Irish Dance Dresses
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The Irish Dance Dress
In the world of Irish Dancing there are many, many different types of dresses! Although you might not believe it, nearly all are based upon the original simple type of dress worn by peasant girls when dancing at the crossroads in Ireland, centuries ago.
Modern-day dancers have taken dresses to incredible new levels... and some would say have gone too far. In fact, with the recent influx of crystals and animal prints in Irish solo dresses at competitions, some of the big Irish dance organizations are beginning to enact rules on just how "snazzy" your solo dress can or can't be!
Intro photo: Fotolia.com
Modern-day dancers have taken dresses to incredible new levels... and some would say have gone too far. In fact, with the recent influx of crystals and animal prints in Irish solo dresses at competitions, some of the big Irish dance organizations are beginning to enact rules on just how "snazzy" your solo dress can or can't be!
Intro photo: Fotolia.com
Image via ronnie44052 on Flickr, used through a Creative Commons license
A girl's Irish dance dress can be her most prized posession...
...and certainly her most expensive possession. The price of dresses these days ranges anywhere from $300 on the very low end to $2000+ on the high end. Many dancers choose to buy their solo dresses second- (or third- ) hand, as they can cost considerably less used.
Traditional Dress
The tradition of Irish dancing
Irish dancing was traditionally a way to get together with friends and neighbors at the crossroads in the village and have some fun. Preferred dress would be "Sunday best," which for a village girl might mean a pretty skirt, simple white blouse and vest, perhaps with a shawl pinned to her shoulder.
Buy This at Allposters.com
Buy This at Allposters.com
Traditional Irish Dance Dress
Irish dance dresses circa 1971 - usually green and embroidered, with a white lace collar
The Recital Dress
Recital Dresses: Simpler Version of the School Dress
An Irish dancer who does not compete and is not on a Ceili performance team will most likely have a simple recital dress, usually in the neighborhood of $75-$125. Current recital dresses seem to have taken on the "Riverdance" look - sort of a Celtic simplicity.
Irish Dance Recital Dresses
The School Dress
Dance schools can be identifed by their dresses
Irish dancing schools design their own dresses to differentiate themselves from other schools. These dresses are not allowed to be worn at non-school performances, or by the dancer if she leaves the school.School dresses are generally not as fancy as a solo dress, nor as expensive. School dresses, for instance, don't have crystals or other "bling". They also usually have a paneled skirt, and colors and embroidery unique to the school.
Irish Dance School Dresses
School dance dresses of Rince Nua Irish Dancers
The Solo Dress
Lace and Velvet Solo Dress
The Championship Dress
What is a Championship Dress?
There is some difference of opinion as to what constitutes a championship dress. How does is differ from a solo dress? Is there even a difference?Some would say that a championship dress is much fancier (and more expensive) than a "first solo dress," and only for those competing at the highest level. For others, a solo dress and a championship are the same thing. In my daughter's dance organization, CRN, you are not allowed to wear a solo dress until you are competing at level three, Mean Grád. From then on, the solo dresses are no different from one level to the next.
My daughter's solo dress is definitely championship-quality, even though she's not yet competing at Craobh Grád (the highest level).
My daughter's solo dress
Designed and made especially for her by Dressmaking by Aunt Stacy
Lauren wearing "The Lauren"!
The Cape
The Cape
The back of a Ceili dress usually has a "cape" (sometimes called a shawl or a brat) pinned to the left shoulder and the right hip.Legend has it that during the Suppression in Ireland, you could tell the rebels by their brats, worn pinned to their shoulder so they'd always have a cloak or a mantle on hand for cold nights hiding out in the mountains. Even before that, however - as early as the 8th century - Celtic women wore shawls pinned to their shoulders in everyday dress.
The pin at the shoulder is typically called a "Tara brooch", which is the name of an ancient Celtic artifact that dates back to circa 700 AD, but has become the generic name for all Celtic reproduction brooches.
Image by OZinOH on Flickr, used through a Creative Commons license.
school dress cape, solo dress cape
Types of Skirts
Traditional three-panelled skirts
Tennis-style skirts have multiple stiffened panels
Cupcake skirts have foufy layers of tight ruffles
Puffball skirts have hems that are turned under to make a "puff"
More examples of Irish dance dresses
- 25 Irish Dance Dresses That Will Wow You
- by Jaime Morrison Curtis on Babble.com
- Hot New Irish Dance Solo Dress Styles for 2012
- by Shelly Hathaway on iDiddli.com
- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Irish Dance Dresses
- OK - it's hardly everything you wanted to know... but it's got some great pics.
Dressmakers
Links to Irish Dance Dressmakers
These are actual dressmakers, in case you decide to get a bespoke dress - in other words, have a dress made just for you.
The first one listed is the most fabulous - in our estimation! Stacy Farley is the incredible seamstress who made my daughter's solo dress ("The Lauren", above).
The others listed here I can't vouch for - just offering up a list of some of the places I've heard of. Obviously there are many, many more.
The first one listed is the most fabulous - in our estimation! Stacy Farley is the incredible seamstress who made my daughter's solo dress ("The Lauren", above).
The others listed here I can't vouch for - just offering up a list of some of the places I've heard of. Obviously there are many, many more.
- Aunt Stacy's Dressmaking (USA)
- I cannot say enough good things about Stacy Farley. She worked very, very closely with us to make sure we had exactly the dress we wanted. She was quick, professional, and the craftsmanship is incredible. You can't go wrong with Aunt Stacy's Dressmaking!
- Paddy Kelleher Designs (Canada)
- Paddy K has been making Irish dance dresses since 1998.
- Elevation Design (Ireland)
- Elevation has seven different styles of dress. You pick a style, then make that dress your own. Each dress is unique.
- Penny Drew Dresses (USA)
- Specializing in semi-custom and off the rack Irish Dance solo dresses. (Also home of the "Snazzy Bag"!)
Used Solo Dresses
Places to buy a used solo dress
- Irish dance dresses on eBay
- As with all these sites, what's available is constantly changing!
- Dance Again
- a site for Irish dancers and dressmakers all over the world to buy and sell new or used solo dresses
- Dance.net
- Dance.net has a huge section just for Irish dresses
- The Irish Dancing Exchange
- A great site where you can search for dresses by age range, by size, or even by price range!
- FeisDresses.com
- Search here by age range or by specific dress maker if you like!
What's your Irish dance dress experience?
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Are you an Irish dancer? Do you know an Irish dancer? What's your favorite type of Irish dance dress?
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Rachel pender
May 27, 2012 @ 9:04 pm | delete
- I would like to ask if anyone knows, im having a dress made for my daughter by a dressmaker who has never made one before as the cost is affordable this way, but she has asked me to find out with the skirt its made of satin and im wondering how many layers do you have to stop it from dropping flat or do i have something like tulle under it to keep it sitting up ? anyone's help with this would be greatly appreciated,
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Cari_Kay
Mar 19, 2012 @ 8:53 pm | delete
- These are beautiful. I would love to get my daughter into Irish dance. She is very much all about ballet but I think this would be so much fun. You've inspired me to ask around. Thank you!
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earthybirthymama
Mar 7, 2012 @ 7:54 pm | delete
- I've always like Irish dancing and Scottish dancing. What beautiful dresses. many Blessings
Cheers
Grace
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JaguarJulie Mar 6, 2012 @ 10:29 am | delete
- Gosh, I'm not an Irish dancer, but I have a keen appreciation for such dancers. And, love the ornate quality of the dress costumes.
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TamaraKajari
Feb 22, 2012 @ 3:42 pm | delete
- Those dresses are a true reflection of this dance. Energy, style, rhythm and passion.
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by WhitePineLane
In seven years of being an Irish dance mom, I have bought my share of Irish dance dresses! Here are some of the things I've learned about them.
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