I've rarely seen costumes that are as revealing as some of the SCD "dresses", apart from the odd few from lower ranked dancers in opening rounds. I did see a spiderman-inspired catsuit once though now I come to think of it!!

The top latin girls always look very classy and I just wish SCD would follow this example rather than looking to slash as much material as possible all of the time. (Perhaps they're paying by the metre though??! )

There has been a trend over the last year or so for long latin dresses with splits or diagonally slanted cuts to show leg lines. I agree with you completely - it just seems to get in the way and becomes really annoying!

They seem to have decided on low cut bottoms with a band round the waist as a new Latin design. It doesn't work. eg. with Katya and Lilia. It just doesn't blend with their excellent figures.

I think the pros can wear their own dresses (or certainly help with the design of them) in the pro dances.

And I have heard at various events that the pro ladies have mentioned they spend a day or two with the wardrobe/costume ladies at the BBC before the series starts and design all the dresses for the series (even if they never use them).

Have to say the same thought crossed my mind too LOL

Do the celebs have a say in what they wear? I'm sure the right dress gives them more confidence and energy. Natalie seemed less nervous and suited her lovely pink dress last week and compared to that awful, red and gold Christmas decoration that adorned poor Linda, how much younger and slimmer she looked in her shorter purple number. What great legs too!

Ooh seems the short dresses are causing a stir.

"Tiny and Tatty" and "Leotards with a fringe"

Germaine Greer isn't impressed either.

They managed to make the gorgeous Lillia unattractive in that ghastly outfit. Good grief, she looked fat which is quite an achievement as she is lovely. The outfits look cheap and nasty, rather tarty and even one of the new professional dancers said she was embarrassed by her outfit and was surprised as she thought Strictly was a FAMILY SHOW. Yes I can see what she means after watching two episodes of Strictly. Last week we had a bikini with a tablecloth drapped across it. This is obviously a move to attract more male viewers to Strictly but they may lose the family audience. Little girls like the Fairy Queen aspect of Strictly, princess look etc but lately the show is coming across as a night club with strippers!! LOL Soon we will have nude dancers hopping around, anything to improve the ratings.

How anyone can think Lilia looked fat is beyond me. Lighten up, as I have read elsewhere Jade Johnson wears skimpier outfits to compete in athletics, it's no different to what can be seen on the beach.
I like seeing all the outifts, even those which are a bit risque - it's all part of the fun for me. Even the truly awful ones (Natalie Cassidy's mambo outfit springs to mind) add entertainment value.

I have no problem with the dresses being skimpy, as long as they are stylish and look good, which hasn't always been the case this year.

I agree, thought it was an awful outfit and it did make her look a bit hefty.

Jo's dress was another disaster, style, colour and fit were all wrong for her.

I think I've seen a few, but then I believe the women flash WAY too much of their butt cheeks at the audience for my liking. Although I'm sure I read there are now more stringent dress regulations for women.

The long dresses with the excess material just make me want to take a pair of scissors to them and cut off the excess and make something remotely easier to dance in.

I think SCD's trying to sex it all up again, and as per usual and losing SOME of the credibility the outfits once had. Must be hard making so many outfits and trying to plesae everyone!

I felt a little sorry for Jo too.

This photo in the Mail illustrates my point - it looks like Lilia's pants are falling down.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...#ixzz0SRteFwPM

I don't think there have been any real disasters in the costume department so far this series. When you consider what they've done to some of the 'larger' ladies (you know, the ones over a size 8) before now, it's a refreshing change to see Natalie in a short sparkly number.

And it's also worth remembering that while there are few absolute horrors per series, there are also few absolute gems. I haven't seen a dress yet this series that's made me sit up and go 'flippin' wowtastic!'

Y' see that's why I enjoyed Ola's Rumba dress so much. Not too many frills or sequins!