My 6-year-old daughter wants to be the next Michael Flatley.
Irish dance is a lot of fun, but the price of the costumes… not so much.
Since my daughter’s announcement, I’ve been looking into Irish dance classes and the subsequent costumes needed for recitals and other performances. Most of the elaborate Celtic-inspired dresses run in the $300-$1,000 range. The elaborate getup includes a highly embellished long-sleeved dress with an underskirt. The dress is meticulously designed with a series of intricate patterns woven from sequins and other stitching on velvet, lace, and satin.
Don’t bother trying to find authentic Irish dance costumes at a local costume shop or any major online costume retailer. I tried; with no luck. Traditional dance costumes need to be custom ordered or purchased through companies that specialize in Celtic clothing. According to the companies I contacted, there is a level of historic accuracy involved in designing the costumes, so don’t expect to be able to pick out a simple green dress and call it a day.
Interestingly, I am far from the only person who has inquired about Celtic clothing. The rep I spoke with told me that many people inquire about traditional costumes to wear to weddings or to Renaissance fairs. However, in those cases, having an authentic costume is not required the same way it is for those who are performing with an Irish dance troupe.
If you are looking to dress up just for fun, then consider opting for a simple costume that you can make yourself for a fraction of what it would cost to pay for a real Celtic garment. For example, if you are attending a Renaissance fair, then don an outfit that an Irish peasant would have worn, including an overdress made of cotton or velvet placed on top of a cotton skirt and top or flowing dress. Embellish the outfit with sashes or go a bit more upscale by wearing underskirts made of fancy fabrics such as satin or silk.
Related Articles:
St. Patrick’s Day Fun For Kids
St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Preschoolers