I love the fun of square dancing, the social aspect and the physical and mental exercise.
I also love any excuse to dress up.
Modern square dancing gives you plenty of options whether you like to dress up or not.
At our local club, on the learners and New Mainstream Tuesday nights, most wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Depending on the time of the year that could be long or short pants or any style of skirt you can move in comfortably. Many people wear jeans or shorts and a T shirt with sneakers or walking shoes. A couple of ladies, that love square dance clothing, wear full circle skirts with light petticoats. The choice is yours.
Our Old Mainstream & Plus Friday night dances are mix of styles with casual or square dance clothing equally acceptable.
Some ladies will wear a nice pair of jeans, some with T shirts or tops with a flowing style. Others will wear simple skirts, modern square dance outfits or the more traditional outfits with light to medium fullness petticoats.
Closed toe shoes are recommended for safety but not enforced.
Men will wear a nice pair of jeans or pants, T shirts, polo shirts or long sleeve shirts with a collar. Men’s tradition shirts can have extra embroidered designs, often in a western style or have feature fabric panels around the shoulders.
A common accessory worn by men is a small scarf or cravat, held together at the front with a ring or a string neck tie with a decorative clasp, called a bolo.
For bigger local dances most will wear square dance outfits but a few of our ladies prefer to wear pants and flowing style tops.
Square dance skirts normally finish just below the knees and worn with a 1950s style petticoat.
The long red skirt above is a style known as a western or prairie skirt. They are not commonly worn at conventions but are an option if you don’t care for a knee length skirt.
The State and National Conventions attract hundreds of dancers.
These events have a more formal dress code.
Follow this link to read the current Australian National Dress Code as of February 2022.
Each state can set there own rules that will apply to their State Conventions. Most states follow the National Dress Code but there may be some variations state by state.
Full Square Dance Attire – Ladies
The ladies shirt is most commonly tucked in and the look is often finished with a cinch (elastic) belt.
A sash is worn by the lady to indicate to the other dancers and the caller that they are dancing in the left hand position. (traditionally the mans side)
The colour of the sash is most commonly blue but not a requirement. The choice of colour can be to make it stand out from the shirt colour or pattern.
Ladies shoes must be clean, low-heeled or flat-heeled shoes or jiffies of a type that will not mark or damage the floor. Spike or small type heels are banned (heels must be a minimum 25 mm long in all dimensions in contact with the floor surface).
Sandals and thongs are not allowed to be worn at Nationals.
The Queensland Callers’ Association (QCA) run the Queensland State Conventions. The QCA variation to the National Dress Code is “Neat casual dress is considered suitable for dancing on the Sunday, provided that suitable dance foot wear must be worn whilst dancing.”
This suits dancers that may be starting a long drive home straight after the dance, in what they are wearing.
The older style, huge petticoats are still worn by some at conventions but the modern types with light to medium fullness are much more common.
Traditional full body petticoats like the one above, on the left, will hold its shape even with heavy fabric skirts.
The one on the right is designed to give lots of body but is softer and will lift into a horizontal line while twirling.
The most popular modern style petticoats are generally soft while still creating a bit of body under a full circle skirt.
Modern look 50’s, vintage or Rock and Roll petticoats and skirts are also popular for square dance outfits.
The most commonly worn knee length, full circle skirts and petticoats are designed to get a horizontal line as you spin and twirl around. For suitable discreet underwear you can wear a slip, short leggings / bike shorts, dance shorts or pettipants (frilly dance shorts) .
Ladies short sleeve blouses vary greatly in style and don’t need to be specially made for square dancing.
Peasant shirts are still popular although with generally less exaggerated puffy sleeves and frills of the traditional style.
Some of these older traditional style, frilly peasant tops with matching skirts are not my thing but if you love that look you can still where them, particularly at the big dance events.
Above, are two USA made, full circle skirts that I own.
The bone coloured skirt alternates with lace that can be seen through to show off the colour of the petticoat worn under it. This lace pattern matches some of the traditional shirts above, so in the same colour, could be worn as a matching set.
Bubble shirts are now becoming more popular as they have been sold at a number of conventions. Bubble shirts come in lots of colours and stretch to fit most sizes. They are easy to pack and don’t need to be ironed.
My favourite convention skirts are now a soft pleated type that are also easy to pack, wash and wear.
60s Theme night at the 58th National Convention in Bendigo 2017
Suitable footwear still must be worn on theme nights at conventions.
