figured she would spend more time admiring herself in her dress than concentrating on her skating, so I wanted her to get used to that feeling. I am very glad I did that, it worked. The first couple of sessions her outfit and how she looked in it were all she could focus on. She was fine in her competition dress.

And lots of others started wearing skirts and dresses as well, regardless of their level.

Since the competition pretty much everyone has gone back to their pants, but I know that they'll start wearing skirts again if others do.

I think it is sad that there be any ridicule for wearing the uniform of a sport. There is plenty to ridicule about how I look when skating, however, because of my age and size, so I am determined to wear what makes me feel comfortable on any given day.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

I'm a bit late in the game- but I figured I'd chime in.

When I was a little girl I always wanted a cute skating skirt, but never really skated much more than at the mall. Luck had it that I was able to buy a bunch of skating attire from a friend who was quitting. However, I didn't think I was "good enough" to wear a skirt.

I decided to use it as a reward- when I learned backward crossovers, I could wear a skirt. I did, and so I did. I found out that I love skating in a skirt. I got a kind of rude comment from my instructor (oooh, look at the pretty skater in a not nice voice, IMO, he might not have meant it that way) but I also noticed I got better corrections because he could see my legs. I got lots of compliments from the adults in my class.

However, that session has since ended and I haven't worn a skirt yet. I still don't feel "good enough" to wear one on a public session, and I'm not in a class of people I know yet.

I think it's sad the stigma attached to wearing skirts. Because they are fun to skate in.

Anyhow, I plan to skate in it again once I get to know the people at my new rink better.

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-Jessi
What I need is a montage...
Visit my skating journal or my Youtube videos (updated with 2 new videos Sept 26, 2009)

But remember, we're not wearing these clothes to become world class athletes. We're wearing them because we want to, and feel comfortable doing so. In no way did I believe that I suddenly would magically be able to do a triple axel as soon as I put on a skirt and tights.

And as for the line of thinking that other people have on here about pretensions.... then does that mean:

1. Adult (or teen) beginner ballet students aren't allowed to wear a leotard and tights because they haven't "earned" them? Or maybe they can wear a leo and tights, but they can't be nice looking ones-- just basic tank? Or no thigh-high legwarmers or knit shrugs or dance skirts or shorts from discount dance supply? I'm sure there are some close-minded people in the dance community who would say so. I guess everyone who is not planning on joining a professional dance company should just wear tight-fitting clothes.

2. Beginner fencers (and I used to volunteer coach fencing in college) can't wear fencing sneakers because that would raise expectations about their abilities? How about only using standard knickers and jackets and lames instead of some of the cuter (competition approved) colored lames and jackets stenciled with their names? You can only move into "good" uniforms and bags once you've moved from C strip to B strip or A strip.

3. Everybody going to the gym has to wear only Target or WalMart work out clothes until they earn the right to wear UnderArmor or Champion? And joggers can't wear the better sneakers until they can run at least 5 miles at a clip?

4. And even if you have the disposable income to do so, you can only buy $10 swim clothes unless you're a world-class swimmer?

Strapping a pair of skates onto your feet and practicing from age 2 every minute of the day won't guarantee that you'll be a world-class athlete, either-- does that mean that you can only wear a skirt and tights the day that you reach seniors and not before? Then again, there are also a lot of people who feel that skating isn't a sport, so does that make any argument about athletes moot?

Everyone has a right to wear what they feel comfortable wearing. Especially as adults, because hopefully by now we have become comfortable with ourselves and confident with our choices. (of course, I feel more uncomfortable when I'm wearing my Flyers fleece or T-shirt on a public session in North Jersey Devils country than a skirt (or even being naked). But that's just because, when one of the irate Devils fans decide to take me out, I'm not fast enough to avoid them! Then it becomes a matter of safety!)

*LOL* Suuuper post Emberchyld... I especially love the last part!!!

I rarely wear street clothes anymore when I skate....on private/club sessions OR public! I just feel more comfortable wearing skating attire. It's warmer and allows me to bend more. If I fall and get wet, it dries faster. Nothing like the feeling of wearing jeans that stay wet for the whole session

I also encourage people at my rink to skate in stretchy-type clothing (not necessarily skating duds, just stuff that moves with them) for the same reasons. Whether they get dresses or pants is entirely up to them.

At my home rink, you see everything from ski pants (on the little tykes), goth looks and farm coveralls to competition dresses during LTS and public. I rarely hear anyone laugh. No one really cares.

If I see laces dragging, or pants too long and posing a safety hazard, I will speak up. If I see a cute dress I will say so. But I won't pick on anyone for their choice in fashion. Nothing shoots down a young person's positive self-worth faster than ragging on what they choose to wear. Especially if done by an adult (who should know better). C'mon, we are supposed to be role models and positive influences on these kids (and even other adults).

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Yes, one cannot skate well in jeans, as you really need something a bit more flexible. Very old, tatty jeans are one thing, but fashionable ones probably aren't a great idea. Some coaches teach in jeans, but few skaters train in them.

I have to admit, I wish I'd trained in trousers of some kind this morning, since Husband wasn't there so I could have, or perhaps my 100-denier tights instead of summer-weight 40 denier ones! It was cold! And I didn't have any gloves with me, either - I seldom wear them, except for a few minutes when I need to, but I really wanted them this morning.

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

My coach makes me take my gloves off when I run through my program....It was so funny the first time she asked me to, "So, can you skate without your gloves on or do you really need them for security or something?" I was like what???? Plus, she wants me to be very aware of what my fingers do (i.e. spreading apart and not looking pretty).

So, I have to take them off and pretend I'm holding a sandwich or do the Barbie hand thing. I just hate the thought of falling and getting that nasty ice on my hands (do you know what's in that ice?) Plus, my hands get a bit cold.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

too true...some boy over here spit on the ice multiple times during a public session. It had to be scraped off lol