The Latin pros I know all wear short black socks, long socks would be too hot. When Latin trousers were boot-leg shaped they all had hidden stirrups under the foot to keep them in place, but as the fashion changed to a straighter trouser the stirrups were mostly dropped (though some dancers may choose to keep them). But the trousers are custom made so they don't flap upwards and show 'sockography' (Fab word that!)

I have summer long knee length socks and winter long socks. Summer ones only available in Spain and Italy. Or in Berluti in London at silly prices.

Everyone to their own.

The Americans have had some bad influences on UK fashions.
These "half mast jeans" some young men wear, are just copying USA prisoner uniforms which end up at "half mast" as they aren't allowed belts.

The fashion for wearing shirts outside trousers. This is for most, to disguise the size of their beer guts. So untidy looking.
Even some schools now allow kids of both sexes to wear their shirts/blouses in that fashion.
I know of schools where many parents often clamour to gain admission for their kids, who would never dream of allowing such indiscipline. They're the ones with the excellent exam success.

In the UK that would be true.

But not in Spain and Italy where they are rigorous / closed on dress code. It is very bad form to wear calf length socks. I imagine the same is true in South America. I'll have to check the Argentine Tango world on this.

It would interesting to know if this applies to "Latin" Latin pros in your circle.

Has this thread deteriorated into a who can wear talk about the most boring topic in the world, the length and colour of a mans socks,

Mimi it was you who stated it, get back in here and clear up your mess.

Re your jive and trouser question, the trousers should have had weighted hems and then they would not have flapped up showing his palid white shins.

Henry and Doghouse , there really is a point where we know way too much about you I am not sure DS ever needed to know your sock preferences and now we all do, I think it would be a good idea if you stop before we find out more of your underwear choices.

On the whole I really don't want to know and I am not sure you should be sharing

Don't blame me!
I only wanted to know about what proper dancers wear.

I didn't mean to be the prompt for the most boring exchange on DS this year

And yes, i have learned more about DR and HW than I ever wanted to.

Good glad you were listening, be careful what you ask in future socks are obviously off the topic of conversation now for quite some time least we get to know much more than we ever wanted to know

Come on, for goodness, sake. This is just a message board about an entertainment show on the telly. Not life and death. Or maybe it is? For many like me it's just a bit of fun. I can't take the programme too seriously.
I contribute to message boards for dedicated hobbies where the technicalities are far more complex than ballroom dancing and we're always digressing onto other topics. It's what happens in "real life" too, or have you never experienced that?

There's a marvelous control on the top of your mouse, it's a little wheel. It enables to scroll down past comments that don't interest you. Believe it or not I use it quite often, sometimes to scroll down past some of yours. It is quite easy to use. But I'll respect the fact that people and that includes you, can post whatever they like about any topic as long as they aren't having a go at me.

Iveta is the queen of the training room- what WAS that purple frilly thing?!

Also Steve appears to only have two t shirts- that blue adidas one and the one with the frog on!

Err. Put Doghouse and myself on IGNORE Job done. No need to get your underwear in a twist. And don't take your self- interests too seriously. It isn't elegant.

Oh and I have just added you to my ignore list. Not interested in you or your "thoughts".

Oh dear chaps. Don't get your socks in a twist!
Shall I start a thread for your sartorial discussions.... Shall I title it Man @ C&A?




Back on subject...
Mark's bobble hat. Discuss.

Why??

I thought Tim wore his as he had a toupe and it would not stay on, the same for Mark, or is it that his hair won't stay in its perfect gelled quiff and so he has to wear a hat to disguise it.

I will miss Iveta and her concoctions in the training room. Last year they were inventive enough but this year with her passion for Thaam she went into overdrive. I like to think she had a sewing room in the basement of her house where she has little Russian babushkas sewing madly with Iveta going, more sequins, less material. 😃

Tim's bandana's were odd, but I think he might have been a "head sweater" (Someone who sweats a lot from their head and face )
I can't imagine how hot Mark would be in a bobble hat, but I suspect it was a bad hair day and he donned it only when the cameras were rolling

That leopardskin mini dress with the dangly bit if Iveta's was

Must admit I quite enjoyed Doghouse's and Henry's exchanges - nice to know my husband is not the only man in the world to eschew Jeans...

Getting back ot - I also wondered about Mark's bobble hat as well - I also noticed they had to blur something out - logo possibly - at one point and then he had it strategically turned up to hide whatever it was.

Going back to the Shoe/Trainer thing - I would have thought probably for day 1 (when they're trying to learn the steps) they'd be better off in trainers (or whatever comfy shoes they prefer) but after that then surely they'd be better off in whatever shoes they are going to wear because they will feel different?

Mimi, I never get myself in a twist over anything, but it's fun watching others do it.
Some on here take this bit of nonsense of a programme so seriously.
Not even the BBC do that.



I'm digressing again, about hats, but it may interest some, as a change from the intricacies of dance footwear.

A friend (now long retired) served in the army and was stationed for a time as many regulars are, in the Falklands. This was some time after the "conflict."There was some friendly interaction between the Islanders and the troops, after all there's naff-all else to do down there when you're off duty.
Many Falkland Islanders wear "Beanie hats," because it's so cold, so the squaddies good-naturedly referred to them as "Bennys." (Crossroads character).
In return, some of the Falklanders referred to the squaddies as "WhenIs." "When I was here during the conflict," (the phrase occasionally came up in conversations between the two groups).

The commanding officer got to hear of this and considered calling the Islanders "Bennys" was disrespectful and that the practice must cease. So being well disciplined men, it did. Unbeknown to him, the squaddies changed the name to "Stills."

('cos they were still Bennys.)

Oh Doghouse, surely you have read enough of my witterings to realise that I don't take Strictly seriously?
I spend most of my time on the Non-App thread taking the pee out of it.

I think Coppertop - and I - were concerned that the way the convo was going , we were three posts away from learning what you chaps wear under your NotJeans!


So getting back on subject, like Karen "WhenIwonwithMark" Hardy ?

I am talking about those who dance the 5 standard Latin dances in competitions; AT is not one of those dances. I wouldn't know what the rules are of AT professional comps - Vincent & Flavia would know!

Hang on Mimi, that's twice now you've mentioned underwear.
Is there something about you, you've not telling us?

(note. to anyone still reading this, as I noticed, posted by someone else a few days ago on a different thread after they'd received a bit of personal criticism. "I'm an adult, I don't use smilies.") so I'm not on my own.

Iveta naturally designs all her own practice clothes. Why am I not surprised 😃

BIB I can totally see that scene! It must be true

Kristina is another pro who does practice wear with style.
She often wears very glamorous dresses when ballroom training. I can see that could be helpful... Must be strange for a novice male dancer to be taught by a female pro who is wearing leggings then come showtime, he has to adjust to the fact that she is wearing a voluminous dress which gets in the way!

Argentine Tango can be a very snooty, elitist, prescriptive scene, but I think even they stop short at dictating sock length. Maybe I am wrong and the guys are huddling together tittle tattling about a fellow chaps sock faux pas. Now anyone want to know what sort of knickers I wear for dancing?

Well if we are going to move onto "chaps", this bloke's chaps were all covered in mud. Must have come down from The Pampas for a spot of "the other" before and after a tango.

But back to socks, I do zealously check for holes in them. Shoes are changed in public prior to a dance. I have overheard women giggle over holes in another bloke's socks.

When watching Thom and Iveta's 'best bit's on Monday's ITT, I noticed how Iveta's practice clothes often mimicked the style of the dress she would be wearing that Saturday. Large skirts for the ballrooms, something flappy for the Charleston, short and skimpy for the Latin - very noticeable as they edited them going from the same move in practice to the same move on the performance. Do wonder if it helped Thom get used to the skirts etc.