Inspired by the other thread...

I've never owned a skating dress before. I think I'll be doing my pre-bronze test in the next few months, so obviously I want to find something simple but nice to wear. However, all I can find are competition dresses! (I'm not a glitter kind of girl...) So I have a couple of questions:
1- Where can I go to find simple practice dresses, with minimal or no ornament?
2- My Mom may make a wrap skirt to wear with a leotard so we can ensure that the length is appropriately "modest." Is there a length that would be considered too long? I was thinking about mid thigh for the front, and a couple of inches longer in the back... thoughts?

I don't know about competitions just yet, but my coach is pretty gung ho about it. I'll cross that bridge when I have to. Eek!

Thanks to all.

This is just a personal preference... but item 1) is my opinion...
1) A skirt can feel too long especially if your hands get "caught" in it doing moves. Also, if it isn't a light fabric, it can make you feel heavy doing any kind of spins. P.s. if you use a wrap skirt on a leotard you might want to sew one side down to prevent shifting. p.p.s Try skating with the skirt before test to see how it feels by you!

2) Quite a few sites that I have seen all have a practice dress component. Of course you can also just go the leotard + skirt route.
some simple designs here:
http://www.tidewaterice.com/gk_elite...ng_dresses.htm
http://www.tidewaterice.com/Mondorpage1.htm

__________________
~
Tidesong

As a thought: check with your coach. Depending on how directive your coach may be, he/she may have specific expectations about test attire, and you want to be able to plan/budget accordingly. If you check other threads on test attire, you'll find it not unusual that a coach directs, say, a specific hair style, dress style, tights style, etc, and you don't want to waste time and money on a solution that your coach won't like.

http://www.mainstreetdancewear.com/s...p?cat=25000000 has some very affordable skating dresses. None of them come (except the dance dresses) mid thigh in the front, however, for skating dresses I find that they have excellent coverage on the backside- it may not be enough for you, however. (But the best I've found at an affordable price)

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

I would make sure the knees are clearly visible. Since you are concerned with modesty, you might like some of the dance dresses, which are generally longer. Tidewater Ice has some dance dresses that are not overdone.

__________________

Thanks everyone-
I'll look through all the sites you have suggested. The thought of taking my first test while feeling self conscious about stuff sticking out where it shouldn't is extra scary.

I'll keep in mind about the knees being uncovered. That's a great point.
Thanks again everyone.

One can often find plain wrap dance skirts of different lengths available at dancewear stores (brick or online). For example, Discount Dancewear offers wrap skirts at prices under $20.

A nice wrap skirt paired with a leotard always works for tests and is a nice reasonably priced alternative.

Also, as already mentioned, the dresses at Mainstreet Dancewear are very well made at affordable prices.

__________________
American Waltz... Once, Twice, ???? ...

Q: How many coaches does it take to fix Jen's Dance Intro-3 Problems
A: 5 and counting...

Something else that works and several adults and teens, myself including, have done at our club and which the club sees no problem with what so ever:
1. Go to a shop or sift through your and your mother's/sisters/friends closets and find a nice, preferably black or dark dress. Put it on. Put your skating tights on. Make sure that when you move, the dress doesn't creep up and stick there, but rather fall back down. Make sure the dress isn't too long (I don't have problems with it, but other people do.)
2. Go to a general store that also sells underwear and find underpants which don't really look like underpants (no decoration) and which match the color of the dress approximately enough, and which are high-waist (up to your bellybutton). Basically, grandma underwear, but stretch, something like this: http://www.hbiz.com.sg/html/eProduct...Underpants.jpg
Should be possible for under $5. Put them on under your dress, over the tights.