[Squaredancing] Cost of clothing

Wed Jul 4 13:03:40 EDT 2007

Not sure about all areas however many of my dresses were given to me
when first started to dance.  If you let people know you are willing and
actually proud to receive their outfits many will come your way.  

Ask around find out who has quite dancing then call them to see if you 
can purchase their clothing.  If they have a lot make a deal for all the
items
more than likely you will come out better financially this way.  

From one lady when first started bought her entire wardrobe for $300.00
this included 14 petticoats some crystal and lame, all in great condition,
23 outfits, 7 skirts, along with 11 tops.  What is great about this you can
sell the ones you do not like or share them with other dancers.

The Federation in my area has a back room with male and female clothing for
sale and free both.  Last years president put out 4 racks of free
petti-coats, outfits, dresses and petti-pants of her own to anyone who
wanted them.

Several of the larger cities in the states around my area have 
clothing for sale most priced very low.   When you travel ask around 
you never know what you will find.  Albuquerque NM has a really nice 
little store at one dance they sold men's and women's shirts for only $!.00
each during the dance.  

We like to make sure our new dancers start out with 2 or 3 free outfits. 
Then there is ebay for some really nice deals.  Paid as little as .6 cents
for a new pair of coast shoes.the most have paid was $42.00 and they are
$350.00 professional dance shoes. Helps to have small feet. LOL

You can watch places like Hobby Lobby for fabric sales.  One of my 
dresses is silk organize the fabric was $29.00 a yard regularly, 
on sale paid $2.00  a yard so the dress cost a total of $15.00 zipper, 
trim and all. JoAnn;s fabrics has some really great deals as well. 

My Halloween out fit this year will be lime green and black spider webs paid
.42 cents a yard for the material last November.  The dress cost a total of
$6.00, paid $10.00 for a crystal petti-coat add my .6 cent shoes 
a dollar belt, along with free pettipants.  Total cost $17.06 

My last year Nationals dress found at a second hand store called 
Savers for $35.00.  The dress is a designer label with full beaded bodice
it was new with the tags still on it, priced new $5,000.00.  Simply cut
the length off leaving lots of material to make the mans outfit to match.  
Even if you do not sew one could have the cleaners do this for a 
few dollars.  Made the blue lame petticoat to match it for $20..00 with
fabric found on sale.  

Have the all the local second hand stores save anything square dance
for me.  The Salvation army cost is $1.49 each item.  If do not like it 
or can not wear it then take it to the federation for their back room to
share.
When you pay this little for items you can afford to donate thus making it
possible for others to join the fun in dressing up for an awesome night 
of dancing away from all the realities of real life.

If you are inventive dressing well can be reasonable in cost and fun.

Brenda 

-------Original Message-------

From: Dave Hinde
Date: 7/4/2007 9:11:13 AM
To: 'This list for discussing all aspect of MWSD'
Subject: Re: [Squaredancing] Discussion on the National in
CharlotteDresscode

I thought I'd throw a couple more logs on the clothing fire:

Cost is one consideration.  What is the cost to own enough dresses to attend
a National.  Do we want to eliminate the newest dancers from our Conventions
just because they don't own enough clothes?  How many women would like to
dress in "Square Dance" attire but can't afford enough dresses to attend a
National?  Nasser's idea of a dedicated hall is a good one for that reason.

When Square Dancing started out, hundreds of years ago, the dress was about
the same as the dancers would wear to church, and possibly to work.  The
same standard should apply today.  Common sense and common decency is the
only dress code that we really need.

About panels, dress code complaints did arise at one of the panels I was
moderating.  Since it was off topic, I steered us back on course, but not
before several people had agreed with the person that brought it up.  The
comment was that if you wanted the convention to be friendlier to solos and
younger dancers, get rid of the antiquated dress codes.

My suggestion: Worry about attendance figures.  When the numbers get back up
over 10,000, then start talking about a dress code.   Same thing with clubs.
If you have too many dancers attending your club dances, then enforce a
dress code.

One more thing -- The flyer for Wichita, Kansas, for next year's National
Square Dance Convention, says: Proper Square Dance Attire.  It does not say
Traditional or Modern, just "Proper".  I hope (anyone from Kansas reading
this?) that they put a full explanation or definition in confirmation
letters.  What happens if a new dancer attends wearing what they learned is
proper in their small club?  They've probably spent over $1000 on travel
already to get there.  Are you going to send them home?

Just my 2 cents,

Dave Hinde
--------------------------------------------------------------------
  __/, at __    dave at daveswebplace.net
/O____O_|  http://www.evadsti.net

-----Original Message-----
From: squaredancing-bounces at rbnsn.com
[mailto:squaredancing-bounces at rbnsn.com] On Behalf Of Ken Robinson
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2007 9:10 AM
To: This list for discussing all aspect of MWSD
Subject: Re: [Squaredancing] Discussion on the National in Charlotte
Dresscode

At 08:47 AM 7/4/2007, ljknews wrote:
> >
> > And, Nasser, why not have that hall declared to be a National Park
> > where Park Rangers could police the code.
>
>Don't go all wimpy on us - in a few years there should be a surplus of
>used Armored Personnel Carriers back in the US.  What could be more
>honorable than protecting the Homeland from short sleeved shirts ?

Along these lines -- here's a humorous web site "My Parents Were Undercover
Square Dancers"
<http://www.musaique.com/contradance/articles/stibich.html>

Ken

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