Got a performance or class coming up and need something new to wear? You want to look and feel great, of course. If you don’t have time or don’t know how to make a gorgeous costume from scratch you have another option:

Transform a regular skirt or dress you’ve got into a dance costume

It is often just a matter of adding some flare and/or ruffles to the skirt. So it tends to be much quicker than creating a costume from scratch. A garment that’s been collecting dust gets a new life and of course your new costume is going to be one of its kind..

I remember when Esther Marin, a flamenco dancer from Granada, brought a floor length, narrow black velvet dress she’d bought for a friend’s wedding and had never worn again since. How could we turn this into a flamenco costume? Easy.

• Cutting off the top part of the dress and turn it into a high waist skirt with braces
• Inserting 6 godets filled with chiffon ruffles
• Adding a matching vest and short jacket (those weren’t part of the transformation, of course, but they did complete the new costume)

Click to enlarge

Esther loved the outfit so much that I ended up making an identical skirt from scratch for her so she’d never be without her favourite costume.

Here are a few more examples to give you some ideas:

A slightly stretchy knee length pencil skirt + a half circle skirt added to the hem of the skirt + ruffles = flamenco skirt

Below the knee, chiffon dress cut on the bias + half circle skirt sewn onto the lining + ruffles + matching color fringe sewn to the sleeves + matching fringe for the neck = flamenco dress

Cocktail dress with velvet top and embroidered pencil skirt + half circle skirt added to the hem of the dress +  velvet ruffles = flamenco dress

Calf length halter neck summer dress + half circle skirt added to the hem of the dress + ruffles + black small gathered ruffle = flamenco dress

You see, if you know how to add ruffles you can turn lots of outfits you’re not wearing into stunning flamenco costumes.

Have you upcycled an outfit you had and turned it into a flamenco costume? If you’d like to show off your work .. here’s a place (just send it using the contact form)

Wishing you lots of fun sewing and dancing!