I got a plain black dress to use for compulsories and maybe tests. Wasn't planning on stoning it but now I'm thinking, hmm.. would sure look nice with some sparklies.. ::>)
I don't have a picture but it's just completely plain black all over. I'm thinking of just stoning the neckline and waist. Nothing fancy since it's not a program dress and it'll be my first try at stoning.
So I wanted opinions on what color crystal to get- clear, black, or something called black diamond. What does the black diamond look like? Would it show up nicely on black fabric? I don't want to get it unless it'll look really really good cause it's more expensive than clear.
Black diamond: http://www.dreamtimecreations.com/product/16012/preciosa-flatback-rhinestones-czech-20ss-foiled-16012/
Site recommendations would be great too if there's anything with better prices than Dreamtime :)
I usually buy at a store so I can lay the stones on the dress and look at them in person. If you want some bling, I think black on black would be very, very subtle (unless you have a spot light) Just looking at these dresses - the black on the black lace over red shows very well, but the black on the black on the blue dress is almost invisible.
http://www.styleonice.com/girlsdresses.htm
I think that the black diamond crystals on the black skating dress would look very nice; very sophisticated and demure, but would not look overdone since the dress will be for certain select times of skating, and not a hard-core competition dress. If the black dress has a scoop neckline, then a ' V ' pattern of diamond crystals would be a pleasing arrangement. If the black dress has a ' V ' neckline, then just following the pattern of the ' V ' would also look good. What also might look good would be an
' X ' pattern of crystals, with the cross of the ' X ' being between the breasts, at the center of the bust, so that the dress has a slight royal or princess look to it.
My mother loves to put black diamond on black fabric. Black diamond is a little bit gray than black. Here is the dress that my mom made last year for DD with black diamond on black
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v507/vankhanhto/dress_fn3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v507/vankhanhto/dress_final1.jpg)
I think it depends on what type of look your are looking for. I prefer regular crystal vs. AB if I am doing something like that. Right now I am working on a black dress that will have purple stones in varying shades on it. Fire opals also look amazing on black.
Thanks for the input everybody! I'm really leaning towards black diamond right now.
My original plan was 2 gross of crystals, in a single file line (4 crystals per inch), but now I'm thinking 3 gross of crystals, in a staggered double line (5.5 crystals per inch), to help the black diamond twinkle more. But 400 crystals for a compulsory dress just seems like so, so much. I counted 470 on my freeskate dress. I just can't decide! :laugh:
I don't know how many comp dresses you have, but one thing that I consider is I have very little money for extras. Unlike other girls, dd has 2 dresses - freestyle and artistic. She is still growing so last year's dresses are a tight squeeze. She has a simple black test dress (I bought up a size so it has fit for 2 years)but it does have sparkle (it's black glitter velvet and some accent crystals). I bring it to comps as a back up. You never know if someone will have a spill on you in your comp dress and it is a good thing to have a back up handy. The test dress is not as fancy, but it would be clean and work in an emergency. We have friends who have 4 or 5 dresses that fit at all times - they would have lots more options in the event of a dress accident so maybe it wouldn't be a concern for you. I guess I'm thinking there isn't a huge difference between 300-400 stones... Extra stones are less expensive than a back up dress! :D
Quote from: momtovanan on February 23, 2012, 08:09:34 AM
My mother loves to put black diamond on black fabric. Black diamond is a little bit gray than black. Here is the dress that my mom made last year for DD with black diamond on black
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v507/vankhanhto/dress_fn3.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v507/vankhanhto/dress_final1.jpg)
Your mom is very talented!
Thank you for your kind words. My mom loves to design and make dresses for daugher. When DD competed in basic skill, my mom made one new dress for every competition that DD entered LOL. We probably have 15 competition dresses that DD can not wear any longer. We only have one new program a year now, so sad.
The black diamond crystals came out gorgeous! I tried to take a picture but couldn't get one to come out well. :(
I used E6000 glue which was a steep learning curve but I got it eventually. I just followed the seams of the dress around the neckline/back, waist, and skirt slits, nothing difficult. Before it was just a dress, now it's a
sparkly dress. :)
If I stone my future freeskate dresses myself instead of paying for the company/dressmaker to do it, I'll save a ton of money. (The stoning addiction has got me, if you couldn't tell).
Quote from: hopskipjump on February 23, 2012, 01:54:11 PM
I don't know how many comp dresses you have, but one thing that I consider is I have very little money for extras.
I'm the same way. The other girls at my rink seem to have endless supplies of dresses to choose from for different competitions and holiday shows, whereas I have the bare minimum. You're right, another 10$ of crystals is cheaper than extra freeskate dresses. A black sparkly dress can really be used for almost everything.
Thanks everyone, again!
Quote from: Sierra on March 07, 2012, 08:05:20 PM
The black diamond crystals came out gorgeous! I tried to take a picture but couldn't get one to come out well. :(
Before it was just a dress, now it's a sparkly dress. :)
The other girls at my rink seem to have endless supplies of dresses to choose from for different competitions and holiday shows, whereas I have the bare minimum.
A black sparkly dress can really be used for almost everything.
Thanks everyone, again!
Please post a picture if you can find a way to do that, I would love to see your accomplishment with the diamond crystals. Congratulations on changing the dress from a generic dress to an attractive sparkly dress !
A plain black skating dress, but transformed into a nice, pretty skating dress nevertheless, can be just as valuable and versatile to a skater as the
" little black cocktail " dress is to a woman who likes to go out clubbing and to parties.
BTW---Although due to cost constraints I have only a couple or so nice competition skating dresses myself, I have seen for myself both child and adult skaters who come to competitions with what seems like dozens and dozens of expensive skating dresses in their wardrobe, and they seem to be changing dresses every couple of hours, or changing their dresses about as often as the ice gets resurfaced !