Metallic dancewear

The range of fabrics available for dancewear is huge these days. One of the most popular trends is of course metallics. With leotards, catsuits, tops, shorts and leggings all available in stunning metallics for use on stage, the look of costumes has definitely changed since I danced as a child. 

The question of course is how to wear them? Our liquid metal range range lets you mix and match products. With 6 stunning colour options for the majority of our range, you can easily and cost effectively team a pink skirt with a pink sleeveless tank style top or crop top. A silver leotard with silver shorts or leggings. A gold catsuit with a gold skirt. The choices are huge, and with a large size range, dressing a group is super easy and gets stunning results. We also offer discounts for group purchases.

In addition we have stunning metallic foil dancewear, including a range of dance tops that are perfect for public dance exams or feature performances. The tops are available as off the shoulder, tank style, polo neck and cross back style. Great vibrant colours that stand out on stage and look amazing under the lights. Just add some black dance shorts or leggings, a skirt or tutu and fishnets or pretty much anything you want! Adding someone new to a group isn’t a drama either when you can just get another top in whatever size you need! And with multiple colour choices you can all go the same or mix it up.

Our metallic foil range also includes our brilliant fire print range. With lots of great products to mix and match these are perfect for dance, gymnastics, circus, aerials, pole dance and so much more. The only limit is your imagination. Leotards look great on their own or add some metallic black shorts or leggings, or the matching flame print ones. Wear a plain black top with the shorts or leggings or a matching flame crop top. Available in 4 stunning colours you can create an individual costume you ( and everyone else) will love!

So if you love metallics as much as we do at Firefly, take a look at the huge range of metallic dancewear now!

 

Tutus as everyday clothes

Tutus used to be for Ballet dancers. Stunning and often very expensive costumes for stage, and slightly cheaper but still expensive practice ones for class.These days tutus are part of regular life. Everyone from babies to adults can wear tutus in public these days. Girls add them to fancy dress costumes to create Fairies, Clowns, or just fun going out or party clothes. Available in a huge range of colours and styles they are a simple and easy way to add some pizzazz to a costume or look.

At Firefly Dancewear we have a great range of tutus from Sweida’s to add to costumes for fancy dress. Our girls tutus are available in pink, black or white, and the adult ones come in a gorgeous range of colours to match to your outfit including purple, pink, green and blue. With quick delivery Australia wide they make a great addition to your next performance or party.

 

We also have a stunning range for young girls from Giggle Me Pink. They have everything from My First Tutu for 3-9 month olds, to beautiful soft classic and everyday tutus, to the beautiful Princess tutus.

Designed for young girls who love to twirl and spin! Made of soft fluffy chiffon, this ruffle tutu skirt will definitely make her feel like a princess. And of course we have crowns and tiaras and wands to match too! So let them have fun and feel special everyday with an item from this amazing range. Perfect for presents from a Grandmother or Aunt on birthdays or just because!

What makes a costume stand out?

What makes a costume something special? That all depends on what you want to achieve and create. We’ve all seen a Cirque du Soleil  costume and they are stunning because of the detail and care that goes in to making it a total look. Of course they wouldn’t look the same without the fabulous facepainting they use. Neither does a geisha without the classic red, black and white face and hairstyle. Or The Joker or the TinMan. It’s those additional touches that are needed to finish the look and go from just sticking a costume on to becoming a character.

Many dance and circus schools now have extravagant mid and/or end of year concerts that involve so much more than just dance or tumbling. They might have a theme or recreate a well known musical or movie. These all require attention to details, with the perfect costumes, hairstyles, makeup and accessories like jewellery, shoes and stockings. I’ve seen teachers who give lots of help to their students so that this isn’t a drama, but I’ve also seen dancers and performers really struggle to achieve the brief. Nothing looks worse on stage than a hodgepodge of great and very ordinary.

So what can you do to get the perfect look next time? Research! There are lots of websites out there to teach you how to do a particular hairstyle. Watch them and practice until you can comfortably do them without taking 2 hours each time. You often only have very short amounts of time between costume changes so practice helps avoid the stress. If you are going to a Fancy dress party or wearing a costume for roving at a function you will probably have more time to get ready. Practice before the big day is still vital! Try lots of looks. Add a wig, experiment with facepaint until you get it right, and then take a photo so you can remember what you did. And look at lots of other peoples ideas. Inventing the wheel again isn’t necessary.

At Firefly we have heaps of costumes and accessories to help you to easily achieve that look you are after. We have face and body paints from Australian company Global Colours. These products are ideal for make-up artists, theatre and performance, sports team supporters, parties for children, festivals and fairs. The BodyArt range is suitable for all age groups and a wide range of uses and is Water Based, Cosmetic Grade, 100% Non-Toxic and Hypoallergenic. 

And with our wholesale costume supplier Sweida’s we have you covered for costumes, stockings, hats, masks and so much more. Why not take a look and get inspiration for your next costume? Quick delivery Australia wide and great prices.

http://www.fireflydancewear.com.au/Costumes__amp;_Accessories/cat851145_2842734.aspx

 

The humble leotard

French acrobatic performer Jules Leotard made the leotard a recognised dancewear item and and while he didn’t name them himself, the word came into use after his death in 1870.

Most of us think of ballet when we hear the word leotard but these days they are more than just the domain of classical ballet dancers. They are worn for dance, circus, aerials, gymnastics and figure skating, and at the gym. They allow freedom of movement like little else can.

Jane Fonda and the fitness craze of the 80’s saw a huge rise in the wearing of lycra but these days they can be made of velvet, metallics, lycra, mesh, lace and more. Actually the only limit really is your imagination.

They are even worn by musicians on stage these days. Demi Lovato, Beyonce,
Iggy Azalea and many more have made the leotard a stage staple for female pop stars. Of course they probably look a little different to the one you wear to class or for your exams!

For modern styles like Jazz or Tap,  rules are often relaxed and allow dancers to add dance shorts to them to make them more comfortable and modest in class or public. There are still very strict rules for Gymnastics competitions though, with limitations on the cut and fabric used.

So which type of leotard do you like best? Plain or fancy? Polo neck or camisole? High cut or low? Whichever you prefer, Firefly has a huge range of leotards to suit you and your needs. With so many colours, styles and fabrics it is super easy to dress a huge group or create a stunning solo outfit for your next concert or performance.

Are leggings pants?

I see them at the local high school, down the street and at the shops. Leggings!

Some times they look great and other times you wonder why? So what makes the difference? Is it how thick they are or what you wear with them? When did activewear become regular clothes that are ok in public?

To be honest I think leggings are perfect on stage for dance costumes and fancy dress costumes, or for the gym or dance class. The world of dance and performing is so different from regular life and a whole different set of rules apply anyway, from makeup to hairstyles and more.

They are comfortable and versatile and great when doing aerials and walkovers and tumbling routines at circus, or rehearsing routines at dance class. They give you freedom of movement and warmth in cooler months.

At Firefly I sell lots of leggings, some with stirrups and some without. We have plain ones and patterned and metallics too. They look brilliant when used to create a costume for on stage and with so many colours to choose from it’s not hard to find something you will love, particularly with our two new patterned ranges which have matching crop tops, leotards, shorts and pants. So if you perform, take a look at what we have and try adding leggings to your next look.

 

 

How to wear Catsuits

Catsuits are by far our biggest sellers at Firefly Dancewear. More than all our other products combined in fact! These days they are common for lots of sports, like speed skating, bobsled, cycling and more.

But where did they come from and why are they so popular?
Catsuits have actually been around  since the 1940’s, but were especially popular in the 80’s when everyone was fitness mad. They even became street wear in the UK!

Today I see lots of use of them as dancewear, especially the animal prints and metallics. Quite often they are turned into superhero costumes too, with Catwoman being the most obvious, but I have even had one used as an invisible woman, and one for a man to wear to a Priscilla Queen of the Desert style party.

Today the fabrics and colours available make them a very versatile item for dance and circus concerts and performances, particularly Cats remakes, but also for animals in a production of Wizard of Oz or a silver one for the  Tin Man. They are brilliant for aerials acts, especially if they have stirrups built into them.

So for your next show take a look at the huge range we have and see how you could use a catsuit to create a character, or a fabulous costume.