Before you start sewing a dress you need to do your homework. Try drawing your dress ideas on paper first. I got a "women's form" by searching for paper dolls. Here's the site I used, www.funorama.com. This doll is in PDF format. You can get the PDF Adobe reader from Adobe for free. I printed this doll on regular paper and used tracing paper over it to draw dress ideas. Actually this would be an idea anyway. If you went to a dress maker they would draw something to give you an idea of what the dress would look like. Drawing it yourself allows you to show them your ideas.

Use this to get an idea of color, style, and even where you want stones. Obviously you have to realize the dress might not end up exactly like the drawing, but it will give you a reference point. You can see how long the skirt would be, maybe even draw a pattern or design on the dress. Use it to decide on fringe placement or even the length of the dress.

I've started working on an idea for another Latin dress. I drew out some sketches and showed them to some dance friends. The response was interesting. Some had additional suggestions for new designs and some had suggestions for changes to these designs. Its helped to give me more ideas.

Don't forget to work on the back of the dress. I haven't found a good "back" paper doll, but I'll keep looking.

Things you may want to think about while you're doing this:

• Not everyone has a perfect figure. Try to minimize your flaws and maximize your assets. If you have a great figure -- anything goes.
• Try different colors. You can make a dress with more than one color. Try red and black, yellow and orange.
• Consider the type of fabric. You can use sheer fabric to hold you in and give the illusion of skin. A stretch fabric will give you more give then a non-stretch fabric.
• Think about the color of the rhinestones you want. Rhinestone Guy has some color swatch guides for sale and they're not expensive.
• Take a look at dance websites to give yourself ideas of dresses. Latin dresses don't have to be short. I've seen some great long ones.
• If you're into versatility, consider making a convertible dress. I've seen short dresses for Latin with a skirt you can wear underneath that makes it a Smooth dress. You have to think about the design before you begin this style.

Ideas for not-the-perfect figure:

• If you have great legs, show them off. Short skirts look fabulous on great legs.
• If your legs are not the best, consider wearing a longer length dress. Remember that some of the length can be sheer so you see some leg, just not all of it. Long fringe works too.
• If your arms are not as toned as they used to be, cover them. Using a sheer fabric is a good idea if you want to give an illusion of skin.
• If you have a great midsection, wear a two piece that shows it. If you don't, cover it.
• Don't look like too much body in not enough clothes. Its not flattering. And the comments behind your back will not be nice.
• Consider a certain appropriateness for your age. I saw a mature women dancing Latin in the senior age category. She wore a long sleeve, long (mid-calf) length dress that had a slit up the front side. The slit was just past her knee. It was a flattering color on her and was very appropriate. I've also seen women in the same age group wear Latin dresses that show too much skin. It was not appropriate.
• Take a look at dresses for sale. This is a great way to get ideas for your own dress. You can get ideas about color combinations and style, rhinestone patterns and fabrics. Take advantage of all the resources you have.