As I don't compete a lot, and I sew (I have a fabric addiction), I tend to make new dresses each time. How often do you get/make a new competition dress? Do you change with your program, do you do it on a whim?
I wish I could sew! I usually get one new dress per season, sometimes two depending. Right now, I just got a new freeskate that my current dress absolutely doesn't work for. However, it does go with my new dramatic, so we're moving the FS dress to dramatic and I'm getting a new FS dress. Dance I have a few different options that I try to be able to use with whatever I'm doing, but even then if the chosen dances are a particularly odd combo and I'm trying to just use one dress, I may need a new one or need new accessories.
One dress is really all I can afford each year. All of mine are custom, and price really depends on fabric and how many crystals. I was lucky because I needed two this year, but bartered tutoring my dressmaker's kid for the labor on the dresses.
I haven't competed solo in years and don't "need" dresses. Especially the pretty sparkly kind.
So now that that's on the table....like you I do sew. And I'm "re-learning" how to make skating dresses. And skirts. And going to start on pants soon. That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking with it. If I needed, and I wanted, I would just do whatever I saw fit. If I wanted to make a new dress and had time, I'm pretty sure I'd be like you and make one every year (or replace as I went, if I wound up not liking something). Crystalling looks like intense work, and the little I've done tells me that there is a learning curve. So that's a skill I'd want to learn, and tbh use as an excuse if I needed to.
If you have the skills, time and finances, and most importantly enjoy the process, why not make a new dress whenever you wanted?
Today I was looking up pattern making classes... I'm assuming I've lost my mind. :)
For the time being, I'm just testing. But I had originally bought a dress with the intention of using it for my "Requiem for a Tower" program. Stoned it and I'm obsessed with it, and plan on using it for future freeskate tests.
But when I get ready to test my silver moves again, I am going to get a simple black dress to test in with no sparkles.
But I don't test or compete often, so I try to just use what I have. I know adults skaters who get brand new custom dresses every season for every program they do and to me that's just a LOT of money on dresses.
I sew (I make skating apparel as my business) so you'd think I'd always be making myself new outfits - reality is I'm usually too busy making other people's outfits! I do make myself a new dress for new music - and I like my outfits SPARKLY.
I will also try and get the most wear out of them possible. I love the dress I made for last year's dramatic but I retired the program after only one season - I've since worn the dress for compulsory just because and plan to wear it when I test my Rocker Foxtrot and some other dances. The skirt is asymmetrical so I can get away with it for dance. My old freestyle dress was worn for two full seasons. I even had a showcase/light entertainment outfit that I made in 2008, competed with it 15 times between 08-14 (and medaled every time, it was a great program) and actually just lent out for an ice show last weekend! That one may be ready to retire....
After I figure out my new freestyle and dramatic dresses, I plan to make a long sleeve velvet moves testing dress so I don't freeze while testing Junior/Senior MIF!
I tend to get a new dress with a new program. But the first decision on the dress is what's in the wardrobe. So where possible I reuse an old dress. My current program I declared which dress I was using (It's a Kimono style one) and told the coach we needed Japanese music to go with it. Normally I find music and then find a dress.
My next free dance is likely to need a new dress as I've got less of a selection of dresses, but there will be a discussion of whether an old dress fits the music.
I also keep programs for two years which means I'm not needing a new dress every year which also helps keep costs down.
Mostly I buy secondhand from Ebay, so when I see one that I like in my size at a good price I just buy it. I've been competing 4 years & have acquired 5 dresses that way. One was bought for a testing dress though. I did buy one dress new for my artistic program last year because I didn't like any of my other dresses for that program. I just wear whichever dress I think fits my program best. My first couple of years competing was in Basic skills & I was at a different level & I had a different program at each competition.
I just started testing and I don't compete so I got myself a simple navy velvet dress with halter style neckline and sheer long sleeves from Del Arbour. No stones. It pairs well with a black wrap sweater for moves (it makes the outfit appear all-black, as in my profile pic) and when I'm ready for my bronze freestyle test I plan to use it without the sweater. I'm hoping it's my go-to all-purpose dress for years to come :)