Overweight & Competition Dresses

[Kitten23]

I have been battling my weight for so long I've forgotten what it's like to be my correct weight.  That being said, I was debating doing the same competition I did last year (ISI Artistic) and trying to figure out what to wear.  Last year, I wore this outfit I can only describe as a tent; a pretty tent, but a tent.  So, should I wear the same thing (same program), get a new tent that's not quite so baggy, or try to wear the true competition dress I purchased 2 years ago for this program.  Support garments are a given. 

[Loops]

How does the true competition dress fit?  If it's respectable, then go for that!!!!  Otherwise, I'd try to find something that fits you well, which it sounds like your 'beautiful tent' might not.

[CaraSkates]

Ditto what Loops said - a well fitting dress can do wonders for how you look (and feel). A good dressmaker can come up with a design and style that fits and flatters and can actually make you look smaller - an ill fitting dress will have the opposite effect. A good dressmaker can also build support into the dress (powermesh lining anyone?) and line any mesh/cutouts so that you can wear whatever support garments you are comfortable in underneath.

[jbruced]

From the a male perspective, clothing that fits properly always looks best.

[ChristyRN]

It's difficult to find anything skating related if you're much over a size 8, and I am. I have to make (or have made) most of my stuff because even adult larges would only fit me after I lose another 25 pounds and even then, not the chest. Apparently, "mature" skating ladies are supposed to be shaped like 12 year olds.

Wear what makes you feel good.  Find a style that looks better than others do. I found that empire waist makes me look pregnant while a waist line at my natural waist looks better. The low skirt attachment emphasizes my belly.  Embellish the parts that look good and downplay those that don't.

Above all, have fun!

[Neverdull44]

I think most adult females, especially the older we get,  have a very hard time with figure skating competition dresses.   At 45 years old and 2 kids, nothing looks right, and because everything is ordered (with no try-ons), it's all hit-or-miss.  I've wasted some money ordering three dresses.  Here's what I did wrong.  The first dress had a double skirt.  I'm too chunky in the mid-section & hips for a double skirt in fuchsia pink.  The second dress had sequins, made in China.  I put it on, and pop, pop, pop, pop went the cheap thread that held on the sequins.  (Stones are better, as they are not threaded).  The sequins went into the mid-section, adding to my tummy woes.  The third dress was blue and in lycra.  Lycra is not a  friend to anyone over a size 6.  So, now I have a fourth dress on order.  This one is dark velvet, stones only and on the upper half, straight skirt.  We'll see. 

Of the dresses that worked, Mondor stretch velvet, long sleeved dresses with a straight skirt.  Says old lady, but old, elegant lady.  The other thing that worked was the local dance store.  Tried on a lot of dance dresses.  Light blue is not for me.  But, I found a great a solid black ballet dress with attached, black chiffon skirt.  They sold stoned & sequined appliqués in every color.  I bought one in gold and put it at the top of the dress.  The whole thing was $70.  I was comfortable, had a little bling and it looked good enough for a small competition at the local rink.

I think we need a "What Not to Wear" episode devoted to adult skaters!

[rachelplotkin]

Not only are skating dresses not geared to mature bodies but the idea that it has to be leotard based is ridiculous. You can hide nothing in a leotard. I had something made and it was money well spent.

[CaraSkates]

It's difficult to find anything skating related if you're much over a size 8, and I am. I have to make (or have made) most of my stuff because even adult larges would only fit me after I lose another 25 pounds and even then, not the chest. Apparently, "mature" skating ladies are supposed to be shaped like 12 year olds.

Wear what makes you feel good.  Find a style that looks better than others do. I found that empire waist makes me look pregnant while a waist line at my natural waist looks better. The low skirt attachment emphasizes my belly.  Embellish the parts that look good and downplay those that don't.

Above all, have fun!

Not to detract from the original topic too much, but I make skating dresses and one of the things I've been focusing on this year is adult dresses for people with REAL adult bodies - as in my adult medium off the rack dress is a 8-10 and actually fits someone with curves.

Ok, back on track! If shopping online, velvet is stretchier and more forgiving then lycra. Mesh over lycra is better then plain lycra. If you are pear shaped, look for flatter skirts, not full circle skirts.

[Loops]

I think most adult females, especially the older we get,  have a very hard time with figure skating competition dresses.   At 45 years old and 2 kids, nothing looks right, and because everything is ordered (with no try-ons), it's all hit-or-miss.  I've wasted some money ordering three dresses. 

I think we need a "What Not to Wear" episode devoted to adult skaters!

YES!!!  lol

I think this is also why so many skaters/ skating mothers sew (at least in my experience).  I used to watch mothers blinging up dresses while their kids skated..... My mom made all my dresses, and when I compete next year, I'll be making my own.

Kitten23, if you do end up needed to get something new, ask around your rink.  You might find someone there which would allow fittings.  Or it sounds like you should talk to CaraSkates!

You haven't really solicited any help finding dresses, but it sounds like others here are sharing strategies.  It's a good idea, I think.  We'll all be needing dresses at one point or another, and none of us have 12-year old bodies!

Dance store is a great idea.  Also, many of my friends here buy actual dresses (as in from the mall, and not leotard based) and wear those with dinks or something appropriate underneath.  But we're not jumping, and dance dresses, with their longer skirts are a bit more forgiving. 

There are two plus-sized skaters in my club.  One competes her Silver dances/solo free dance (the other is working on her Prelim dances and does solo free dance).  Both had really nice dresses this year- the Prelim-level one ordered something from US ebay.  I can find out where if you're interested.  The Silver-level one wore an old synchro dress that was really flattering on her.  It was black, with a large floral bling-y appliqué, sleeveless with wide shoulder straps v-neck and had an attached, but a-line-ish long skirt that may or may not have had an off-center slit.  The lines were simple and it worked well.  Whether that style would work for you, depends on your shape- you probably have some idea as to what works for you in street-wear.

But I still would start in your closet and see how the original competition dress works!  You might be in good shape and not realise it...

[DressmakingMomma]

A-line is a pretty shape for those of us who are extra curvy (myself included). If the dress is constructed with a medium weight spandex lining instead of the typical lighter weight lining, it tends to help pull in bumps and smooth things out. Velvet or heavy weight spandex that is matte (makes a huge difference IMHO) covered with a mesh illusion that then just barely skims over your body and gently flairs over the hips and behind without adding bulk - using princess seams to create shape, so it doesn't have the empire dress turned pregnant look. Keep the fabric all the same - monochromatic does a better job of smoothing and hiding then using different fabrics which cut apart the line of the dress. Mesh illusion sleeves in the same color as the dress are pretty. Depending upon your bust line, a raglan style top may be a good cut to help create that hour glass shape, otherwise a high scoop neck works better for those of us who are chesty as a neckline that comes just above the bust tends to emphasize the girls.

Good luck, feeling pretty and comfortable in whatever you choose is important so that you step out on the ice with confidence.

[Clarice]

Some really good tips in this thread!  Making dresses, I've also found that exactly where the skirt seam hits on the body makes a huge difference.  I've learned to always hang skirts on the skater to find the best placement, then cut and inset them.

[blue111moon]

Even when I was skinny, many moons ago, I was too long-waisted to wear off the rack skating and I wasted too much money trying to find something that fit, let along worry about it actually looked.  Now that I'm heavier, I'm still built like a telephone pole, albeit a stout and sturdy one and there's no way any ready-made dress is going to fit me (and I've looked!).  So the best thing I ever did was to find an experienced skating dressmaker and let her design and construct a dress that I could feel good in.  Yes, it cost an arm-and-a-leg ($400 for the first one) but when I added up all the money I'd thrown away on dresses that didn't fit and looked awful, I figured it was money well spent.  That was ten years ago and I still have - and can wear that dress. I've sprung for two more since: one is a showcase costume that I probably can't wear for anything else, but the other has worked for Ice dance testing and competition for several years and I still get complements on it. 

I just find that I have to pick music to go with the dress rather than have a new dress made every time I change music. 

[sarahspins]

Not only are skating dresses not geared to mature bodies but the idea that it has to be leotard based is ridiculous. You can hide nothing in a leotard. I had something made and it was money well spent.

This may be true, but on the flip side, trying to "hide" anything with extra material almost makes it stand out more, or look even bulkier, which can be worse.  A smoothed body line under anything will make it look better - I am a huge fan of body tights for this very reason.  I don't advocate trying to wear spanx or any other shapewear under a dress - it's almost always VERY obvious because those items are so restrictive.  Undergarments (or the lack of) is also a consideration.  I am too large on top to go braless, and it's just not realistic to build adequate support into most dresses (because it wouldn't be enough support)... so I need to make sure I can wear a bra, which means making sure it will be covered, or not horrible if any straps do show.

I'm not small by any stretch, but I don't think I look particularly terrible in a dress because of my size... if I look terrible in a dress it's because it's just not the right kind of dress for me.  I have learned over time that flat skirts are much more flattering than fuller skirts, and I know I can't pull off wearing anything sleeveless very well (which has everything to do with my shoulders and -not- my weight).  Certain colors are better than others as well.  I have a pink dress I won't wear because the way I look in it reminds me a little too much of the hippopotamus in fantasia.

[rachelplotkin]

This may be true, but on the flip side, trying to "hide" anything with extra material

I don't believe I advocated this approach either.  The range of what is available in skating dresses is very limited making it difficult for many to find something in which they feel good.  I think we learn with trial, error, and time what works best for our bodies.  Sadly for many of us it is not what is available commercially.

[Kitten23]

Thanks for all the great ideas!  I'll keep this thread tucked away for next time.  Looks like I'll be in the middle of moving when this competition rolls around. 

I used to make my own skating dresses when I was thinner, not commuting an hour each way to work and not in school at the same time.  It was an easy one day project of 2 yards of stretchy material and an old pattern I found in a fabric store...  Ah the memories...  It was so easy to fit into clothes then.  Funny how stupid things like a long commute, lack of sleep and depression can derail your weight loss goals.  But that's for a different thread.

Regardless, thank you all for the ideas.  I did try on the dress I originally purchased (with support garments, of course) and it wasn't as bad as I expected.  Upon backing away from my full length mirror, I did not hear "beep...beep...beep..." after all.

Keep those suggestions coming though.  I think this is an excellent thread for everyone.

BTW, I find that velvet is not forgiving at all.  Maybe it's just the velvet dress that I have.  I have a long torso AND long legs, it just doesn't fit in all the right spots.

[CaraSkates]

Regardless, thank you all for the ideas.  I did try on the dress I originally purchased (with support garments, of course) and it wasn't as bad as I expected.  Upon backing away from my full length mirror, I did not hear "beep...beep...beep..." after all.

Keep those suggestions coming though.  I think this is an excellent thread for everyone.

BTW, I find that velvet is not forgiving at all.  Maybe it's just the velvet dress that I have.  I have a long torso AND long legs, it just doesn't fit in all the right spots.

Glad it worked for you! Velvet has what's known as a "nap" or a direction to the fabric - it must be cut in the correct directions to be flattering, otherwise it highlights everything.