Best dress designer(s)?

[Little Bit]

Who do you think is the best figure skating dress designer out there in the USA? How much would you expect to pay for the dress?

[Oracle]

Jef Billings. I loved Jenny Kirk's dresses this season. I'd guess his go for about $5,000.00?:?:

[Mel On Ice]

whoever was dressing Josee Chouinard from the mid to late 90s should be recognized. Her outfits were amazing.

[Artemis]

Originally posted by Mel On Ice
whoever was dressing Josee Chouinard from the mid to late 90s should be recognized. Her outfits were amazing.

Josée does a lot of her own designs. I'm not sure if she's ever designed for other skaters, though.

[evereg]

Originally posted by Artemis
Josée does a lot of her own designs. I'm not sure if she's ever designed for other skaters, though. I heard or read somewhere that she designed an outfit for Tim Goebel. I could be wrong.

As for Jef Billing and $5,000.00. Ouch - that is expensive.

[MQSeries]

There aren't that many well-known skating costume designers. The three that come immediately to mind are Wang, Billings, and Laura Sheean (?). I think Wang exclusively design for Kwan. Haven't heard too much about Sheean lately. I never really like the stuffs that she did for Bobek and others. Her dresses had too many beads and sequins.

[Little Bit]

How many skating parents have dresses made for their child(ren) for competition? I know in the Houston area we have many dress designers. The main cliental is for figures skaters, but they do design for other sport activities as well. Jenny Dawn and Andrea Gardner use Pat Pearsall, and Katy Taylor uses a lady named Margaret. Sorry I do not know Margret's last name.

A dress from these two ladies start at about $385 for a simple dress, and go up. Would you pay this for a dress, costume?


:lol: edited to correct Pat's spelling of last name!:D

[Phuket]

What about AP's mom? :D

[Little Bit]

Originally posted by Phuket
What about AP's mom? :D

Who is AP and who is her Mom?:mrgreen:

[Poohsk8s2]

Yes,LittleBit... that is close to the going rate for dresses. The crystals alone can cost over a hundred dollars for a single costume. Many of the skaters in CT pay well over $500 for a costume at the Pre-Juv/Juv/Nov levels... and believe it or not, the men's costumes run higher. There is alot of detailed work that goes into a costume, and tedious time is spent jeweling the fabric. Don't forget, not only do they have to LOOK good on the ice, but they have to function for the skater. Jewels have to stay inplace so as not to create a dangerous situation for the next skater and the fabric has to move and stretch for jumps and lifts. Sit down and try to design, embellish and jewel a costume and you will see why I will pay that amount for a costume.

[alexeiluvr]

If anyone has ever seen Kim Ryan skate, you would love her dresses! They are designed by Linda Graff and are sooooo gorgeous. Here's a link (too bad the pics aren't very clear)
http://www.catslair.com/skating/2003/svo/ryan.shtml

[Little Bit]

Thank you, Poohsk8s.

I have a skater and was wondering if that was a normal cost. Our dresses average what you too spend on a dress. The dresses are drop dead gorgeous, and we love the work Pat does.

[Poohsk8s2]

You are welcome LittleBit... It often blows my mind too!

[vesperholly]

Brad Griffies has done some wonderful dresses for UDel area skaters. Lately he seems to be favoring a totally backless dress which I'm not really a fan of (especially on 15-year-olds), but a lot of his dresses are absolutely gorgeous.

[AxelAnnie22]

Almost anything but Vera Wang! I have been so over-wanged of late.

Love Billings. He has done some gorgeous things.

And, unpopular as it is, I love the dresses AP's mom has done.

I don't know who does Jenny Kirk's costumes, but I sure don't like her LP dress.

Kristi always has great costumes....who does hers.

[Azlynn]

I've actually been studying skating dress design for a costumes history class. Dug through a number of interviews, and recall one where Vera Wang mentions one of Michelle's dresses costing in the tens of thousands range, with some fabric running at thousands per yard. Aieee. That interview made it sound like Vera absorbs the cost herself, not Michelle.

Other 'top' designer's prices were easily hitting the thousands range, particularly with those such as Jenny Kirk's Chicago dress, which requires many, many hours of handwork. Plain test dresses that are mass manufactured can often hit $100+ these days, and it's not surprising to see competition dresses costing hundreds. As well, there still seem to be some parents making their own dresses, or buying a plain dress and adding on rhinestones or beading. Good on them.

After sifting through many books filled with the good, bad, and the ugly, I'd love there to be a definitive book on skating attire, current and updated with information on designers, trends, etc. It'd be a great PhD work, but I'm sure someone will get there before me. ;)

[Dolly]

I like Sharene's designs. Here is a link.

http://www.shareneskatewear.com/

A year or so ago, Sasha was modelling Sharene's dresses on the site. They seem affordable.

[skatepixie]

I like the lady Sashie used for Swan Lake and her SP this year...I forget her name tho...

[Roseline]

Originally posted by skatepixie
I like the lady Sashie used for Swan Lake and her SP this year...I forget her name tho...

Marie Talbot?

[Sk8Bunny]

Originally posted by Little Bit
Who is AP and who is her Mom?:mrgreen:

Ann Patrice is the 2002 World Jr. Champion and her mom, Julie, designs all her dresses, plus she does dresss for a few other skaters as well(like some Broadmoor SC skaters). Last time I heard, her starting price is $1500, but you'd better beleive AP's butterfly dress was worth a lot more than that. lol. I have heard from reliable sources that an average dresses from AP's mom cost anywheres from $2000 to $5000.

[Stormy]

I love Vera Wang and Brad Griffies. As a mass market designer, I love Sharene as well. I think her dresses are fun and affordable. For practice dresses, I think Del Arbour can't be beat. I never wear dresses for practice, only competitions and tests, but I will still treat myself to one Del Arbour a year. :)

[WeBeEducated]

I have long admired costumes done by Pat Pearsol. anyone know if she has a website? Or how to get in touch?

[Kemy]

Originally posted by skatepixie
I like the lady Sashie used for Swan Lake and her SP this year...I forget her name tho...

Is Sashie a nickname? Because I thought Sasha was her nickname...

Also, her SP was designed by someone different, wasn't it? Last year's SP was done by the same designer who did the Swan Lake costume.

[mousey]

a way to get around the expense of sequins and shiny things, is do it yourself:P :P

[icyboid]

I like Vera Wang's creations for Nancy Kerrigan's Olympic programs ten times more than any dresses she created for Michelle (the exceptions being an all white one, the Eric Clapton short, and the dark blue one from this past nationals)

I liked Nancy's Wang creations the best because they were simple and striking. Wang's dresses for Michelle have too many shiny adornments/decorations, and sometimes they're just plain ugly because they're so gaudy.

Was Jef Billings the one who created Michelle's 98 Olympic LP dress? That dress looked great on her, but I can't imagine it was innovative or complex enough in its construction to warrant a price tag like $5,000....

[trains]

How about Canada?
Phyllis McDougall is fabulous in the Ottawa area. She did the outfits for Wing and Lowe this year and has other national team members knocking at her door. The outfits she does for the Ottawa area skaters are amazing.

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by icyboid
I like Vera Wang's creations for Nancy Kerrigan's Olympic programs ten times more than any dresses she created for Michelle (the exceptions being an all white one, the Eric Clapton short, and the dark blue one from this past nationals)

I liked Nancy's Wang creations the best because they were simple and striking. Wang's dresses for Michelle have too many shiny adornments/decorations, and sometimes they're just plain ugly because they're so gaudy.

Was Jef Billings the one who created Michelle's 98 Olympic LP dress? That dress looked great on her, but I can't imagine it was innovative or complex enough in its construction to warrant a price tag like $5,000.... Couldn't agree more. Loved the dress for Kerrigan. It was so gorgeous, and so perfect....for the music, the setting, and the skater. The Wangs for Michelle are pretty generic. The last three were interchangeable.

I would love to know who did the Nagano LP dress. I always throught it looked like sweats. I couldn't figure it out. I didn't think it did a thing for Michelle, her figure, her music, the importance of the occasion, or her program. I just didn't think it enhanced anything. But, that is just preference.

[Sylvia]

Originally posted by WeBeEducated
I have long admired costumes done by Pat Pearsol. anyone know if she has a website? Or how to get in touch?

http://www.patpearsall.com/

[celtic]

In the Dallas area, a lady named Kristi Valencia used to design and make most of the dresses. They were beautiful,and had a beautiful line. She was amazing, and she refused to copy a dress she had made for anyone else. She retired from sewing, I beieve, when her oldest daughter quit skating to pursue higher education. Now a lady named Denyse Frey makes most of the outfits and does a great job. You occasionally will see her use the same design or fabric for more than one skater, though.

I think Jenny Kirk's dresses are absolutely beautiful, and her dresses this year were the best of the field, IMO.

I didn't realize Julie McDonough sewed for other skaters. She seems to really like those sequins and crystals! :)

[sk8rbean]

Originally posted by Sk8Bunny
Last time I heard, her starting price is $1500, but you'd better beleive AP's butterfly dress was worth a lot more than that. lol. I have heard from reliable sources that an average dresses from AP's mom cost anywheres from $2000 to $5000.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

And these are worth it because....

AP's costumes have to be the most over the top and gaudy costumes of anyone right now. The hideous swan thing this year was tres tacky.

Maybe for other skaters they aren't so gaudy? Has anyone seen a dress she has designed for other Broadmoor skaters?

[snoopysnake]

In my opinion, Yuka Sato is the best-dressed skater.

Re:individual designers, I was very impressed with Jef Billings' designs in the current SOI tour!

[Sk8r4Life]

Tania Bass is another one who has designed many dresses, most notably for Sarah Hughes, including my all-time favorite that she used for her short last year, dark indigo long-sleeved dress with mesh cutouts.

Here is a link--it is the dress on the bottom left.

Dress Link (http://www.dianesrink.com/sarah/0203costumes.html)

It's the crystals on the dress that jack up the price. Some of the larger crystals are as much as 25 cents apiece, and when you consider that most of the senior ladies dresses have thousands of crystals, that's where you get $5000. Probably Jenny Kirk's Chicago dress had at least 10,000 crystals on it--no exaggeration.

[Robin]

Originally posted by icyboid
Was Jef Billings the one who created Michelle's 98 Olympic LP dress? That dress looked great on her, but I can't imagine it was innovative or complex enough in its construction to warrant a price tag like $5,000....

I'm pretty sure that the Lyra Angelica dress was done by a fashion designer that hadn't done skating dresses before. I think it may have been Marc Bouwer but I'm not positive. I liked the dress...I thought it was simple but elegant.

[Sk8Bunny]

Originally posted by sk8rbean
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

And these are worth it because....

AP's costumes have to be the most over the top and gaudy costumes of anyone right now. The hideous swan thing this year was tres tacky.

Maybe for other skaters they aren't so gaudy? Has anyone seen a dress she has designed for other Broadmoor skaters?

Im not 100 % sure, but Im pretty sure this dress was created by Julie McDonough. Heres the link: http://www.catslair.com/skating/2002/nationals/pics/nov/ladies/short/heelan.shtml

[Artemis]

Are both of Michelle's dresses this year Wangs? I'm not overwhelmed by them, but one feature I really like on both is the back, with the criss-crossed loops of fabric (can you tell I'm not a fashion expert!). It's a really neat effect IMO, looks nice and functional. And I can't remember seeing that before.

Now if only they could fix the look-right-down-her-top-while-she-does-a-spiral feature!

[Little Bit]

Originally posted by Sylvia
http://www.patpearsall.com/

Thanks for the site, but please realize Pat Pearsall is so incredible, that this site does not due her dresses justice. If you can take a trip to her studio I would recommend it highly! :D She has so many pictures of her dresses on skaters there to look at, plus drawings of hers also. Pat takes the time to sketch out a dress with you right there on the spot. Pat is fabulous and works well with all ages of skaters!

Pat here is my bow to you!:bow: I hope you had a good time at the beach house over spring break too!

[Little Bit]

Originally posted by Oracle
Jef Billings. I loved Jenny Kirk's dresses this season. I'd guess his go for about $5,000.00?:?:


http://www.figureskatersonline.com/jenniferkirk/gallery/04nats/5.html

Is this the dress that is estimated to be $5,000:?:

[Sydney]

I love Jef Billings' designs. Very stylish and classy.

I agree with the posters praising Josee Chouinard's costumes. It's no wonder she was named one of Canada's best dressed women. Is it possible that Marijane Stong designed some of them? I know she does Annie Bellemare's costumes, and they seem sort of similar in style. My favourite Josee dress is the strapless one with the flowers below the neck. See here (http://olympia.fortunecity.com/howe/233/13josee.jpg).

Re Michelle and Vera Wang. I think they're ok dresses, but for the price she has to pay, I don't think that they're really that much better than anyone else's dresses. I mean, who notices what kind of material she's wearing when she's whizzing by you on the ice?....

[Sk8r4Life]

Does anyone have a link to a picture of Josee Chouinard's dresses? It's been a long time since I have seen her skate, but would love to look at the dresses.

Little Bit--I don't really know how much Jef Billings charged for dresses. But yes, this is Jenny's dress that I referred to earlier, saying that $5000 didn't seem out of line for this dress. It's pretty much all crystals!

I loved Michelle's dresses this year! For the short and long anyway, I wasn't crazy about the white exhibition dress. I agree that the blue one is a little low cut, but shortening the straps would probably take care of that. I really loved the look, and it was definitely something different than we are used to because there wasn't a single crystal on them. I thought they were very athletic looking, and even though skating is somewhat theatrical and showy, it really is first and foremost a sport.

[WeBeEducated]

Originally posted by Sylvia
http://www.patpearsall.com/
thank you!:D

[Tapper]

Originally posted by Sk8r4Life
I don't really know how much Jef Billings charged for dresses. But yes, this is Jenny's dress that I referred to earlier, saying that $5000 didn't seem out of line for this dress. It's pretty much all crystals!


That dress made the already gorgeous Jenny look like a million bucks! Glamour! I'd not be surprised if it cost more than 5 thousand... worth every penny.

From what I've read Wang's costumes cost a fortune... but they too are signature dresses for Michelle...

[AxelAnnie22]

Originally posted by Tapper
That dress made the already gorgeous Jenny look like a million bucks! Glamour! I'd not be surprised if it cost more than 5 thousand... worth every penny.

From what I've read Wang's costumes cost a fortune... but they too are signature dresses for Michelle... Michelle does not pay for her Wangs. Vera makes her money back by the constant advertising she gets from outfitting Michelle.

[what?meworry?]

quite frankly i find this whole costume thing overdone. to paraphrase a notorious politico, "it's the skating, stupid."

why on earth would any skater in their right mind pay more than $300-$400, maybe $5oo tops, for a costume? why would any icedancer guy pay a thousand or more for a tux for compulsories?

clearly many skaters, both with and without talent, have more money than sense.

worst of all, many of them are spending usfsa money on excessively expensive costumes! that money could be put to better use, like helping a promising skater or team with basic training expenses.

[Little Bit]

what?meworry?: We use costumes from previous years for compulsories, spins, MIF etc. We can get up to three years from the same dress, so if I spend $3-4 hundred it will last and make the cost worth it for us. Do these boy's possible do the same? I would think it would be nice, but the way boys grow it most likely will not happen.

As for Jenny's dress, I can't imagine spending that kind of money on a dress now matter how gorgeous. Well, my wedding dress was more and I was crazy for spending that on my dress. I would think Jeff would get enough money back as Vera Wang does in advertising. But who knows, Jenny's dress is absolutely fabulous. So much more than any Wang I have seen.:)

[AxelAnnie22]

what?meworry?: We use costumes from previous years for compulsories, spins, MIF etc. We can get up to three years from the same dress, so if I spend $3-4 hundred it will last and make the cost worth it for us. Do these boy's possible do the same? I would think it would be nice, but the way boys grow it most likely will not happen.

As for Jenny's dress, I can't imagine spending that kind of money on a dress now matter how gorgeous. Well, my wedding dress was more and I was crazy for spending that on my dress. I would think Jeff would get enough money back as Vera Wang does in advertising. But who knows, Jenny's dress is absolutely fabulous. So much more than any Wang I have seen.:)
I think Jenny's dress was worth twice the price. It set the mood for her fabulous skate! It (and she) was amazing.

I don't think the Vera Wangs Michelle has worn of late have done much to enhance the skating program

[Steffi]

I really like the dresses that the National Ballet of Canada did for Jamie Sale for the 00/01 and 01/02 seasons...

http://www.scratchspin.com/2000/canopen00/fs-4991.jpg

http://www.scratchspin.com/2000/skcan00/fs-4702.jpg

http://www.scratchspin.com/2001/gpf01/fs-0109829.jpg

http://lsoi.figuristka.org/skating/sp441.jpg

They also did Sasha's SP dress this year, although I don't like that one that much.

[adrianchew]

I don't think the Vera Wangs Michelle has worn of late have done much to enhance the skating program
I'd say Michelle's dresses are more Michelle than they are Vera Wang - not that Vera isn't capable of more, but when she tried to be ambitious, Michelle deemed those dresses far too heavy yet many skaters would say if its got no crystals, it ain't a true skating dress.

As it is, Michelle's dresses seem to come with built-in frontal air vents to prevent her from overheating! :lol:

[hiliairyh]

About Michelle and Vera having an arrangement, that she receives the dresses for free. I won't be surprise if there is such an arrangement, since Nancy received some Vera dresses for free. But are you 100% sure? Or is it just a guess? Is there an article about it, please provide a link.


I'd say Michelle's dresses are more Michelle than they are Vera Wang - not that Vera isn't capable of more, but when she tried to be ambitious, Michelle deemed those dresses far too heavy yet many skaters would say if its got no crystals, it ain't a true skating dress.

Honestly, Adrian, if you have inside information about the Wang and Kwan decisions on the skating dresses, pray tell. Not that we don't believe you, maybe they have published that in the press somewhere? Provide a link please. Is this your impression or how you perceived the siutation to be? About crystals, sequins, painted on swan heads or tails I guess those are not my cup of tea. That goes for both men and women's outfits. I love Tanith's dresses not much crystals, just simple elegance, and she is a dancer, it works so well for her. Ben's skating outfits are nice too.

As it is, Michelle's dresses seem to come with built-in frontal air vents to prevent her from overheating! :lol:

Can you spell or say cleavage? Don't tell me you are too :oops:

[LittleBitSk8er]

I have a question for everyone. Over this past weekend I was at a skating competition and saw a few little girls (pre-pre level) with such gaudy dresses. :frus: Now if they were on an older girl I might not have felt that way. Two were actually nice dresses too. They had so many rhinestones that the little girls looked like a New York billboard! What is considered nice, classy and or tacky? I would guess their ages to be about 7 or 8 years old.

What age should some of these girls wear such outfits if at all? Would you outfit your girl in such dress or do you want a classy look?? Do you think this has any impact on the judges either?:?:

I perfer a classy look and a refind look.

[IceAngel2007]

definitely Jef Billings!

[tsolomon]

worst of all, many of them are spending usfsa money on excessively expensive costumes! that money could be put to better use, like helping a promising skater or team with basic training expenses.Don't worry about the USFSA's money, that was spent long before the first costume was fitted. :lol:

[WeBeEducated]

I have a question for everyone. Over this past weekend I was at a skating competition and saw a few little girls (pre-pre level) with such gaudy dresses. :frus: Now if they were on an older girl I might not have felt that way. Two were actually nice dresses too. They had so many rhinestones that the little girls looked like a New York billboard! What is considered nice, classy and or tacky? I would guess their ages to be about 7 or 8 years old.

What age should some of these girls wear such outfits if at all? Would you outfit your girl in such dress or do you want a classy look?? Do you think this has any impact on the judges either?:?:

I perfer a classy look and a refind look.

I prefer classy on teens and young adults
but
the one time I think it's fun to see alot of bling bling is when the skaters are very young and see it as dress up! they have the bows in their hair, the blue eye shadow, the sparkly dress...it is adorable.
It is just like a dance recital. there, the youngest dancers are all decked out in frills and lace and sequins, because they sure cant dance yet, and it is alot of fun for the little girls and their moms.
Later, for most of their lives, they will use more plain clothing and costumes.
I love the glitter and sequins and ruffles on the little ones and it is a motivating factor for them to get out there all by themselves and fall all over the ice! classy can be very boring to a 6 year old.