Check out THESE Irish Dance Dresses

[carolinapooh]

I know they're for the dancing schools, but I think before I buy the AG one, I'm going to really look at these:

http://www.geocities.com/margsewingr...ISHDANCEx.html

Yep, they're a bit pricey, but the money is supporting a person and not a huge conglomerate like Mattel (something I've always been in favor of - I like helping the "little man", or, in this case, woman).

And my GOSH are they gorgeous or WHAT?

[Aryn]

Those dresses are awesome!! My doll needs one. I really like the back panel that is embroidered. I wish the AG had one of those.


Aryn

[Janabanana]

Awesome! There are some beautiful dresses and I believe I'll be saving for these rather than Nellies'. They are much more authentic! I wish they had the wigs in some red tones! I wonder if she sells ghillies also or can point us in the right direction. Maybe we buy them as replacement parts from AG?! I'm looking forward to DD getting up so I can show her these. I'm going to send grandma pics also since she has seven GDs that dance Irish. [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[AmericanGirlLover2982]

I think they are simply gorgous but I think I will still be getting Nellie's irish step dancing dress from AG. But these are just gorgous.

Nikki [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

[alleyflo]

Their very cute! But talk about sky-high prices. Goodness, is it really worth $47.00?

[lscogbill]

I already bought Nellie's outfit for DD, but those wigs are GREAT! The curls are darling. If I ever need a wig for a doll, I'll be getting one of those.

[vew-tori]

Beautiful - plus I could get Marlo some "bloomer things." [img]wink.gif[/img]

[only1genevieve]

Wow, I love these! Especially the Marie Moore and Trinity dresses.

And considering the amount of embroidery, time, and the cost of materials, I think $50 is a fair price. Fabric costs for the little guy (ie, in fabric stores) are going up up up. It's sooo expensive to buy good quality materials from the store nowadays.

[kitti515]

Huh. I'm pretty sure that seamstress used to offer custom-made sports/cheerleading uniforms as well. I always wanted to order one to match my high school one but never got around to it. Anyone know when she started specializing in the irish dance costumes (which are beautiful)?

- Becca

[carolinapooh]

I look at it this way. The AG outfit is VERY nice - it is $28. We all know this stuff costs a lot less than that to produce.

This woman is MAKING these things and they're $47+. The sewing machine that does that embroidery is about four grand at a minimum (if she's running a Bernina or a Viking, it's potentially more, though I'm sure she has the industrial one - which can be more still). She probably had to get permission from the schools to reproduce their dresses (and I'm sure that cost a bit of cash). That velvet material isn't always cheap, and the machine embroidery thread isn't always on sale at Jo-ann's. Plus the dresses are backed and lined.

I'm in love with the Glor na hEireann, and the Trinity Academy dress.

I'm all for supporting the "little person". For the collector value, I'll probably end up with the AG one (and may just leave it in the box), but for ME, I see one of THESE babies in my virtual AG closet!