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Writer's pictureSandra Ball

Silhouette Mastery: Designing Costumes to Showcase Your Best

Showcase Your Best for Your Custom Costume
Using Design Features for Ribbon Gymnastics

1. Introduction:


When selecting your next competition costume, the main goal is to create a balanced and visually pleasing silhouette - emphasize your favorite body features and downplay the ones you're not as fond of.


This post discusses a number of ways that you can achieve this goal, whether you are considering purchasing a costume or looking for inspiration for your next custom made costume for figure skating, dance, gymnastics, or other competitive sport.


2. Design Goal:

A design feature or embellishment design should be strategically placed to direct the viewer's attention towards your best feature or to a specific element of the costume that you want the audience to notice during the performance.


For instance, putting a design feature in the center draws attention there, while a V-shaped design draws the eye downward. If the feature follows the neckline, it focuses attention on your shoulders and facial expressions. These design tricks work well to showcase your best.


Keep in mind that our bodies change over time due to growth, weight fluctuations, or other factors. Whenever your body changes or you need a new costume, revisit your design goals.


3. Design and Costume Feature Considerations:

Below are some considerations you can use in selecting or designing your custom costume.


4.  Body Attribute – Straight Waist/ Hips (Few Curves)

a. Costume Features to Consider:

  • Create the illusion of curves and a defined waist e.g., Asymmetrical lines, wrap skirts, slits and hi-lo skirt hems

  • Accentuate the natural waist with belts/ rouching/ embellishments

  • Add layered/ tiered skirts to add more dimension

  • Colourful and lightweight fabrics

b. Costume Features to Avoid:

  • High waist/ empire waist

  • Drop/ low-rise waist

  • Crop top look

  • Straight skirt lines


5.  Body Attribute – Best Features are Arms/ Legs/ Back

a.  Costume Features to Consider:

  • Designs that involve spaghetti straps

  • Short sleeves

  • Scoop, off the shoulder, round neckline in front & back

  • Low dipped back neckline

  • Detail on hemline to draw attention to legs E.g. Fish tail/ curly hemlines

b.  Costume Features to Avoid:

  • Long sleeves will not draw attention to athletic attributes 


6.  Body Attribute – Fullness around waist/ Narrow Hips

a.  Costume Features to Consider:

  • Create the illusion of a smaller waist e.g., dark wide belt to bring in smallest part of the waist line

  • Lengthen the torso with an empire/ high waist

  • Full circle/ flared skirt

  • Gathered sleeves

  • Illusion of a strapless bodice

  • One colour and soft fabric choices

b.  Costume Features to Avoid:

  • Embellishments at the waist or a design that points towards the waist

  • Tiered/ ruffled/ gathered skirts


7.  Body Attribute – Average to Large Bust/ Broad Shoulders

a.  Costume Features to Consider:

  • V and wide necklines

b.  Costume Features to Avoid:

  • Embellishments around the bust

  • Off the shoulder necklines


8.  Body Attribute – Hips Wider than Upper Body

a.  Costume Features to Consider:

  • Balance your silhouette by adding volume to your upper body E.g. V, square, wide, boat, straight, sweetheart, asymmetrical and U-shaped necklines

  • Focus attention upward/ draw attention to your waist and upper body E.g. Ruffles, embellishments

  • Capped sleeves/ billowing sleeves/ sleeves with rouching or gathers

  • Waistline at the natural waist or high/ empire waist

  • ½ or ¾ circle skirt to balance hips in darker colours

b.  Costume Features to Avoid:

  • Drop/ low rise waist

  • Embellishments that draw attention to the hip/ thighs

  • Fish tail/ curly hemlines

  • Print fabrics and bold colours


9.  Body Attribute – Curves (Best Asset)

a.  Costume Features to Consider:

  • Balance your upper and lower body at the same time

  • Scoop, V, sweetheart, off the shoulder necklines

  • Draw attention to your waist with waistlines at the waist or princess seams that point towards the waist E.g. belts, embellishments, corset/ peasant styles, cut outs at the waist

  • Long sleeves add an elegance

  • Full circle/ straight line skirts

  • One colour lightweight fabric

b.  Costume Features to Avoid:

  • Drop/ low rise/ empire/ high waist

  • Not heavily embellished

  • High/ boat/ ruffle necklines


10.  Body Attribute – Broad Shoulders and Narrow Hips

a.  Costume Features to Consider:

  • Accentuate your lower body while softening your shoulders and upper body E.g. V neckline, wide straps

  • Draw attention downward to the narrower parts of your body, such as your waist and hips E.g. full circle/ tiered/ gathered skirt, dropped/ low rise waistline

b.  Costume Features to Avoid:

  • Spaghetti straps

  • Puffed sleeves

  • High/ boat necklines


I hope that after reading this post, you can make your choices to showcase your best with more confidence.


Need assistance? Feel free to reach out for a free consultation here.


If you found this post helpful, hit the like button or share your feedback via message.

 

Sandra


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