drdance Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 A query for those of you who are avid adult ballet dancers and/or lovers of dancewear! I'm sure this has been asked many times but I did a quick search and couldn't find the answer... My adult ballet class only ever seem to be able to get black dancewear and the class looks like a funeral gathering! They're all sick of it and would love to be able to get leotards and skirts that fit the average womanly figure (size 12/ 14/ 16/ 18) with bust support or that can be worn with a bra. I'd also be interested in a long-ish wrap skirt that actually wraps around my post-lockdown tummy! All the 'one size' skirts are designed for size 12 or smaller except a black one I found on Amazon which actually comes in XL. Any ideas?! Thanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 Revolution Dancewear used to do larger leotards in a reasonable range of non black colours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Dancer Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 I'm fairly full figured and can relate to the difficulties in finding clothes. I've given up on anything that has integrated bust support for my D cups. I just wear a bra with the leotard and don't care if it's visible. Starlite does have a range of leotards etc in larger sizes up to xxl although I don't find theirs as comfortable as some others. There are a few in Capezio which I find good quality but smaller cut. There are a few on Amazon. I've found a pink XL by a make called Bezioner on Amazon which is really pretty and a cream one by a make called Inlzdz with a lace top. It takes a lot of looking around but it's possible. @balletgremlin made me a lovely long wrap skirt with beautiful pink ribbons and will customise things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletgremlin Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 I can't help with leotards but as @Tango Dancer I make made-to-measure wrap skirts for dancers of any size (largest so far is a 50" waist) and can be made in any length and in a range of colours and patterns. Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/sissonneskirts Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SissonneSkirts 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 (edited) Oh dear! I have just had a look at the Revolution page on Dance Direct’s website which was where I bought mine. Only three of their leotards aren’t black. I’m sorry not have better news. Edited September 28, 2020 by Fiz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 (edited) I’d love to find a large or XL size that isn’t then over long in torso length...swimwear & dance wear assumes if you are large you are also tall.....I’m not🙁. We’re talking classic Apple shape....and post lockdown with zero exercise now more of a Toffee Apple!!! Maybe the clothes ranges that do petite could add more fitness too to take into account the vertically challenged who want to get fit! Edited September 28, 2020 by Peanut68 Typo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 There's this thread: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 couple of blog posts on the topic and while both the authors in question happen to be trans ... https://sophiedancer.co.uk/2016/12/09/adult-attire/https://www.agirlreconstructed.com/2019/01/adult-ballet-attire-for-none-typical.html and both these blog posts predate raiding the soDanca catalogue who also make leotards up to a size '7' (although not necessarily imported by the UK distributor as stock) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate_N Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 (edited) 20 hours ago, drdance said: My adult ballet class only ever seem to be able to get black dancewear and the class looks like a funeral gathering! I'm a "street size" large 10 (for H&M clothes, don't know if they do vanity sizing ...) but really a 12, and have sometimes been 14 or 16. Even at my heaviest, I found the website Dance Direct a good place for leotards - and the brand "Plume" does a range that is priced well, and their Large or XL in fairly basic designs (long sleeved scoop neck, high back, for example) come in colours other than black - although admittedly dark blue, maroon/claret ... They have built in bra "shelves" which are fine for me, but for those who need more bust support than I do, may not be enough. But most of them you could wear a bra underneath. They're built for adult female bodies with waists and hips, so I find the width across the back of the hips & buttocks is good (that's my bugbear - the cut at the back not being generous enough!) and they cut in for the waist. Plume does a nice cotton/lycra mix, as well as the nylon/lycra/spandex mix. Edited September 29, 2020 by Kate_N 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peony Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Degas leotards are beautiful and come in lots of different colours and many of the styles are higher on the back so can be worn more easily with a bra. The largest size must be somewhere around a 16 if you’re short to average height. Black does hide the lumps and bumps and perspiration marks well though! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Might be an idea for a new range, @Sheila Beelam? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdance Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 7 hours ago, Anna C said: Might be an idea for a new range, @Sheila Beelam? There's definitely a gap in the market for someone enterprising and knowledgeable! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 16 hours ago, drdance said: There's definitely a gap in the market for someone enterprising and knowledgeable! I had suggested this a while ago to someone else who frequents here occasionally who has in interest in a dancewear retailer and is difficult to find stuff sized ... - as they were setting up their e-commerce side , i did day why not re-skin and have a site that specialised in 'real people' sizes ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I have long thought about this.... any potential business partners I could co-join with??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 I don't know if anyone will find the news of this newly launched brand will help: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 6 hours ago, Jan McNulty said: I don't know if anyone will find the news of this newly launched brand will help: we'll see what their range offers I know HB has been consulting for them on design ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavycapers Posted September 9, 2022 Share Posted September 9, 2022 (edited) I have a few leotards in size 16/18 long body for sale. Made for attending ballet class and never worn. Edited September 9, 2022 by cavycapers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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