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@miaridancewear
2015 is the year!
As we enter into this new year, we wanted to thank all of our supporters and fans. Without you, the adventures we are taking in 2015 wouldn't be possible. So, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! Check out our brand new website, http://miari.myshopify.com/, to stay up to date on what we are up to.
Haute...who goes there?
Whether we are conscious of it or not, fashion is a big part of our lives. From pajama casual in the bedroom to couture on the runway, it’s all about what we are wearing and how we express ourselves.
The images we see in magazines and the clothes we see on the runway seem so intangible for the everyday person; as though the clothes are only for celebrities and individuals with a big bank account. However, the dance floor may sometimes be forgotten as a source of magnificent fashion and couture gowns.
All dancers know that their competition costumes must be unique and eye-catching so as to wow not only the judges, but the crowd as well. Most dancers don’t recycle their costumes and are always seeking out new and better styles to compliment their moves on the dancefloor. This is where couture meets the dance, or as we prefer it, ballroom.
By definition, haute couture
“is constructed by hand from start to finish, made from high quality, expensive, often unusual fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques.”
What’s so special about the dance floor is that the dancers can change the look and feel of their costume(s) from competition to competition; unlike the runway where designers have to tell a single story and all the pieces must work together as a collection which goes against the nature of couture fashion.
Having the ability to design and handcraft one-of-a-kind competition costumes could not be more rewarding. We at Miari Dancewear love being able to take a customer’s ideas and bring them to fruition. There is nothing better than watching a dancer on the floor looking and feeling amazing. So we are more than happy when a custom order comes our way; happy to add another person to our Miari family.
Be sure to check out our custom pieces on our website: http://miaridancewear.com/
Below are some of our favorite couture looks that help to inspire us...what do you think?
2014, it's been great...
During the holiday season, we at Miari Dancewear want to take a moment to thank our continued customers and supporters. Without all of you, none of the great things we did this year could have happened. So THANK YOU ALL! And though 2014 has been great, we are SUPER excited for 2015!
In early 2015, Miari Dancewear will be launching a brand new collection! Ariana has been very hard at work to bring you new styles in the new year. This week was an especially exciting one as we are nearing the end of our development of the MiariSport 2015 collection. This collection will feature 4 new dresses, 2 skirts and 2 tops. Some exciting new features are included in these new styles, fringe, wrap dresses, a tango skirt, and you asked for it......tops! We can't wait to share!
Well, we can’t wait, so here is a sneak peek!
And to make sure we are on schedule and are delivering award winning style, we have our VP Sushi whipping our factory into shape!
LET'S TALK ABOUT HAIR
Your hair is the crown you never take off.
Your hair says a lot about who you are as a person. But, as we all know, hair can have a mind of it’s own; especially at the wrong time. Dancers, you know exactly what I mean, right?
Just like practice makes for perfect when on the dancefloor, practice makes perfect for amazing hair when on the dancefloor. There are a few rules to live or die by when it comes to having the most amazing hair on competition day:
Prepare, prepare, prepare!
Whether you or a professional will be doing your hair, do a few trial runs. Waiting until the last minute will not only give you added stress and anxiety, but it could go horribly wrong or simply not look good with your costume. Don’t let your hair take away from you focusing on your moves.
As much as you want to, don’t wash your hair the night before.
Sadly, freshly washed hair does not hold well. It’s best to not wash your hair or add any styling products for two days before a competition. The natural oil in your hair will help bobby pins, extensions, clips, etc stay put and not move. Don’t want to have to worry about accidently whipping your head and a bobby pin fly into the eye of one of the judges.
Brush/comb more times than you think necessary.
To help build a better foundation for your style of choice, brush your hair (in the direction in needs to lie flat in) more than you think necessary; maybe even three times more brushing. This will help train your hair to stay in place and it doubles as a shine treatment. You want your hair to shine, as well as, your costume.
Precision is key.
Don’t let the judges catch you with a jacked-up part just because you think they will notice. They will. Use a fine tooth comb to make sure your parts are razor sharp.
Girl, is that a weave?
On any normal day, adding extensions and/or weaves to your hair is not necessary. But on competition day, add as much hair as you want! Don’t be afraid to be creative with your hair pieces so long as they are a complement to your look.
Peek-A-Boo, I See You!
From the runway to the red carpet, there has been some buzz about the the peek-a-boo dress. Below are some celebrities that have embraced this trend on the red carpet
Like any trend, the peek-a-boo dress has had it’s ups and downs, but in the dancepsort world, the peek-a-boo dress has been and will continue to be a staple. The peek-a-boo style of gown is audacious and sexy thanks to the strategically placed “windows.” It lets the wearer show-off flat abs, toned thighs, strong sexy backs; all of which a ballroom dancer wants to highlight.
Miari Dancewear is no stranger to this trend either. This week we are proud to deliver the beautifully hand-stoned latin/rhythm gown featured below. Our client is going to sparkle and shine in this one of a kind custom gown while showing off her dancer body with the peek-a-boo mesh panels.
Throwback (Wednesday)!:
Okay, so we are a bit early, but we can’t not talk about the custom pieces Miari Dancewear has for sale on miaridancewear.com that are right on the peek-a-boo trend. Ariana, the designer of Miari Dancewear, knows exactly what a dancer needs in a custom dress and how to design gowns with the right amount of skin. From fun to sophisticated, dancers can scoop up these one-of-a-kind gowns have perfectly placed peek-a-boo details that hug a dancer in all the right ways. Check ‘em out on miaridancewear.com!
IT’S A WRAP!
Like the little black dress, the wrap dress is a wardrobe staple for many women. The wrap dress is the perfect combination of an understated dressing robe with a timeless look for any woman and any body type. No matter the occasion, real life, runway or the dance floor, we at Miari find the wrap dress to be simply divine.
A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON - It is often believed that Diane von Furstenberg was the creator of the wrap dress, but this story is actually a myth. Yes, DVF helped to promote the wrap dress and grow it’s popularity, but this style of dress made it’s debut in the 1930’s. Elsa Schiaparelli and Claire McCardell can be credited as the masterminds behind the wrap dress. At the height of it’s popularity, the wrap dress was the embodiment of women’s liberation during the 70’s.
NEW NEWS! - Being inspired by the works of DVF, the MiariSport Spring 2015 collection will (yes!) include a wrap dress. Our design promises to be flattering, sexy, and hug you in all the right places. It will even include a swath of fringe for those of you who want that that extra spring in your step, or movement in your dancing. We will be showing you a sneak peek in the coming weeks to show you what we have been working on - stay tuned!
RIP Mr. De La Renta - now the designer to the angels
With heavy hearts, this week we would like to pay homage to one of the great designers of our time, Mr. Oscar De La Renta.
Not only did the world lose an artistic genius and creative soul, but also a perfect gentleman. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe’s words couldn’t be truer when she said, “No one could make a woman feel beautiful like him.” From dressing First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to dressing the masses, Oscar De La Renta had the ability to make a woman feel special.
A favorite anecdote about our beloved Oscar is how he got his start in the world of fashion design:
After turning down an offer with Christian Dior and instead taking advice to work for Elizabeth Arden, Oscar De La Renta noticed that Arden wore one particular pink ruffled gown to shreds. Oscar made her an exact replica of the gown, which she never wore, claiming to be saving it for a special occasion. After leaving Elizabeth Arden and starting his own line, Oscar lost touch with Elizabeth. Oscar later discovered that Arden was buried in the gown he had made for her.
“Fashion is about Dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.” -Oscar De La Renta
We can apply this quote to our ballroom champions of the dancesport world. A woman that comes to mind when remaining true to her style is Joanna Leunis. For the better part of the last decade, Joanna has stayed very consistent with her wardrobe choices, and knows what works for her body and her movement on the dance floor. Her signature style is a cut out back, showcasing her strong muscles, a fitted skirt around the hip, and then volume and flare around her thighs. We applaud Joanna in realizing her best, and serving it to us again and again!
In closing, Oscar De La Renta is a name that shall never be forgotten. A pioneer, husband, father and ambassador at large, Oscar De La Renta will sorely be missed, but never replaced. Rest in peace Mr. De La Renta.
Let’s hear it for the boy(s)!
Since the ladies have been getting more love and attention as of late, let’s turn our attention to the men this week.
As you know, ballroom dancing prides itself for it’s timeless elegance and fluid movement. Ballroom attire however, is far from the tried and true classic styles. This goes for the women AND the men. Styling and detail have been getting more intricate and daring as time goes on pushing the boundaries of design.
A huge part of my business consists of custom designs and menswear have been helping to grow my custom orders. Currently I am working on two custom orders right now that are inspired by the look worn by Yury Simachev (in the below image) at the 2014 European Latin Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. What makes Yury’s casual look so special is that is different from the typical plunging Deep-V neckline or expected tuxedo details that we often see; it’s fashion forward yet retains a level of masculinity. Check out the below link to see Yury put his moves to the test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LaaK9Dlx9M
STYLE LEADERS - A frequent and loyal customer of Miari Dancewear is Matthias. Matthias dances at Dance With Me Soho is always changing up his look on the dance floor. Recently, Matthias came to Miari asking for a high waisted pants for a Paso Doble showcase. We created a bold matador look for Matthias with a wide trim of black floral brocade down the side, and a V-shaped satin yoke for the waistband. We are looking forward to creating more fun and interesting pieces together in the future.
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH BLING? - Here in the ballroom world, no such question exists, and there is never enough sparkle. Our male dancers embrace the glitz and glam right along with their female partners. As long as the man owns his look, feels confident, and masculine with his dancing, I believe a man can pull off any amount of crystal he desires.
A friend of Miari, Evgeniy Raev, knows how to do a lot of bling the right way. Evgeniy is the partner of our MiariSport 2014 campaign model, Patrycja Golak. The two are a fantastic pair, and train in Brooklyn, NY.
TREND ALERT “Bond, James Bond”!! - I have been in the midst of designing a few smooth jackets this fall, and have noticed the trend is shifting towards a lower cut opening, single breasted, similar to the dinner jacket of James Bond. Tell me what you think - do you think this trend will be hitting the dancefloor everywhere? Or do you think this trend will be short lived?
Displaying the Goods
Greetings, my dance- enthusiasts! The past two weeks, Miari has had the privelege to debut the 5 new styles of practicewear in 3 of the Dance With Me USA locations: Soho, Fort Lee NJ, and Stamford CT. All three studios were a joy to set up my wares, all three being so different in their own right. Huge thanks to Maranda Folmer, David Moore, and Kosta Trifunovic for helping with the MiariSport 2014 debut! Surprisingly, however, it wasn't the practicewear that was the star of the night. The spotlight of the night was shared by the ever-so-sparkly Miari Dancewear accessories, bling on every centimeter! I am happy to announce that all accessories have sold out at 2 trunk shows: every last belt, headband, and statement necklace! On my way to design and create more, I suppose! Keep a look out for incoming belts and accessories to wear with your practicewear for any showcase, competition, or night out for dancing, dinner and drinks! More to come, Happy Dancing!
USA Dance Nationals, Baltimore
Edyta Krasna wearing Miari
Nationals, here we come!
Dancers, I am sure you were all very busy with Tri-State competition this weekend in Stamford, CT. From what I've seen it was a beautiful competition, and everyone looked gorgeous and had fun. My special thanks to Edyta Kwasna for wearing a Miari Dancewear feather ensemble during the Amateur Latin event. She looked absolutely stunning! My co-worked and seamstress, Larisa have been working hard, preparing for our shared vendors booth at Nationals Dancesport Championships In Baltimore, MD. It is a competition that I have once attended as an amateur competitor, and really look forward to returning as a vendor. Larisa and her staff have been working night and day on building accessories, tops, skirts, separates and competition dresses to display. I am very excited to reveal my new collection of practicewear, MiariSport 2014, as well as several new pieces of competition dresses. See you all in Baltimore, kids! Happy Dancing, Ariana
Some shots of MiariSport 2014 campaign
Behind the scenes- Miarisport 2014
Dancers, I wanted to give you all some insight into my experience creating the new campaign and pieces for MiariSport 2014. Very proud to introduce 5 new pieces to the line, and feel very grateful to have worked with such professionals throughout the process. The photographer, Dima Volkov shot my first campaign of MiariSport practicewear starring Ms. Dasha Chesnokova, and did such a wonderful job, I knew he was the right person to continue working with to execute ideas into reality. Patrycja Golak, (dancing in video below) is an amazing dancer and kind spirit, and could not have been more agreeable to work with. Patrycja dances with Eugene Raev at Brooklyn Dancesport Club and has several students of her own. For this campaigns photos, we shot at both Grand Central Station and an event space called The Foundry in Queens, NY. Grand Central provided an incredible, grandiose background of marble and chandeliers, while the Foundry was a more serene, romantic and industrial setting. Throughout this season's campaign, as well as last year's, I have learned some valuable lessons along the way. As an artistic personality, perfectionist and semi-control freak about what I create, I used to want to over direct and tightly restrain variables around me when creating a visual product. I have found that in circumstances such as a photo shoot (especially in a public setting), it is best to release the variables you have at hand and let them evolve in a natural way. It is usually here that the best shots come to be. I hope these photos provide some visual inspiration of what practicewear can look like both on and off the dance floor. Keep on dancing, Ariana
Eugene Raev and Patrycja Golak- Rumba- Brooklyn Dancesport Club
State Your Name for the Record
Hello Dancers,
I hope to use this blog as a means to freely communicate my ideas and thoughts on the ballroom dance industry and how it relates to fashion in our modern era of Beyonce, photoshop and selfies. Once seen in an ancient generation of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, top hats, tail coats and feather boas, ballroom dancing has now become synonymous with pop culture and current celebrities.
I plan to comment, or humbly suggest fashion and design elements with regard to dance. A dancer since I could walk, and a fashionista soon after I was old enough to verbalize that I wanted to pick out my own clothes, I hope I can offer some insight into how these two worlds relate to each other. Both are beautiful, fleeting forms of art. Both only sought after by artists.
Ariana
Patrycja Golak wearing MiariSport 2014 Leanne Dress