Dance costumes for children!!

In recent weeks I've had the opportunity to design and create costumes for younger dancers.  I was recently asked by the dance teacher of an 8 year old to design and create a costume that would have been age appropriate, stylish, elegant and suitable for the choreography for her Song and Dance solo for her to perform at the relevant dance festivals.

I was told that the song that she sings and dances to is 'Candle on the Water', from the children's movie Pete's Dragon from the 70's.  Her teacher felt that white would be a great colour which would represent the dancer's purity and innocence as well as capturing the look of a candle, I agreed!  With all this information I came up with the design that you can see below.

The dress has an asymmetrical bodice with a teardrop opening highlighted with Swarovski Crystal ABs over the left shoulder, and a slashed two layer skirt. The back carries through the asymmetric theme with 5 slender straps which have individually hand sewn silver sequins.  To top the entire design off a headpiece was made with 5 straps and individually placed silver sequins to match the back detail.

Joanna Leunis wears a Paso Doble Desire Designs Desiree original.......

I met Joanna Leunis and her dance partner Michael Malitowski last October at the monthly Stardust Ball on Upper Richmond Road in Putney where I had a stand displaying my Ballroom and Latin competition and cabaret designs as well as my range of Ballroom and Latin practice and social dancewear.  Just in case you are not aware of how successful and popular this world renowned Latin couple are, here are some of their wins:

World Professional Latin
2008, 2009
European Professional Latin 
2007 to 2010
British Professional Open
2008 to 2010
UK Professional Open 
2007 to 2011
International Professional Open 
2005 to 2010


I was asked by Melina Hamilton (owner of Stardust Ballroom) to be Joanna's dresser for her cabaret performance that night at the Stardust Ball as she had quite a few quick costume changes and Melina knew I was very knowledgeable about Latin dresses and costumes.  I didn't have to think twice, after all Joanna is my absolute favourite female Latin dancer who I have been watching in awe for many years.  I always said I wanted to meet her but I didn't think it would have happened so fast.  I asked to meet her and the universe made it happen!

Well as Joanna walked past one of my Ballroom Paso Doble samples on display (see pic below)

http://www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk/Ballroom_Dresses/A_REGAL_QUEEN_Paso_Doble_Dress_as_worn_by_Joanna_Leunis

she immediately stopped and came over to admire the design and the extensive elliptical hand beading which was sewn from underneath the bust to the top hip line. She came over and told me how much she loved the design and fabric of this dress which was a silk satin which is luxurious to the touch and very light when dancing which was very important to her.  She felt that the design was exceptionally unique because of its classic simplicity and the use of the elliptical beading all done by hand. I immediately said to her, 'if you like it that much I will happily customise one for you'.  She agreed, so after her cabaret performance that night at the Stardust Ball with Michael which was outstanding as always, she had me take her measurements, and the rest I will say is history.

She asked me to make one minor change to the dress, which was to have gold godet insert on the left side of the skirt (see original design above) to be removed and for the entire skirt on her dress to be made from all red silk satin with the gold hem trim. We made the dress with the change as she requested. Here is Joanna in the dress at her fitting the night before she had to perform in it at the Carl Allan Awards and before she took the dress on her tour of Asia using my dress as her Paso Doble costume for all the shows that she was booked on.

Here is a clip from a Taiwan TV programme showcasing Joanna Leunis performing in a Desire Designs Desiree http://www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk dress design as well as a photo below of her performing at the Carl Allan awards.

http://www.malitowskileunis.com/exclusives/m-and-j-on-taiwan-dancing-and-caring/

If you would like us to design something for a competition or cabaret performance, please contact us for a consultation at customerservice@desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk or http://www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk

We'll be happy to help!!

Adam Edwards and Zoe Shand wearing original Latin dancewear by Desire Designs Desiree

Desire Designs Desiree has had the pleasure of working with this up and coming 10 dance Ballroom and Latin couple for the past year.  Adam Edwards and Zoe Shand recently won the UK Closed Pre-Am Latin Championship held this July 2011 in Bournemouth. They won the Latin events on both the Saturday and Sunday at this event.  You go guys, we're really proud of you, keep up the great work!!


Desire Designs Desiree have been designing and producing unique designs for this couple to perform and compete in.  In this photo Zoe Shand's Latin dress has been made from black velvet with a plunging neckline and back framed by 10 gross of Swarovski Crystal AB circular and teardrop stones, with a flattering and on trend ostrich feather hem.

We'll be posting more photos of their new outfits, so keep checking in to our blog here or visit our website at www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk

 Adam Edwards' shirt in this picture below was made from crepe and covered with 10 gross of Swarovski Jet Hematite stones.  If you're looking for well tailored Ballrooom and Latin menswear at competitive and affordable prices, contact us now at www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk

Visit our website today www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk, we are having a massive Summer Sale of up to 50% off our Ballroom and Latin practice and social wear!!  

Get shopping at www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk while stocks last!!!

MASSIVE BALLROOM AND LATIN SUMMER SALE REDUCTIONS http://www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk

You asked for it and we have listened, we finally have what you have been waiting for, our Ballroom and Latin Dancewear Summer Sale has started!!!  Our massive up to 50% off Summer Sale on our Ballroom and Latin Practice and Social Wear range has huge savings and discounts at  http://www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk while stocks last!


Here's your chance to get some great quality dancewear at bargain prices.  We have Practice Latin dresses, Practice Latin shoes, Practice Latin skirts, Practice Latin tops, Practice Ballroom skirts and Practice Ballroom tops.  Log on now to http://www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk.


Don't delay, these ballroom and Latin practice and social wear pieces won't stay around for long at these prices.  


GRAB A BARGAIN TODAY!! 
http://www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk

ABBA inspired costumes for Tweez and the Twinkles

We had the pleasure of designing ABBA style costumes for a new customer Louisa who wanted to do something spectacular for her 50th birthday party.  She contacted us looking for three costumes to be made from lycra and lots of sequins, and they had to make the three women look and feel like superstars as well as being flattering to their bodies for their debut performance at her birthday party in June as 'Tweez and the Twinkles'.  Luckily for us and Louisa she contacted us approximately 10 weeks before her big day which meant we had the time to consult with her to get a very clear idea of what she wanted while preparing initial designs.  

After several design drafts to her very specific requirements she finally agreed on the designs and they were put immediately into production.  She was a perfect customer, in that she knew exactly what she wanted, however she was open to new ideas and was willing to trust us when we recommended things to her.  Well the three ABBA style costumes were a great success and Louisa and her friends as well as everyone who watched the show loved them and their costumes.  I've attached her testimonial as well as pictures and a YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rBYAm4ELqA of their performance, I hope you enjoy it!!  If and when you are looking for custom made costumes, etc, we'd love to be the ones to help create your perfect outfit, contact us now at http://www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk/

Louisa's Testimonial

"I am absolutely delighted with the fantastic skills of Desire Designs Desiree. Recently I commissioned three Mama Mia, Abba style costumes for a performance given by myself and two friends at my 50th birthday party.  It was a daunting prospect for us middle aged ladies to be thinking about taking to the stage in lycra!  It was our promise to ourselves that we would find someone who would make costumes that would be flattering, original, dazzling and a joy to wear. It was such a delight finding Desire Designs Desiree online. From the moment I had their first response to my enquiry I felt sure that we had found the right people for the job.  It has been a unique and utterly enjoyable experience working with their team. From the start it was clear that I was working with professionals who really knew how to use their skills and experience, a warm, considerate team who were determined to make our stage debut special for us. I felt confident throughout, without even meeting any one of the them, that I was in expert hands.

Every step of the process of designing our costumes was precise with great attention to detail and with much consideration for our greatest wishes, many of which some would otherwise consider impossible.  When the costumes arrived we were absolutely stunned by how amazing they were, so beautifully made and so feminine and lovely to wear. All our worries melted away and we revelled in putting them on and seeing how gorgeous and flattering they were. All three of us felt incredibly comfortable, it was obvious that our dance performance and the need to move freely had been taken into consideration.

On stage we wowed our audience with our outfits and I can honestly say that most women watching that night admitted afterwards to being green with envy that we not only got to sing and dance in but that we also got to keep such beautiful costumes. Apparently, they told us, we glittered and shone, swished and swayed and shimmied in those outfits. For us, on that stage, wearing them made us feel a million dollars and gave us the confidence and ability to give the performance of our lives.  It was a package of not only the creation of perfect costumes but it also included great kindness, consideration and a warmth in the consistent dedication that was shown towards us and our commission by Desire Designs Desiree and it is one I will always treasure.

I am now looking forward to finding an excuse to use them and their skills again.

Louisa"

www.desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk

customerservice@desiredesignsdesiree.co.uk