Q&A with Nick and Lena Kosovich

This week on Life with LeNique Nick and Lena Kosovich answer all your questions about purchasing your first dance costume!

Thank you, Chris Lynam for sending us these questions!

 

• What are 5 things to look out for when considering a dance costume?
• What are the advantages of going with a custom design versus to a ready to wear?
• What to look for when purchasing a used costume?
• What are some costume options for a full figured dancer?

 

Take a look below to see how Nick and Lena answer from their own experience!

What are the Five Most Important Things to Look for When Considering a Dance Costume?

1) Talk to a teacher or studio owners to get recommendations.

Do not purchase online or used costumes without consulting a professional. 

2) Make sure to check that the size, age, and style* 

*There is a big difference between ballroom and latin styles

3) Bright colors are key.

A brown floor with spotlights and lighting will drown you out, so look for bright colors!

4) Keep your budget in mind.

5) Try on as many costumes as possible.

This will help you nail down your tastes. Also, bring someone who’s opinion you trust. They can help to critique and advise you on what looks best.

What are the advantages of going with a custom designed costume versus a ready to wear?

Custom

1) You will get what you want and what is recommended for you.

2) It will be close to a cut and color you need depending on what is important to you.

Stock

1) Are they for you? Do they fit your body type and color?

2) How much will the alterations cost compared to the price of a custom costume?

3) Are the materials still available for alterations?

If someone chooses to go with a used costume what are some things they should watch out for before purchasing a used costume from someone?

Here is a checklist below you can use before your next purchase.

1) The wear and tear of the costumes, especially the seams and threads

2) Look on the inside to see if the seams and threads are well made

3) The quality of rhinestones

4) The fabric care instructions for washing

5) Compare prices

6) Durability to make sure it will last

What are some costume options for a full figured dancer?

Men

1) Fairly fitted

2) High waisted pants

3) Suspenders

4) Stretch fabric

5) Loose hanging drapes

6) Short collar

Women

1) Minimize areas with drapes, fringes, linear lines, empire waist, and softer fabrics

2) Fitted and decorated. Costumes don’t have to be loose.

3) Balance between loose and fitted areas

4) Use bold accessories that accentuate focus areas

We hope you have enjoyed this segment of Life with LeNique! Tune in next week for our segment on Fishnets and Shoes with Lena Kosovich

House of Lenique <3

How to Replace Rhinestones on Costumes!

It is often the case that between the years, shows and events costumes tend to get damaged and it is most likely that the gemstones, used to make your costume bedazzle, have given all they can and have started to peel away. 

Weather this is from intense dance movement or the wear and tear of time, don’t worry! 

In this tutorial we will teach you step by step how to apply more stones to your dance wear in order to replace the ones that have fallen away. 

Materials:

• Gem-tac
• E6000 (Read instructions carefully before use)
• Nozzle
• Bee’s wax
• Stick (pens or pencils are a useful alternative)
• Tray

Materials Continued:

• Rhinestones
• Tweezers (to remove excess glue)
• Steamer
• Pillows
• Ironing board
• Trash bags
• 2 swatches of fabric or paper for practice

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Removing Excess Glue

Step 1: Before applying glue to replace the missing stones check the garment while on a hanger to see if there are any raised glue dots. Raised glue will prevent the stone from sitting right as well as the glue being able to latch onto the fabric effectively.

Note: You don’t need the glue to be removed perfectly, a little remaining glue is okay to stone over. It is the raised glue that will need to removed.

Step 2: To remove the raised glue, use a steamer a few inches away from the glue spot. Wait for the glue to soften.

Step 3: Once the glue is soft; grasp the glue with your tweezers and pull gently! The glue should come right off.

Preparing To Replace Stones

Step 1: Grab your ironing board and cover it with plastic so that the glue will not ruin your board.  

Dresses:

Step 1: Find your pillow and place it inside of your garbage bag so that when you stone the glue you are using will not go through the fabric and stain your pillow. (This will be used as a makeshift mannequin)

Step 2: Put the covered pillow into the dress and place the dress on the ironing board.

Suits:

Step 1: Spread the suit across the ironing board. Make sure that no layers are underneath the portion of the suit you attempt to stone. Note: Also make sure the affected area stays flat. We recommend pinning that area to the board itself.

Step 1.2: When stoning sleeves or pant legs be sure to put either a board (we recommend cardboard covered in plastic) or a thick folded piece of plastic inside. This is so that if the glue goes through the fabric will not stain the other side.

Applying Rhinestones

Step 1: Carefully glue and replace stones on your garment. Use the same size stone as the stones that fell off

Step 2: Continue stoning one side of your garment. When you are ready to flip it over, wait overnight for the completed side to dry. if you are pressed for time wait at least 2-3 hours.

Please note, flipping the costume prematurely will cause stones to fall or slide making the glue spread and staining your garment.

Thank you for keeping up with Lenique! We hope to see you soon!

Tuxedo Jacket V.S. Dance Tuxedo Jacket

Before buying a tuxedo for ballroom dancing make sure you buy a dance jacket and not a regular tuxedo jacket. This is very important because there are a few major differences that will get in the way of your dancing if you are wearing the wrong jacket. The three most crucial factors that come into play when differentiating between everyday jackets and dance jackets are the padding, cut and fabric.

Before buying a tuxedo for ballroom dancing make sure you buy a dance jacket and not a regular tuxedo jacket. This is very important because there are a few major differences that will get in the way of your dancing if you are wearing the wrong jacket.

Padding
Padded shoulders in everyday jackets pose one of the biggest problems while dancing. The padding gives off the effect of broader and stiffer shoulders. This may look great standing up, however when trying to maintain a dance frame the shoulders pull and the lapel rides up. This is unlike dance jackets which have light stiffening so as to still appear stiff but that facilitates mobility and flexibility.

Cut

The cut of your tuxedo is as equally as important as the lack of padding. Dance tuxedo jackets have a very different cut for the arm holes than normal tuxedo’s. Normal tuxedos are made with a lower/ larger arm cut unlike dance tuxedo’s. The larger cut causes the extra fabric to bunch up when you lift your arms. Dance jackets are made with a high cut that doesn't bunch up, giving you a smooth and clean look while dancing.

Fabric

Last but not least, the difference in fabric play a major role in determining why dance jacket’s are better to dance with. The fabric of an everyday tuxedo is meant to be stiff so that it does not wrinkle or crease from everyday use. If you were to wear a regular suit while dancing the material of your jacket will constrict your movements making it both uncomfortable and difficult to dance in. Dance Tuxedo’s however, are made with stretchable fabric. One of which is called Lycra. Stretchable fabric contours with your body as you move, giving you more flexibility and less resistance. The ideal percentage of lycra fabric used in dancewear is 3-6%.

A regular tuxedo looks great while standing but funky while dancing. Go with a dance jacket that looks fantastic while doing both!

Thank you for keeping up with life with Lenique! Stay tuned for more tips and guides!

“Expect it to feel more snug than a regular jacket. ”

— Alonzo Perez, LA Ballroom Dance Instructor

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Nick Kosovich is the former United States and World American Ballroom Champion. After competing for 36 years he retired from competition dancing in 2005.

Nick is an Emmy Nominated Choreographer for Dancing with the Stars He also was a professional dancer on Season 2 and Season 3 of Dancing with the Stars.

He is from Perth, Australia  and the Co- Founder of LeNique. He currently resides in Los Angeles, Ca with his wife and co-founder Lena Kosovich.

How to Rhinestone Shoes with Lena Kosovich

When you are deciding whether or not to rhinestone your shoes there are a few things you should consider. A lot of instructors will advise you not to rhinestone your shoes because if you're not completely confident with your footwork this will draw more attention to your feet making mistakes noticeable. Don't worry if your footwork is not perfect yet. These are some simple styles of stoning that will accentuate your costume but not draw too much attention to your feet. In this tutorial Lena Kosovich will teach you how to add a classic shine to your ballroom shoes without overdoing it.

“A little bit of shine, not overdone!”

— Lena Kosovich

In this tutorial Lena Kosovich will teach you how to add a classic shine to your ballroom shoes without overdoing it.

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Supplies:

• Gem-Tac (takes 3-5hours to dry 24 hours is recommended)

• Tray

• Beeswax

• Stick

• Chalk

Optional:

• Tweezer

• E6000

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Preparation

Dip your beeswax into hot water and let it soften. After it softens it becomes pliable. Take a piece of beeswax and roll it in your fingers to create a ball. Pierce the ball of wax with the top of your stick and mold the wax so that it forms a tip. Pour your stones into your tray and softly shake them so they stand face up. Tilt your tray so that the stones gently fall to one side causing all the stones face up to group together making it easier to stick. Let's Get Started!

For Latin style ballroom shoes the subtler the design the better. We suggest applying a simple straight line to the center of your heel so you add a little sparkle that won't overtake your shoe.

• Step 1: Mark the center line of the heel with chalk
• Step 2: Shake the glue and apply to your chalk line. Starting from the bottom going to the top
• Step 3: Wait a moment to let the glue get tacky before applying stone.
• Step 4: Stone the shoe on the satin surface not the heel tip, make sure the stones stay in a straight line.
• Step 5: (Optional) Thicken your line by adding more lines on the side of the first one and then stone them.

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For Smooth style ballroom shoes, you have more flexibility to add more stones because your dresses are longer. So we suggest the fully rhinestoned heel. To learn how follow the instructions below!

• Step 1: Spread the glue one portion at a time with your glue.
• Step 2: Wait a moment to let the glue get tacky before applying stone.

• Step 3: Create rhinestone lines horizontally from the bottom up one layer at a time

• Step 4: To make the lines of the heel more precise, the outline and then fill in.

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There are several advantages to rhinestoning your shoes. Most important of which is more sparkle! And don't worry there are no downsides! stoning your shoes will not affect its flexibility or durability. Warning: make sure not to stone the heel tip of your shoe so that you can replace it if necessary.

We hope you enjoyed this week’s tutorial on How to Rhinestone Shoes with Lena Kosovich. Tune in next week for even more insights into house of LeNique!

““Once you’re more confident with your footwork then you can add more rhinestones to your shoes. Dont forget to ask your instructors first.”
”

— Alonzo Perez, LA Ballroom Dance Instructor

Lena Kosovich is a United States and World American Ballroom Champion. She was born in Russia and has trained in ballet, folk and every style of ballroom dancing. She is featured on the Benise: The Spanish Guitar (2010) DVD and has appeared on television including Dancing With the Stars.  

She worked as an Assistant Designer on Dancing With the Stars and as a Designer for So You Think Can Dance and Dance Your Ass Off (2009). She is LeNique Co-Founder with husband Nick Kosovich.

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How to Pin Your Dance Number with Nick Kosovich

It is often the case that when dancers attempt to attach their competition numbers to their costumes, they unintentionally damage their costumes by pinning their numbers incorrectly.

This tutorial by Nick Kosovich demonstrates the correct way to apply your competition number to your dancewear.

When attaching your number to your costume it is a common error to safety pin your number to the fabric of your dancewear by feeding it through the corner holes. There are two major problems with this.  

Firstly, by relying on the holes to secure your number to your costume, this allows for the paper to be loose and move around freely.

Secondly, competition organizers are now laminating the numbers so they will not rip off when you are performing. This poses the greatest threat to your dancewear because when your number is pulled, the laminated paper is stronger than the fabric on your costume; causing it to snag.  

This guide is about to teach you a more efficient way of securing your number without damaging your dancewear!  

Supplies:

·     Dancewear

·     4 Safety Pins

·     Competition Number

Step 1: Take your competition number in hand and bend it in half without folding it, so that the printed side of your number is facing the inside.

Step 2: Firmly pinch both the top and bottom sides of your competition number. There should only be a slight crease to the edges to your competition number. Make sure the paper is not folded all the way through. This may/will effect your presentation.

Step 3: Line up your competition number with the center seam of your dancewear/costume so that the paper with your number is perfectly aligned parallel to the floor.

Step 4: Once you have your number in place, puncture/pierce your dancewear through a corner hole on your competition number with one of your safety pins; one safety pin per hole.

Step 5: Now take your safety pin and feed it back THROUGH the paper so that it fastens securely to your dancewear.

We hope you enjoyed this week’s tutorial on How to Pin Your Dance Number with Nick Kosovich. Tune in next week for even more insights into house of LeNique!

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Nick Kosovich is the former United States and World American Ballroom Champion. After competing for 36 years he retired from competition dancing in 2005. 

Nick is an Emmy Nominated Choreographer for Dancing with the Stars He also was a professional dancer on Season 2 and Season 3 of Dancing with the Stars.

He is from Perth, Australia  and the Co- Founder of LeNique. He currently resides in Los Angeles, Ca with his wife and co-founder Lena Kosovich.

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Did you miss anything from September? Checkout below for even more great tips from the House of LeNique!

Tutorial: How to Dye Your Dance Shoes with Lena Kosovich

LeNique dresses are hand made, one-of-a-kind creations. So, when it comes to your dancing shoes, dyeing them the right color is just as unique as our dresses.

Most dance shoes are made out of a satin, so you want to make sure you have a swatch of white satin and a swatch of the color you are trying to match when dyeing your shoes.

“Don’t go for burgundy shoes when you’re wearing a burgundy dress, you’re better off with a nude shoe. But the latest style, and it’s been going on for three to four years, are softer pastel colors or brighter, hot pink, sassy yellow, lemon shoes, are matching the dresses”

— Lena Kosovich

Dyeing your dance shoes doesn’t have to be difficult. Just watch Lena Kosovich’s tutorial on how to dye your dance shoes below.

What you will need:

• Dance shoes
• Fabric dye
• Bowl
• Paper towels
• Piece of sponge
• Water
• Rubber gloves
• Swatch of white satin
• Swatch of color you are trying to match

Note: Wear rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands with the dye.

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Step 1: Mix your dye with a little bit of water in a non-kitchen bowl.

Step 2: Stuff your shoe tightly with paper towels. This prevents the dye from going into the shoes.

Step 3: Time to test your dye on your satin swatch. Lightly wet your sponge in the fabric dye and press to the satin swatch. Compare it to your color swatch to check if it is a match.

“Remember the color will always dry lighter, so always go one shade darker with your mix. If you are really worried about the color shade, do one round of the color you think is good, dry it with a hairdryer and then try one more time slightly deeper”

— Lena Kosovich

Step 4: Now you’re ready to start dying your shoe. Take your shoe by the sole in one hand. With your free hand wet your sponge in the fabric dye mix and apply to your shoe. Run the sponge quickly over the shoe to create an even shade and avoid dark spots. Make sure to get close to the seams.

Step 5: Once the shoe is dyed, go over it once more time with a light amount of dye on the sponge. This will help to give the shoe an even tone. Let your shoes air dry and you’ll be ready to dance and look fabulous come competition time.

We hope you enjoyed this week’s tutorial on how to dye your dance shoes with Lena Kosovich. Tune in for next week’s tutorial.

Lena Kosovich is a United States and World American Ballroom Champion. She was born in Russia and has trained in ballet, folk and every style of ballroom dancing. She is featured on the Benise: The Spanish Guitar (2010) DVD and has appeared on television including Dancing With the Stars.  

She worked as an Assistant Designer on Dancing With the Stars and as a Designer for So You Think Can Dance and Dance Your Ass Off (2009). She is LeNique Co-Founder with husband Nick Kosovich.

Competition Hair Styling Q & A with Snow Urbin

Styling your hair for a competition or performance is important. No one wants to have their hair flying around their face while they’re dancing. Judges don’t like it either and they will take away points for it.

They can deduct points for any of the following reasons: if it distracts from your routine, if you are touching or fixing it during your performance, if it falls out, or if it hits other people on the dance floor. Needless to say your hairstyle can directly impact your score.

Stylist, Snow Urbin, offers her advice for competition hair styling in this week’s Q & A. Watch her style Wendy from Arthur Murray Valencia and answer a few questions in the video below.

Question: What do I need when getting my hair styled?

Answer: Before you start, make sure you have the essentials: elastic hair ties, hairpins, hairspray and hair jewelry (optional).  

Question: How should I wear my hair?

Answer: If you are dancing rhythm, I would suggest you do it low. If you are dancing slow, I would suggest you do it high.

Question: What’s the best advice you can give competitors about their hair?

Answer: I would always ask a professional to do your hair, even for the simple things, just because It takes the stress away. I think [when] doing your own hair, you cannot see the back, so you cannot make it as neat. Also, I think it’s always important to take that extra edge off and go to a professional and make sure they take care of you.

Question: What should I do before I meet with my stylist?

Answer: I think it’s very important to come with your hair dry, this way it stays better. It’s also important to style your hair before you come in, so we can see how it holds; it creates your own personality.

Question: How much time should I give myself to style my hair?

Answer: I think you should always have two hours before you have to warm-up.  It gives you time to have a coffee, not stress in the chair, wake-up a little and let your body readjust to your surroundings. It also gives you time to say hello to friends and other dancers and look beautiful.

Question: What is the biggest problem you come across as a stylist?

Answer: I think the biggest problem is expectation. If you have an expectation, you’re more likely to be disappointed. Bringing pictures often does not help. Instead it breeds confusion as to what you really want. Sometimes the pictures have different styles and it can be complicated to satisfy a client if there is not enough hair. I think you should just enjoy the ride and let the stylist help you to be beautiful.

I always think it’s important to invest a little bit into some bling-bling for your hair. It adds a little spark. Just make sure to have the applications ready for your stylist and that they match your dress.

Question: How do I care for my hair after the competition?

Answer: Don’t brush after competition. Just go straight to the shower to wash and condition it because the hairspray can be rough on your hair and cause it to break.

With a special thank you to Wendy from Arthur Murray Valencia for being our model in this video! We hope you enjoyed this week’s feature on Competition Hair Styling with Snow Urbin. Tune in next week to learn how to dye your dance shoes.

Snejana "Snow" Urbin is a dancer, Choreographer and stylist from Russia. She has appeared in music videos for Madonna's "I'm Going to Tell You a Secret", and Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie." She has also appeared on season one of Fox's So You think You can Dance and ABC's Dancing with the Stars. Movie credits include Enchanted (2007). She is married ti Nurtitionist , John Urbin. They have a daughter named, Jetaime together.

For any business inquiries for Snow Hair and Makeups call (914) 325-0088

Dress Maintenance with Lena Kosovich

When it comes time to wash your LeNique dress, there are a few tips and tricks you should know beforehand.

Firstly, LeNique dresses are handmade with Swarovski crystals and elegant fabrics, so using a gentle touch is key when cleaning your gown.

Secondly, remember not all dresses can be hand washed. Make sure to check the inside care label of your dress before washing it. “If it says dry clean only, then the dress is dry clean only,” says LeNique founder, Lena Kosovich.

Dance crepe, polyester charmeuse, and silk charmeuse are examples of fabrics that cannot be washed. Dresses with those fabrics should be dry cleaned.

Stretch mesh, lycra, fringes and polyester chiffon, are all fabrics that can be washed by hand.

Watch Lena’s tutorial on how to clean your dress below!

What you will need:

• Plenty of fresh, clean towels

• Bowl of warm water

• Dish soap (like Dawn dish soap)

Step 1: Before washing your dress be sure to read the inside care label. If it says dry clean only, please take it to a dry cleaner. Remember, not every fabric can be washed.

Step 2: Take a dry towel, place inside dress under the section you will be cleaning.

 

Step 3: Mix dish soap in bowl of warm water. The dish soap works well to loosen the dirt and oils from the fabric without ruining it.

Step 4: Keep one hand inside the dress underneath the first towel where you will be washing. Wet a second towel in the bowl of detergent.

Step 5: Lightly, without scrubbing too hard, begin to wash the dress. Remove towel from inside of the dress when finished.

Step 6: Rinse dress out in the sink with warm water. Lightly press and squeeze excess water from dress.

Step 7: Towel dry. Place one clean, dry towel inside the dress and use the other half of the towel on the outside of the dress. Press excess water away. Do not scrub. Use the towel to absorb the water.

Step 8: Once it feels merely damp, lay the dress flat onto another towel to finish air drying. If washing the whole dress, simply hang the dress on a hanger after towel drying it.

We hope you have enjoyed this segment of Life with LeNique! Tune in next week for our segment on competition hairstyling with Snow Urbin.

House of Lenique <3