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Thank you for all of your hard work. I am sure that you never thought that you would have to come up with a set of rules to tell adults what is appropriate to wear to a National Square Dance Convention. The following are some of my thoughts on the subject. I realize that there are many people and many points of view thank you for letting me express mine.

Sewing editor of the Washington State magazine 'Footnotes'
Sewing Chairman of our 2006 State Festival.

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Can anyone really prove that denim blue jeans and a knit T-shirt are cooler than a prairie skirt and a peasant blouse? Or prove that a snug knit T-shirt is cooler than a loose woven cotton men's shirt? Show the numbers.

The hottest part of a ladies ensemble is the panty hose. There has never been anything written that says you will be checked for panty hose at the door.

Neil Diamond's "Forever in Blue Jeans" was a great song but I have out grown that attitude along with the jeans that I wore that year.

If you want to get a lot of women back into skirts just take a picture of them from the back after they have danced a tip. Those knit T-shirts ride up over the hips and back sides and accentuate the positive. They cling to and outline the love handles.

The decorative pockets on blue jean backs call attention to something better left unnoticed. Have a photographer, seated on the side lines, take pictures at eye level of the backs of ladies in jeans and this whole debate will be over.

Don't leave out the guys. Tummies are not shown to their advantage when active dancing causes the T shirt to pull out in the front. As the belt buckle goes down and the arms go up there is a gap that should not be seen. This gap can occur in back, resulting in crack exposure if the man bends forward. T-shirts also show hairy sweaty armpits. Do you really want to swing with a damp gorilla?

At a convention we are going to be on show. There will be people watching us. There will be newspaper and TV photographers. Do you want to be seen in jeans and a T-shirt on the national news? When "Square Dancing" is mentioned to most people their first thought is our fancy flying skirts. Let's not disappoint them.

It's to much trouble and stress to get changed and go to a dance. Why should we stop with jeans and T-shirts? Let's not get changed at all! Pajamas and night gowns. What! You don't sleep in any thing? That won't bother us, just come in the nude.

You dress to honor the people that you are with. If you show up to a dance in the same clothes that you wore to mow the lawn what does that say about the value you place on the people and the activity. Why bother with going to the dance at all?

Karate students would not think of entering a dojo without being in the proper attire. This is out of respect for their teacher, respect for their heritage and respect for themselves. Basket ball, football, soccer, and other sports all have their uniforms. Just as 'suiting up' for a game gets you ready for the competition, 'dressing up' for a square dance puts you in a party mood.

There will be a lot of problems if casual dress becomes the norm for all square and round dances. Club names are going to have to change:

• 'Shirts & Skirts' will become 'Tanks & Tube Tops'
• 'Boots & Slippers' will become 'Sneakers & Flip Flops'
• 'Ruffles & Rivets' will be shortened to 'Rivets'
• 'Denim & Lace' will be shortened to 'Cut Offs'
• Club outfits will be matching T shirts and old jeans.
• Calls will have to change. How is a sight caller going to get couples back together if he cant' tell the guys from the gals.
•  Uni-sex haircuts and uni-sex outfits will result in uni-sex dancing. "Swing someone and promenade somewhere."
• Why bother to "Swing and twirl your pretty girl" if there is no skirt to swirl. Swirling skirts and fancy shirts decorate the hall and show that it is a place for square dancing.

If everyone is in jeans and T-shirts you might as well hang out at the local bar. If you dress like a square dancer, your feel like a square dancer. If you feel like a square dancer you are a square dancer.

Have you ever looked down on a square or round dance from a balcony? The sight of the spinning skirts and colorful shirts as they follow the caller form a kaleidoscope of color. As the dancers weave through the maneuvers the patterns form and re-form. It would not be the same if it was a bunch of people in jeans and T-shirts.

Square dance clothes are for the fun of it. Get wild and and wear the colors and prints that you would never wear anyplace else.

• Too much lace -never!
• Inappropriate color - says who?
• Plaid and flowers on the same dress - delightful!

 
Some people claim that they can not afford a special set of clothes for dancing. Outfits do not have to be expensive. They are certainly cheaper than a lot of those jeans and T-shirts. A prairie skirt and a blouse can be worn anywhere. The man's shirt does not have to be a fancy embellished western style, any long sleeve shirt will do. A closet full of dance clothes is not necessary. Those who have a dozen color coordinated outfits choose to dress that way for the fun of it.

The Dress Code should be very short and basic:

• Men - Long sleeve shirts and long pants
• Women - Skirts any length.

I am the sewing editor of the Washington State magazine 'Footnotes' and I was the Sewing Chairman of our 2006 State Festival. I am also involved, in a small way, in Washington's bid for the 2012 National.