Thread: Veil length for shorties??

Please help me out!!

The lovely Jesennia has completed a veil for me. I need to know if 3 yards is too much or if I would be better with it trimmed to 2 3/4 yards. I am 5'4" and my wingspan is 63 inches.

She suggested that I run it by you bhuz ladies before she takes her scissors to it.

So if you are about my height, what length of veil has worked for you? I have an old 3 yard lurex veil, but I haven't dragged it out to swish it around.
Suzan

no do not trim, longer is better in this case...

ks

unless it's a circular veil...then my answer would be different depending on the weight of the silk...

ks

I am 5'1,5'2 and 3 yard veils are way too long for me. I just end up tripping over one of the ends.

Yes, that's what I was afraid of doing, I feel like enough of a klutz without my equipment showing me up! It's a 3 yard rectangle, not a circular.

Anyone else have some advice?

I'm 5 ft 2. I manage a 3 yard veil, but no larger. I sometimes step on it because of a combination of long arms with short legs, but it is happening less often.

I'm 5'2" and I handle a 3 yard with no problem.

I'm 5'2", and 3 yards is just fine for me. Sometimes I'll use the 2 1/2 yard "Little Wings" for double veil, but I use 3 yard 1/2 circles, as well. I wouldn't cut it until you try it- you can always cut some off, but once it's cut, its gone for good!

From my article:

Choosing A Veil

"Like everything else in our chosen art, there are few hard and fast rules. However, there are some guidelines. A "properly sized" veil, according to many sources, is a veil which just touches the floor when stretched across the back with arms extended straight out to the sides. This is why 3 yard veils are the most common size - they're "close enough" for the majority of women. Whatever this rule dictates for you should only be used as a starting point, fine tune your preferences as you grow in the dance.

Following this rule, very petite dancers may be better off with a 2-1/2 yard veil..."

I'd lean towards keeping it at 3 yards until I've proven to myself that I want it to be shorter - its easier to make it shorter than it is to make it longer! Experimenting with your Lurex veil may be an option?

Thanks everyone! We're just talkin' 9 inches here, but I think it'll be a good fit for me. My wingspan is 63 and the veil will STILL be 97 inches. I think it should still have plenty of flounce room, and maybe I won't step on it.

Just my 2 cents here, but...

...I would never trim a fine silk veil just to see if the length "might be better!"

I'd go down to the fabric store and buy something light and floaty and have it cut to 2.5 or 2.75 yds and play around to see if I liked that length better first.

Only THEN would I trim my good veil!

I'm 4'10" and I like my three yard veil just fine. It's actually about four inches over three yards and I don't have a problem with it. It helps that it's silk; that way it has loft and doesn't collapse to the floor like other fabrics can. I have a 2 and a half yard silk essence and it's not long enough to do body wraps and front arm cross flippy things. I suggest keeping your veil at three yards and if it doesn't work for you after a a while of course you can trim it then. Hope this helps you out!

Originally Posted by laura 2

I'm 5'2" and I handle a 3 yard with no problem.

Me too....It's not your height it's where you are holding the veil and your skill at putting the energy into it to get if off the floor. I was doing 3 yard veil when I was a kid and way under 5 ft tall. hold the veil 10-12 inches from the end. when you stretch your arms straight out to the side the veil should dip downs to just around you butt, or a little under. Most dancers hold their veil with their hands too close and it doesn't work well in my opinion!

Originally Posted by Aradia

Me too....It's not your height it's where you are holding the veil and your skill at putting the energy into it to get if off the floor. I was doing 3 yard veil when I was a kid and way under 5 ft tall. hold the veil 10-12 inches from the end. when you stretch your arms straight out to the side the veil should dip downs to just around you butt, or a little under. Most dancers hold their veil with their hands too close and it doesn't work well in my opinion!

Thanks Aradia for these guidelines... when I took my 3 yard x 43" veil, held the ends about a foot in on each side and stretched my arms out to the side, the bottom of the veil was at the back of my knees. I have this LLOOOONG torso and short legs. Something that's 48" from the "back of neck" seam reaches nearly to my ankles.

And Jes is going to trim it, not me! I wouldn't dream of trimming silk without extensive training.

Another shortie here 5'0.5":

Little wings (1/2) are perfect for my double veil...the biguns are too big/heavy for my wee arms!!

3yrd max for rectangles...I actually like a slightly narrower veil as well...a shorter than 3 yrd doesn't seem to move as well...plus making the envelope is harder on the move...The length is key. ..l;,

i'm 4'11" and I manage 3 yd rectangle or half circle fine. I agree with Aradia that it's all about how the veil is handled. I personally wouldn't get it trimmed but it's up to you!

Measure the length from your chin to just below your knees. This is usually a good length for petite ladies.

My sister is 5 foot nothin' but all of her height is in her torso. Her legs are tiny so length of veils, skirts, et al has always been an issue for her.

I guess I should have noticed that you were talking about silk. I should have also mentioned that my veil skills are lacking so 3 yrds would probably work for you. My bad.

I am 5' and I have no problem wihth 3 yard veils. With anything it takes practice to make it look effortless. As mentioned the lighter fabric is easier to work with.
I have also used 4 yard veils and I have to say I love them. They give that little extra! It took me a bit to get used to it but I love it!
xoxo,
-NJ

i am 5 foot, i now use a 3 and 1 half yard veil.when i was put on paxil etc for mental pause, i used 4 yards.
we use 6 ties, some really require at least 3 yards

I'd say 3 yards plus will probably be fine. I'm a shortie at 5.2 " and I've been practicing with a 2.5 yard partly because I have major upper body tension/stiffness/poor posture and a smaller veil has helped me to 'get over' a bit of a veil block by being just that tiny bit less intimidating to manhandle.

However, as I'm beginning to feel a little more confident with a veil (this after 6 years of pure hatred) I've noticed that I'm actually wanting something a bit larger. I keep catching myself looking down at it in surprise and wondering why there isn't more there to work with.

I'm 4'11" and don't stress over using a 3 yard veil. I actually enjoy having a little extra fabric to play around with, and miss it when I'm using a 2.5 yard half circle. (Unless, that is, I'm doing double veil or using faster music and really need to whip the veil around). As much as I harp on proportion, you just can't do all those crowd pleasing old-school envelope tricks or languidly wrap yourself in a veil that's not long enough.

I think Aradia's onto something, too: if you keep the veil afloat and maintain proper arm distance and great posture, then there really shouldn't be a problem.

Veil draping, on the other hand, is not usually something I love to do, given my shape and stature....but the double veil thread showed there are several schools of thought on this one ..l;,