Nothing reads from the back of the room like a well-stoned costume. When I rhinestone a piece, I am painting with light — placing each stone so it flashes exactly when you turn. Done well, it looks effortless. Done by hand, it lasts.
Why I set stones by hand
Glued sheets and pressed strips look fine in a photo and fall apart on the floor. I set stones individually, choosing size and colour for each area of the costume, so the design follows your body and survives the sweat, the spins and the wash of a real performance.
Reading the light
A stage light hits a costume from above and the front; a social floor lights you from everywhere and nowhere. I place denser stoning where the eye lands first — the bust line, the hips, the hem that flares on a turn — and let it thin out where it would only add weight.
From a whisper to full competition sparkle
Some dancers want a subtle shimmer that reads as expensive rather than flashy; others want full competition dazzle. Both are right — it is your costume. I can stone a piece I have made for you, or add stones to one you already own through my alterations work.
If you have a costume that needs to catch the light, tell me about it — I am on Long Island and I love this part of the work.