We are often asked “how do I know what to look for when purchasing an Irish Step Dance Solo Dress”? Here are some things to look for. First of all, make certain that fabric is used throughout the entire construction of the solo dress. We have seen sad situations in which someone used posterboard inside the garment to stiffen it! That was absolutely appalling. However, the lining covered it so the customer had no idea this was used. Have you ever gotten posterboard wet? It doesn’t hold up very well! There is absolutely no way that should be used!
All seams should be finished. The only exceptions to this rule is if the fabric truly does not fray (as with some knits and lycra/spandex based fabrics). If I were the customer, I would ask the dressmaker to see the inside of the dress before the lining is sewn in. At Amanda’s Atelier, we finish all seams on the fashion fabric, as well as the lining pieces. That way, your Irish Step Dancing Solo Dress is going to last as long as possible — and always look great! We take pride in making sure that the inside of our garments look as good as the outside.
There should not be any fraying fabric or loose threads. This is a pet-peeve of ours. You will see fabrics used on solo dresses that are not appropriate for specific types of applications. When you look at the costume, you will see the fabric fraying.
Look for more tips on what to look for in an Irish Step Dancing solo dress in my next post.