Swing the Night Away...

Tired of all the bumping and grinding on the crowded dance floor of every bar in town? Yep, me too. The solution? Find out locally where you can go to Swing Dance!! Here in Orlando, there are several choices like...Whirl and Twirl Dance Club off of Forsythe Rd, UCF has a Swing Knights Club, Rollins College has a swing club, and there are plenty of dance studios to choose from. You can learn classic swing dances like the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, or Charleston. Most places have beginners courses too! Plus its an added bonus to be able to wear your vintage best, while dancing to the roots of Rock&Roll, Big Band, or Jazz.
So what exactly do you wear to swing dance? Anything comfortable, roomy, and that you don't mind sweating in. Your shoes should allow you to skid, slide and spin at high speeds! Moderate heels are good, but stilettos mean certain doom. It is definitely possible to find those qualities in a vintage outfit that will make you fit right into the 1940's-1950's era.
Back then for men, the Zoot suit was a practical choice. The pants were baggy at the thigh, narrow at the ankle, and high at the waist (which made for easy leg movements). The zoot suit jacket comes down somewhere around the knee. These suits were completed with a broad-rimmed hat, shirt and tie, long wallet chain and spectator or wing tip shoes. It can get pretty steamy under all those layers of a zoot suit though. Many men instead choose to wear a shirt and tie, with a pair of pinstriped pants.
Women have lots of choices! All you really need to keep in mind again is you want something that allows movement, isn't too warm, and won't kill your feet. Skirts with an A-line shape or dresses with the same shape are best.
After World War II, Christian Dior stunned the fashion industry with his "New Look" collection. It included voluptuous silhouettes with tiny waists in rich fabrics. These gorgeous dresses would be accessorized with a pillbox hat, gloves, and pearl necklace. Another favored look came from Bobby Socksers, who would wear blouses tucked into flared knee length skirts (or circle skirts), white socks and saddle shoes. Poodle skirts fit in with this look. Nautical was a popular style too. They wore blouses tucked into sailor trousers. The trousers were tight at the waist, and fell loose at the ankle. There are 4 large buttons (2 on each side) that help define these pants. All of these looks could be topped off with a flower hair clip or snood, seamed stockings, and a glass of spiked punch.
Here are some choices we have at FOUND to help compliment any swing dance!