Thread: wearing shorts under your costumes during performances...

Hello ladies,

For those of us that have costumes that don't have built-in shorts, I'm wondering what color you wear when you can't find perfectly matching shorts? I usually wear nude because I've seen some horrid mismatched or jarringly obvious shorts during performances on other dancers... but another dancer friend said the nude shorts look too "naked." Thoughts? If you match yours usually, how "off color" will you go... for example, I have a chocolate brown cossie but can't find matching shorts... would you wear black or nude?

Originally Posted by jaded928

Hello ladies,

For those of us that have costumes that don't have built-in shorts, I'm wondering what color you wear? I usually wear nude because I've seen some horrid mismatched or jarringly obvious shorts during performances on other dancers... but another dancer friend said the nude shorts look too "naked." Thoughts? If you match yours usually, how "off color" will you go... for example, I have a chocolate brown cossie but can't find matching shorts... would you wear black or nude?

I usually try to match the color as close as I can, maybe a shade off, but not clashing or contrasting, same color family. I've found the Nordstrom lingerie department has an amazing array of unusually colored boyshorts. I've managed to find burgundy and olive green and a peacock blue-green color. I have also shopped online for unusual colors at Discount Dancewear and some other online stores.

I think nude is probably better than nothing though you can look nude. Depending on the lighting chocolate brown can look black, so I might opt for black if you're unable to find brown shorts. If you haven't already, you might check local department store lingerie depatments or even a Victoria's Secret for boyshorts.

Though their sizing can be limited, American Apparel has some awesome boy/bootie shorts, too. I just got some shiny gold lame

I like the metallic ones under skimpy skirts.
http://www.discountdance.com/dancewe...&SID=229718299

the only time I wear nude is if the costume has cut outs which are a challenge. Samira tells the story of someone saying a dancer who accidentally flashed her nude knickers looked as if she had the underside of a Barbie.

Try for close to colour or exact match. Although I have been known to use contrasting because there was beading, etc. Chocolate brown might get gold briefs.

I second American Apparel. Some yoga clothing manufacturers have a great selection of yoga shorts which would work. Hard Tail is one which comes to mind. And as a last ditch effort, dance briefs aren't hard to make.

{{{HUGS}}}

I cringe at same-as-your-skin-color shorts because they can make it look as though you're wearing nothing at all under your skirt.

I like ones that look as though they're MEANT to be seen. For example:

http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/da...ts/SQ3410.aspx

http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/da...ts/SQ3455.aspx

There's also the performance briefs by L Rose designs:
http://www.lrosedesigns.com/products/briefs.html
These come in a wide variety of fabrics and colors. For example, nylon lycra in copper: http://www.lrosedesigns.com/fabric/nylonlycra.html or luxury velvet in chocolate: http://www.lrosedesigns.com/fabric/luxury.html

I usually make my own. I just took a pair of boy shorts that I already had, made a pattern and then went crazy. I don't hem them or put elastic in them (they are lycra) so they are super smooth under the skirts.

Oooh I love the idea of making my own. That way they'll be perfectly matched... thanks all!

I have a teal velvet costume that requires I wear shorts underneath.

SOMEHOW, metallic bronze tiger print boy shorts from American Apparel work *perfectly*. They're dark enough that they look like I'm obviously wearing shorts which, to echo Shira's comment, is good for audience comfort (they're not distracted by their anxious thoughts about whether or not you're going commando).

But the metallic bronze element provides a slight sheen/shimmeryness appropriate for underneath a sparkly costume. And the tiger print confuses the eye and makes them not look like "underwear" but actually part of the costume.

I sometimes wear nude shorts under my costumes... mostly for dancer events and haflas though. For public stuff, I just have 3 colors of shorts that work: gold, black, and turquoise for my turquoise tempest. These are the ones I own: http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/da...ts/ML2540.aspx They are good and durable and are the right length. The tops are a smidge too high for some of my costumes so I just fold the band down.

for folks willing to make their own, Jalie patterns has a great pattern for short shorts & yoga pants. I *really* like the shorts because they have an extra seem in the back that makes them very easy to adjust for different sizes.

Capizio makes some great "skin" tone shorts that work for lighter tones. The DKNY undergarment line makes a wide range of "skin" tones and usually has little shorts styles. Works great if you can't find shorts to match your costume color. Try cheerleading shorts and jazz/modern shorts b/c they are built to say put.

But gold and silver are 'neutral' right? so they one of those wil always go. Plenty of cheap 'clubwear' metallic hotpants on ebay.

I do have some outfits where nude looks better to preserve the line of the skirt/leg but I cover them in bling with my kandi kane so the audience can tell there is something there and its OK they are seeing it.

Z

Originally Posted by jaded928

...If you match yours usually, how "off color" will you go... for example, I have a chocolate brown cossie but can't find matching shorts... would you wear black or nude?

i wear black under my chocolate brown trumpet skirt, but it's tight enough on the bum that it's unlikely for them to be seen. when in doubt treat undies like thread, going a shade darker is better than a shade lighter.

Originally Posted by zafirah

....but I cover them in bling with my kandi kane so the audience can tell there is something there and its OK they are seeing it.

i like that.
although you never know, they might think you had that vagazzling done (i AM kidding)

The old "skirt split wide up to there on both sides" Ablas used to come with matching sequin undies.
I've bought a bathing suit bottom when I couldn't find the right panties/dance pants to wear. They were perfect.

Nylon lycra dance shorts (or skirts or pants) can be over-dyed with Jacquard acid dyes for silk for fine color adjustments. Light nude ones could be dyed darker brown with this dye.

I love my Capezio nude shorts for under costumes with cut outs on the hip or if I'm in need of pinning a skirt in place. Nice heavy, non roll waistband that can handle industrial strength safety pins.

I also have a pair of black shorts that are sequinned for under a skirt i have with the side slits that go all the way up.

I've found that I don't like the bikini style as it does look like its your underpants, yet the shorts seem to say (IMO) "I'm wearing these on purpose so you don't see my underpants"

Originally Posted by NancyAsiya

I've found that I don't like the bikini style as it does look like its your underpants, yet the shorts seem to say (IMO) "I'm wearing these on purpose so you don't see my underpants"

I can see that... for some however, well... Boy shorts simply don't keep my cheeks covered and anything longer looks like shorts (which in most cases are not flattering on me). But I'm really careful to buy a fabric that reads "outerwear", not "underwear."
...for those who CAN wear boyshorts though, you have some great sparkly options:
http://shop.justforkix.com/Just-For-..._medium=search

http://shop.justforkix.com/Gia-Mia-D..._medium=search

http://www.yougogirldancewear.com/Pi...Cut-Shorts.htm

http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/re...ce-Shorts.html

Okay, definitions needed over here!

"Booty Shorts," to me, refers to underwear that does not contain elastic in the legs to keep the garment next to the skin in that area. This type of garment is quite revealing, actually. Maybe my terminology is incorrect . . . .

"Dance Trunks" are like short bike shorts, with a very short "leg" section that hugs the upper thigh. I think these were somewhat popular a few years ago and were meant to be part of the costume.

"Dance Pants" are like old-time briefs in that the cut of the leg is very low, similar to standard ballet leotards. "Golden Age" costumes come to mind, especially those that have wide openings over the thighs. The dance pants are actually part of the costume.

I think I'm liking "dance trunks" (at least as defined above) for performance undergear. I attended SAMEDA Faire here in Southern California last summer and noted that a number of the soloists and groups from Mexico were wearing them. They matched the costumes, which reduced the discomfort if they were seen, because they were obviously part of the costume and not -- you know -- *underwear*

Oh, and feel free to correct my definitions! Please.

Deborah

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Boy shorts simply don't keep my cheeks covered

LOLing because I've always thought it was just me and mine!

Originally Posted by jaded928

Hello ladies,

For those of us that have costumes that don't have built-in shorts, I'm wondering what color you wear when you can't find perfectly matching shorts? I usually wear nude because I've seen some horrid mismatched or jarringly obvious shorts during performances on other dancers... but another dancer friend said the nude shorts look too "naked." Thoughts? If you match yours usually, how "off color" will you go... for example, I have a chocolate brown cossie but can't find matching shorts... would you wear black or nude?

I would wear black.

Deborah

Originally Posted by casbahdance

...
Oh, and feel free to correct my definitions! Please.
Deborah

I don't know if there ARE official "correct" definitions. A quick look online and it seems different companies label things differently.
Growing up buying undies for under leotards, they were called "dance trunks", and that's all there were! So my definition of "dance trunks" and "dance pants" may be reversed to yours.

There ARE some "booty shorts" listed on dance sites that are meant to provide some coverage:
http://www.dancefashions.com/p-235-e...ty-shorts.aspx

We can add "briefs" into the confusion for fun:
http://www.riversedgedancewear.com/danshorandbr.html

Ahhh... this is pretty much all there used to be:
http://www.dancerland.com/category-s/107.htm

...and now take a look at "exotic dance" wear sites and you'll find all sorts of other options and definitions.

Originally Posted by Suzana

LOLing because I've always thought it was just me and mine!

Yay! My butt is in good company then.