I really can't agree that she looked self conscious - quite the opposite in fact.
I've just rewatched the dance and she's grinning throughout, and not in a self-conscious forced way.
https://youtu.be/DZvE2Bgc7h8
At around 1:04 when she's dancing in hold with Kevin she looks positively joyous.

The poor girl can't win on this forum. She's either covering herself up too much like a grandma or she's spoiling the dance because her half naked state is making her self conscious!

Are contestants allowed to say 'I'm not wearing that'

I did feel sorry for her. I think it revealed more than she was comfortable with.

Well that outfit blew out my theory about Louise wanting to cover herself up. And after two kids she's looking good on it.

I thought she looked fantastic in the outfit, she's gorgeous.

I thought she danced the steps very well but I agree with others, you could see she felt tentative and awkward. I have no idea if it was the outfit or being out on her own for sections of the dance, but I couldn't relax watching it because she wasn't relaxed (or didn't seem it)

I'm inclined to think it was more to do with the solo bits as she looked far more at ease when dancing with Kevin.

her thighs were hugely distracting

what is risqué about leotard and tights with leg warmers over the top

have I missed something

Well I knew there'd be a thread like this!

Didn't like the outfit, but it was hardly risqué. All you could see was a few inches of her thighs!

I don't enjoy watching Kevin and Louise but I think that's because they lack 'chemistry', which for some reason Kevin seems to have had with both Susanna and Kellie. Also - weirdly, to say she's a singer - she doesn't seem to respond to the music very well. Ed Balls seems more into his music than Louise is.

It was the same outfit from flashdance and she looked fabulous in it. She did great especially considering there was no skirt part to emphasize/cover hip and leg action, as Jennifer F pointed out upthread. I hope it's given her the confidence to wear slightly more tightly fitting ballroom dresses as she is such a lovely dancer, I'd love to see her in the proper gear to emphasize the beautiful shapes.

You weren't I must admit I was thinking Robert Webb made the dance fun and memorable.

Technically Loiuse is better but really it was all very nice, and yes she did seem embarrassed by her outfit which she shouldn't be at all, great body.

To be serious, I really noticed and liked Loiuse after a documentary that she did years ago at the height of the size zero frenzy. Basically her whole message after that was as long as you are healthy it doesn't matter if you have a few lumps and bumps that others don't and that you should be body positive, celebrate your body.

Is that only a message you promote for the young Loiuse? Because she sure doesn't seem happy within her own body now. Maybe it's me but having been so strong with that message for young women, which the programme was aimed at, I am not happy to see her seemingly embarrassed with the body, fit and healthy, that added years have given her.

You do realise it wasnt see through ?

They looked fine to me -

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/...12_468x560.jpg

The difference is she was a lot younger when she made that programme and now on Strictly she is surrounded by all the pro dancers with, not surprisingly, superb bodies, not to mention the younger celebs. I know it shouldn't matter, but most women don't like their bodies when they compare them to younger women, or even their younger selves. She does have a lovely manner and smile though - I like her and I think she and Kevin get on very well.

My point is , Louise made a whole programme about body positivity and I don't like to think that is only a message applicable for the young, it really shouldn't matter to her who she is surrounded by.

Men and women simply don't have the same bodies they did when they were young, but we shouldn't be embarrassed about it.

I just don't like to think it was only applicable for the young for Louise. Somehow having made such a strong statement when she was young , it's grating on me to see someone with a body a lot of 20 year olds would be proud of embarrassed by it.

She was awfully embarrassed wasn't she? It won't help when she watches the tape back, that the angle of opening shot made her bum look enormous. In reality, she has a smashing figure and could have pulled off wearingLauras outfit, no trouble and looked good in it.

I can't believe she was in Eternal.

yeah, not that risque at all....

Agreed.....She looked Great but the Dance was Dull and Boring...

With such iconic music... and given that the costumes really have to reflect the imagery of the movie the dance is based upon, there was really no other outfit she could have worn - so debating the rightness or wrongness of it is probably a bit academic really.

Beautiful woman but the costume made her backside and the tops of her thighs the centre of attention, whereas in the Cha Cha you want to be looking lower down the legs & feet. The knee highs didn't help either.

hardly risque when compared to this from the american show

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ango-DWTS.html

They were usually dressed like lads when she was there.

Nothing risqué about the outfit, just made her technique or lack of more exposed . Louise looks great .

Even the beautiful Jennifer Beals who played the lead in Flashdance had body doubles . Just shows how ruthless those studio bosses can be .

Terrible costume. She should have refused to wear it. No idea how they persuaded her to wear it.

On the same point, why did ed balls have to wear such tight trousers. He should have refused as well.

I thought Louise's costume was perfect for the dance and very similar to the one worn in the film.

She seemed uncomfortable, not a very nice costume .