Fun Fashion

Fun Fashion for Who?

I recently returned from a National Pageant Competition utterly dazed and confused as to what exactly Fun Fashion is. At this particular pageant, this portion of the competition was worth 25% of the overall score, and billed as a way for the contestant who is twelve years of age or older to show her personal fashion and sense of style. 

This pageant does not pre-approve the outfits nor the contestants' "sense of style"; the selection of clothing and the routine is left to the imagination and judgment of the contestant, her family, and the State Director.  I spent over an hour being "entertained" by the risque behavior of many of the girls and young women, many of who were dressed inappropriate for their age.  I began questioning exactly where I was.  As the contestants came out on the stage, one by one, either acting flirtatiously or in a suggestive manner, I began to wonder if I had wandered into a strip tease show.  Yes, at a National Pageant.  I must add, not all of the contestants wore clothing so tight there was little left to the imagination, nor did they all walk directly in front of the judge’s quivering their lips while flashing their thighs. Ahhhh. I'm not a prude, but I recognize innapproriate when I see it.

Yes, it was definitely a show...one leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth. Is this a positive experience for the girls and young women?  I began thinking maybe, perhaps, I was simply from an area of the United States where this type of behavior on stage is not acceptable, but that it might be A-OK in other parts of the country.  Regardless, I question: Since a National Pageant is a coming together of girls, teens and young women from across the country, from all states and territories, and obviously what is acceptable in one region is not acceptable in another…..exactly how fair is this portion of the competition? 

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Purchasing a gown? No worries.

This is the one purchase that means more than almost any other in the entire pageant preparation process…and one you seemingly have no rights to; and what is NOT so funny about it, no one seems to really care.

You have that big event coming up, and just like so many women before you, you head to boutique or gown shop to try on a 100 + gowns. Finally, there is magic and you have found the one! All your friends, family, pageant coach and everyone in the store LOVE the gown. Unfortunately, it’s not your size. You are told “no worries”, it can be ordered.  Your measurements are taken, then compared to the manufactures size chart ~"the gown" is ordered, and you happily pay the $800 to $2000 or more.

Weeks, or maybe months pass, and finally your perfect gown arrives for your big day. You rush to the store to try it on...you can not wait to see the Cinderella transformation from rags to princess. Surprise!  Even though your measurements were taken, your gown IS NOT fitting. In fact, now that you are wearing the "right size" gown – without the multiple garment clips making it fit -- some how it just does not look like the same gown at all. Guess what! NO returns…it is yours.

You are told by the shop, “no worries”, just take your purchase to the seamstress or tailor and pay the $200.00+  to transform the gown so you can experience the same magical moment as when you first tried it on. After weeks of waiting, finally the gown is tailored and you rush over to try it on for once again that magic moment…wait, it does not look the same. Why is the fabric laying strangely?? You are told by the tailor “no worries”, you  can take it to the dry cleaners and to have it pressed.

Before you take it to the dry cleaners, you would like to ensure that everything is done properly. SO, in order to avoid another stressful and depressing moment, you contact the factory to talk with their customer service. You believe you called customer service; after all you are calling NYC. You call 5 times, leave 5 voice messages and send two email to two separate people. Finally you call back one more time and you are told by their customer service representative everyone is busy preparing for a big fashion event, “no worries”, someone will eventually get back to you. You can only assume the thousands of dollars spent on your Jovani gown does not count. Really, who are you in the big world of fashion???!!

Ok, you are now eight weeks into the process of buying that perfect gown for the big night of your life. You have spend over a thousand dollars and still not totally happy with that perfect gown that you purchased. “No worries”, the judges really don't look at the gown; they only look for how confident the contestant looks in her gown. What was I thinking?

Perhaps competing in a pageant where the contestants wear toga's could save you and everyone else stress and $$$.

“No worries!”

Can you put crystals on togas???

Wiki states a pageant coach cost anywhere from $50.00 to $200.00 dollars depending on the experience and how many winners the coach has produced and how big the title. I can only assume this is an hour cost, I personally have paid an average of $50.00 an hour in the Maryland area. Have you had a pageant coach and do you feel it was worth the money?  On PageantLive we discuss everything associated with the pageant industry.  Watch us every Monday, 8:00 PM EST, www.pageantlive.com