The Official TAMBDA Guide to Competition Attire
Leads
Your stuff is slightly easier since you have fewer options.
Leads will need to gel their hair back to keep it out of the face.
Shirt stays are recommended to keep shirts tucked in.
Black shoes AND black socks. Please!
Smooth-Standard
Latin pants or black slacks
White button-up (You can buy dancewear competition versions as well!)
Bowtie (white, black, or match your follow!)
Vest or Suspenders optional
Rhythm-Latin
Latin pants or black slacks
Option A: Black or red button-up (One or two buttons can be undone for spice~)
Option B: Black Latin shirt or turtleneck (These are basically leotards)
Suspenders or Bowtie optional
May wear Cuban heels if desired
Social
Generally the same as Rhythm-Latin, but you can undo an additional button.
Country
You can wear the same clothing as for standard
OR
Jeans, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and plaid shirts work well too!
Follows
Follows have more options, so of course it's more complicated.
If you are wearing heels, you must have heel caps to compete.
If your dress lacks sparkle, you can always add more with E600 glue and some rhinestones!
While they generally don’t enforce the dress code, avoid floats, excessive sparkles, and feathers in newcomer divisions.
Loose glitter on your dress is generally verboten, as nobody wants a case of glitter herpes in their ballroom
Whatever your dress/skirt choice, make sure you do a test rehearsal with your lead so you can make any alterations and changes before competition!
Smooth-Standard
Heels in nude, black, or neutral. Close toe preferred. Heel caps are required to compete.
Nude tights recommended, but not required
Dance shorts if needed
Smooth-Standard: Option A
Leotard with a long skirt. Recommended since you can wear the same leotard for Rhythm-Latin. If the leotard is black, you can also use it for performance team.
Smooth-Standard: Option B
An old prom dress, hemmed to a danceable length and any slits needed for leg movement added as needed.
Smooth-Standard: Option C
Plain/solid-colored ballroom dress. These ones are simpler, easy to wear, and have a good range of motion
Rhythm-Latin:
Heels in nude, black, or neutral. Strappy heels preferred. Heel caps are required to compete.
Nude tights or fishnets recommended, but not required
Dance shorts if needed
Rhythm-Latin: Option A
Leotard and a Latin skirt. Some Latin skirts have built-in shorts, highly recommended. They can be as fringy or ruffly as you want.
Rhythm-Latin: Option B
Leotard OR crop top with ladies’ Latin pants! (Fringe is a bonus!)
Rhythm-Latin: Option C
Short cocktail dress with dance shorts underneath.
Social
Generally the same as Rhythm-Latin, but you can change into a more comfy dress and your West Coast or practice shoes if you like.
Country
You can wear your Latin costume, especially if it has fringe.
OR
Cowboy boots and a plaid dress!