Whether you’ve decided to buy your competition bikini or are going to make your own, picking a fabric can be one of the most fun – and most stressful – parts. I’ve shared before why four way stretch spandex is so important. Still, the 4 way stretch fabric options are endless!
Here are 3 tips to guide your choice, whether you’re designing a custom suit or buying a pre-made bikini.
1 // GO BOLD
Stage lights are meant to highlight your muscles at the expense of washing out everything else on stage. That’s why that dark competition tan is so necessary! Keep the same in mind when you select your competition suit color – darker is always better. Pass on pastel shades (lavender, mint, pink) which may look good under normal lights but will look white or skin colored on stage. Jewel tones look fabulous on most girls, and will always look a little lighter and brighter under those lights (just check out the photos from last year’s Bikini Olympia and count the number of girls in emerald green and sapphire blue).
2 // AVOID PATTERNS
The fabric of the suit is not where you want to go for uniqueness. While a lightning bolt print might scream “powerful” or the green and fuchsia fish scale fabric lends a ‘Little Mermaid’ vibe with your red hair, the same looks just don’t translate to the stage. The pattern can distract from the hard work you’ve put in and damage your ranking, and there’s a lot of risk associated with working with patterned fabrics, too. The suit has to be sewn just right to highlight the best parts of that busy pattern, then be lined up perfectly or you’ll look off-centered. Leave the themewear for those rounds at the WBFF and instead, choose a color you know will flatter and use the rhinestones to add personality to your suit.
3 // THINK BIG PICTURE
Rhinestones can completely transform any fabric – you could literally use black and have a suit that looks green by covering it in Emerald AB stones. So, when you’re considering fabrics, think about what you’ll be putting on top. Adding just a few rhinestones or going with a fabric-only suit? Consider a hologram fabric that will give you tons of shine and depth on stage. Going with a fully stoned suit? Opt for a more neutral backer in a complimentary tone to show off the suit (I went with a black/fuchsia backer on my last suit with purple stones for depth).
Part of what I love about making my own suits is that I save so much money, I can make a new suit for every show. The choice is a lot easier when you know you can pick something totally different in a few weeks!
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