Today I want to help those of you who are thinking of competing on the stage answer a super important question…what will I wear?!
Sure you worked hard on your body and your posing. It all looks amazing…but that’s not enough to win. You will also need the perfect outfit, which will suit your bodybuilding competition category, skin colour, hair colour and physique.
How do I choose a competition suit that’s right for me?
1. It should suit your category.
a) Bikini: a body flattering, custom fitted and embellished bikini will do.
b) Figure: a two-piece custom designed competition suit is needed.
c) Fitness: a two-piece custom designed competition suit and a routine suit are needed.
d) Bodybuilding: a plain two-piece for women and one piece for men in a flattering color and fit. These can and really should be custom versus off the rack to ensure fit.
e) Some organizations also offer a Fitness Model category in which swimwear and sport wear suits are required. Again…most are custom done.
2. It should be in a colour that looks good on you.
Look in your closet. What are your favourite colours? Better yet…what are the colours that other people say you look good wearing? This is the best way to go. (Hey, maybe you have a horrible taste in colours; ya never know. *wink*)
Avoid bright neon colors. They rarely look good and can distract the judges from your awesome body. After all, you want to highlight your body…not look like a high lighter!
3. You should use crystals if it suits your category.
Bikini may be embellished but not usually with stones or crystals.
Fitness models usually go more for swimsuit style two pieces. There may be some stones on the sport theme-wear though. It depends on what it is.
It’s always best to put stones on your suit if you’re in Figure or Fitness. If you have it in your budget then go with crystals rather than rhinestones. They show so much better on stage and sparkle beautifully to accent your look and other jewellery.
Get as many stones as you can to glam up your suit. Again…it depends on what you can afford. Around 800 – 1,200 crystals on the right fabric can give you a seriously glamorous look. Some of the top-notch suits on the stage can cost $3,000 or more. Personally, I’ve usually gone for the 1,000 – 1,200 crystal mark.
4. Make sure you like the fabric.
Ask your suit designer for fabric samples or swatches. They can send you or scan you actual samples that you can hold up against your body to see how each one looks. The most common ones are velvet and wet-look fabrics, but there are many others. Similar to choosing a colour, it’s good to have some friends around to tell you what they think suits you or highlights your look.
5. Get the right cut for your body.
Any good suit designer will know exactly what kind of cut you need to wear in order to present your physique properly on stage. However, I still suggest scouting out contest websites and leafing through the pages of Oxygen magazine for months before to get ideas. Cut out all the contest suits you like and show them to your designer. This is part of the fun, and it will help your designer create your dream outfit.
6. Get it custom made, if possible.
I strongly suggest that for Figure, Fitness or Bikini you either have your suit custom made or you buy custom-made suits second-hand to save some money. A competition suit designer will make sure that the suit is the right fit for your category and for the lines of your body. If do you go second-hand, be sure to buy one from someone who has a similar body structure as you (i.e.: bust, hip, waist and torso length). Otherwise you could run into problems with fit.
The best thing about working with someone who specializes in contest suits is that you know you’re going to receive a suit that is beautiful and fits you like a glove.
I usually get my suits made by Suits by Celeste. She can create almost any look you like that is suitable for your category, but certainly there are many talented designers out there and you should choose the one who feels right for you. Ask around about other people’s experiences before you go with anyone.
If you’re on a budget…Diva Exchange is a great place to get second-hand suits. Just be sure they fit you or could be altered!
7. Get your suit at least two weeks before your show.
That’s what I do, because then I have time to practice posing while wearing it, and I can make sure the pieces don’t shift or do anything weird. Having the suit ahead of time also helps eliminate stage stress. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people end up—too late–with a suit that doesn’t look right or a suit that doesn’t fit. What a nightmare! That final week is a delicate week for the body. Even a small amount of stress can affect how your body appears on stage.
By the way, in order to get your suit in time, you need to order your suit around 8 – 12 weeks before the show. Suit designers are very busy during contest season so they need time to allow for measurements at the start and minor tailoring on the final product. Don’t worry if you don’t know your final contest weight. Most suits are designed to fit within about 10 lbs of each other and they’re usually quite good at using photos and measurements to determine fit. It’s nice to be able to spend time with them in person, but that isn’t always possible, depending on where they are located. I’ve been competing for 11 years and have ordered my suits from someone based in a different location for most of those years. I’ve always been happy with the result.
How much can I expect to spend on a suit?
Prices start at $250 but can go as high as $3,000 for a two-piece Figure or Fitness suit. It really depends on how many crystals you want. There’s a lot of labour involved. Bodybuilding suits are much more affordable. They’re around $100 – $200.
If it’s your first show then it makes sense to keep your costs to a minimum. Go for fewer crystals or buy second-hand. Make sure you really like competing before you invest the big bucks.
What if I’m female but don’t really have a bust?
Don’t worry. Just tell your suit designer that you’ll need padded or gel inserts in your suit when you place your order. They’ll need your cup size anyways. Also be sure to tell your suit designer if you have breast implants. They’ll adjust the fit to suit the implants so you can have nice curves on show day.
Be sure to check back on Tuesday for Team T & E’s big Journey to the Stage update!
Yours in health,
Tammy Strome
