MOCHI > The Workshop > Sewing > Dressing Room > Underbits > Body Tights

Sometimes, a costume is cut in such a way that you can't use regular dance tights. For example, there may be parts cut out right along the waistband line. Or, you may feel, uh, "overexposed" and want to wear something that will give you more coverage. At times like these, we usually resort to body tights. Body tights (or body stockings) are kind of like a pair of regular tights and a leotard that's been fused together into one piece.

Some body tights have a camisole top, where they have shoulder straps and are seamless. Other body tights have short sleeves or full-length arms. Most come in "skin colors" (nude, beige, cocoa, etc.) as well as traditional dance colors (white, ballet pink, and black). Typical brands include Capezio and Bloch. If you need something a little more exotic (like a leopard print or a glittery sheen), you may be able to find what you want at a lingerie shop.

For an example of a costume that requires a body tight, see the reference pictures for Arshes Nei The main cloth-based part of this costume is a white leotard with a diamond cut-out in the front. This cut-out dips fairly low, which would show the waistband of regular dance tights, and comes up fairly high, which would show the bottom edge of most bras. Since Arshes Nei has dark skin coloring, the body tight also meant that we didn't have to use makeup to color the skin shown through the cut-out. (This was a Very Good Thing as dark makeup would show up very well when rubbed off onto the white leotard.)

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