Irish Dancing Costumes
"School Costumes vs. Solo Costumes"
There are two different types of Irish Dancing costumes, the first is known as a "school costume" and the second is known as a "solo costume". The price of an Irish Step Dancing Costume is usually the most difficult aspect of the activity to swallow. They are EXPENSIVE and compare closely with the cost of a wedding dress. Our new school costume costs $650, a brand new solo costume typically starts at $1,000 and a previously owned solo costume can vary from $400-$900, depending on it's intricacy and condition. In this article I will differentiate between the two and when you should consider investing in one or the other.

How can I afford this?
This is a question many parents ask themselves, especially when their young children are growing in such leaps and bounds. The initial investment is steep, however, a costume should be purchased with the intention of RESELLING it. For example, if you buy a brand new school costume for $650 and take good care of it, you can turn around and sell it 2-3 years later for $400-$500. Therefore, the price for your use over the 2-3 year time frame turns out to be about $200-$300 (an average of $100 per year). Keeping your costumes in good condition for resale purposes is key. The better the condition the more you will be able to resell it for. When having a costume made, the costume should NEVER-EVER go below the top of the knee. The dress should be at least one inch above the knee. Many parents try to have the dress made longer when purchasing for the first time in hopes of gaining more years of use out of the costume. However, this backfires for several reasons. One reason is that the costume will look terrible and if competing a judge will not be able to see your dancer's legs and the dancer's overall presentation will not be right. When competing in feisanna, dancers are judged on presentation in addition to their dancing. Remember; do not think of your school costume as a long-term investment. RESELL it after two to three years. Please note, our new dressmaker, Thread-Works, has strict orders to turn down orders for costumes that are not measured at least one inch above the knee.

"School Costumes" are Irish dance dresses that are designed by the school's director and worn by beginner through novice students when first competing and team dancers throughout all ages and levels of competition. The O'Rourke school costume is a black dress with an intricate Celtic design that was created especially for our school by an artist that resides in Chicago. You will notice a theme of three-pointed Celtic knots throughout the design which represents our seeded roots in Christianity. The three-pointed Celtic knot is a symbol of the Trinity representing the "Father, Son and Holy Sprit". The colors in the dress; Red, White and Green are also picked by the director of the school and in our case represent the Italian heritage of LuAnn through her mother, Lucille. Our school costume has recently been updated. The new design preserves the colors and design of the original costume; however, the costume now incorporates a modern look with the neckline and kick-pleats set with a beautiful sparkling material. You will also notice a new design to the cape which bears the initials or our school's name "O'R". The school costume has been updated by "Thread-Works" located in Brewster, New York. If you wish to order a new school costume you must order them at least four months in advance. The price is $650. You should consider ordering a costume when your child has decided that Irish Dancing is something they are going to stick with and when they start competing. Typically beginners can compete with a plaid skirt and white blouse, but it is highly recommended that they have a costume by the Advanced Beginner level of competition. In addition, you can inquire about purchasing a previously owned school costume, which if available, can be a slightly more affordable option. Please note that school costumes should never be lent or sold to students of other schools.

"Solo Costumes" are worn when competitors progress in competition to the higher levels. It is recommended that you start to think about purchasing a solo costume in the Novice year of competition and the dancer should definitely have one for Prize Winner, Preliminary Championships and Open Championships. There are many previously owned solo costumes that you can purchase via the Internet or at feisanna. I recommend purchasing them at feisanna where your dancer can try them on. A good fit is extremely important and along with good coloring for the dancer can determine how they feel on stage. Remember, presentation counts, so the better your dancer looks and feels in their costume, the better the results. It is also recommended that you get your teacher's opinion of the costume before finalizing the purchase if they are in attendance of the feis. In addition, if kept in good condition your previously owned costume can be sold again and again.

Caring for your costume. Great pains should be taken to keep your school and solo costumes in good condition. Remember, the resale value of your costume depends on it's condition. Here are some pointers for caring for your costume:
1. Always store your costume in a protective garment bag.
2. Do not dry clean your costume (most cleaners will not touch them anyway!)
3. Put shields in the armpit area of the sleeves and air out the costume before putting it in the closet until it's next use. You may even want to spritz it a bit with a freshener like Frabreeze.
4. Do not let your dancer eat or drink colored liquids while wearing the dress.
5. While the dancer is wearing the costume, but not on stage they should where a protective garment cover. Many vendors at feisanna sell garment covers that fit over the dress while it is worn.
6. Keep the accessories in good condition for resale with the dress. Accessories include the lollipops (panty covers) and headbands.
Contact LuAnn O'Rourke if you are interested in ordering a school costume.