What time of year do you buy new skating dresses?

I never got them at any particular time of year. New competition dresses came with new programs, whenever that happened. New practice dresses came when the old ones were outgrown.

Thanks. I was wondering if there were better or worse times of year to sell skating dresses or to shop for new ones.

In my area, most people buy dresses in the spring. Right now, with regionals just over, those that didn't move on are focused on moves tests and strengthening skills. Usually new programs are put together in the spring so they can be put out for the first time in late spring/early summer with the goal being to peak at regionals. As new music is chosen and programs finalized, dresses are picked out. Not true for all skaters, as adults have a different "off-season" but for the vast majority in my area that's how it works.

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"Without a struggle, there can be no progress" ~ Frederick Douglass

Thanks for the information!

Book slot with dressmaker in March; send measurements in June; pick up dress in July; compete in August. Pray it doesn't get outgrown before end of season from then on.

Once I have new music picked and a dress in mind, I order so that I will have it in plenty of time to stone before I need it to compete in. (I normally buy my dresses from Del Arbour and stone them myself.) Last year at ANs I knew what my music would be and what color/style dress I wanted, so I ordered it from Del since she was there and we could sit and talk about the modifications I wanted to one of her stock dresses. Dress came in mid-June, tested in it in mid-August (stoning wasn't near finished for the test but I work in phases that won't look awkward if it's worn as long as a section is done), competed in it in late August.

I do want a new dance dress for waltzes (mainly for the American for this year), but that may not happen this year because I'm already saving to order new boots after ANs so money is a little tight. It's not like I don't have a few that work for the dance already, and I got a new dance dress for my other solo dance for the season (the Foxtrot, picked up a cocktail dress on clearance that I modified). We'll see how my tax return looks and go from there

Just make sure you know what the turnaround time for the company or dress maker you're working with is, tack a few weeks to a month on to that in case there are problems with the fit or you do your own stoning

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2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

I'm going to hijack this thread somewhat. I am curious, for those of you who typically buy stock dresses or dresses off ebay or from other sources, what would make you purchase a custom made dress? There is a local woman who makes skating dresses for a lot of the skaters in our area. I haven't used her yet because I am stubborn and do not want to spend that much money on a dress that could be quickly out grown. Plus, I have been finding beautiful and suitable dresses that work for dd elsewhere. I feel at her level(still in the higher basic skills levels and at the most, non-test by the end of the season), it is not necessary to buy a custom dress unless we cannot find a stock dress that matches her music. By custom I mean, completely original and made only for her. I've ordered custom-fit dresses off ebay, but we've never had original dresses made for her. So, when do you decide to take the plunge and go for custom?

Thanks.

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skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven

My DD has been in custom dresses ever since I gave up on finding anything that would fit her properly. She's not a stock size, and everthing was either too baggy or too short in the torso (or skirt). However, it's rare here to see a stock dress after, say, Preliminary level (which is our first level F/S test in Canada) - although I know that it is more typical to see stock dresses in many places outside of our region, thus, I'm not speaking for either all of Canada or all of Ontario.

The ritual of designing/ordering/enjoying the dress is part of the joy of skating for us. She is a typical teen, wearing jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, and having a glittery dress that is all her own is special, and one of the few chances she has to indulge a feminine streak without feeling awkward. Thus, it is psychological too, and a mother/daughter thing that we enjoy doing together.

Thanks! I guess we are lucky that most of the dresses I have bought her, fit her. She is very thin, but other then that, seems to fit well in basic dresses. We've also been lucky that the dresses have gone well with her music. I have customized most of her dresses by crystaling them and adding our own touch to them, but beyond that, the majority of her dresses have come from Ebay or skate swaps. My mom will be visiting in February and will make her a dress. That one we will customize to whatever dd wants(my mom is an experienced seamstress). I bet dd will LOVE it!

Anyway... so neat you and your daughter can bond some when choosing dresses too!

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skating mom to 3 angels on earth and 1 in heaven