How to Avoid Wardrobe Malfunctions in Gymnastics
When it comes to outfitting gymnasts, there are many things to consider to avoid having any wardrobe malfunctions. Some things you want to consider when purchasing gymnastics leotards are the brand of leotards, style of leotards, size of the leotards, and level of the gymnast. Whether you are a new gymnastics parent or a veteran gym parent, leotard shopping can be confusing and overwhelming. There are so many different brands, styles, fabrics, sizes, and so on and so forth. It can be hard to select leotards that will fit and ensure that your gymnast will have no wardrobe malfunctions while she is at practice and competition. We have been avoiding the dreaded word in the gymnastics community, but we are here to help you and your gymnast avoid wedgies this gymnastics season. No need to worry anymore, we will explain how to pick the best leotard brand, style, and size to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions.
Selecting the Best Gymnastics Leotard Brand
The first thing you need to consider is where you want to buy gymnastics leotards from. There are so many different gymnastics leotard companies nowadays that it can be very confusing and overwhelming when it comes to leotard shopping. But no need to worry anymore, Snowflake is here to explain the difference between our gymnastics leotards and everyone else's leotards so that you can make an educated decision on what company fits your gymnast's needs best. Every leotard company has different formulas. From fabrics and materials to sizing patterns, every company varies slightly. Some companies may fit certain gymnasts' needs better than others. Every gymnast is different so one company may work for one gymnast but not for you, and that's okay! You need to find a company that not only fits your gymnast well, but one that makes her feel comfortable and confident.
Why Snowflake Designs Leotards are Different
Our founder and CEO, LaDonna Snow, was a competitive baton twirler. She remembers the leg elastic in her leotards was so tight that it hurt. Although her leotards never rode up or gave her wedgies, she said that she would always have a bright red band around her legs when she got home from practice. "When my kids started gymnastics, I wanted to make sure they didn't suffer like that," said LaDonna. And that is when Snowflake Designs, aka the best gymnastics leotard manufacturer, was born! Gymnastics leotards used to have elastic that was not stitched to the fabric. Rather, it went through a casing, which means that it was the same tightness or looseness all the way around the leg. If you were lucky and built just right, it worked and you were not in pain. However, most of the time the elastic band was way too tight that it cut off circulation or way too loose so you got wedgies. Old-school leotards did not cut it. Thankfully the industry has come a long way and leotards are made better than ever before. Today, the elastic is sewn to the fabric. Here at Snowflake Designs, we use a special type of elastic that does not weaken when a needle pushes through it. This way, we can control exactly how much elastic and stretch there is in every part of the leg opening. We developed a unique mathematical formula to make the elastic fit just right. “I spent hours testing where to take out enough elastic to make it fit right and have enough stretch but still have it pull snug enough,” recalls LaDonna. “The answer is that you make it looser in the front of the leg but much tighter on the back because you want it to cup the rear end. You don’t want it to pull up.” What LaDonna did was completely different from any other gymnastics leotard designer or manufacturer at the time. We are still using this method today to create gymnastics leotards that are functional and allow gymnasts the freedom of movement they need to preform while also feeling confident and secure in the leotard. So what else is so special about the Snowflake Designs brand? Well, all of our gymnastics leotards are made in the USA, we are located in Clovis, CA, we are a family-run business, many of our employees are former gymnasts, and we love making a positive impact on the gymnastics community. Whether it is donating to help a gymnast in need or by designing functional and classy leotards to help athletes feel comfortable and confident, we love every part of it and love being a part of athletes' journies in the sport of gymnastics. We have been one of the leaders in the industry since 1985 and we could not be more thankful for all the memories and relationships we have made. And we look forward to making some with you and your gymnast when she wears her first snowflake leotard!
How to Pick the Best Style of Leotard
The next thing you want to consider is what style of leotard you are buying. There are so many different leotard styles these days. From intricate strappy back leotards to simple tank leotards, each style can affect how the leotard fits. Although the sizing usually remains the same, when there are intricate straps or cut-outs in a leotard, it can affect how the leotard sits on all different body types. The seams to make these straps and cut-outs possible can also be uncomfortable to some gymnasts while others do not notice them. Unfortunately, the only way to find the leotard style that works best for you is by trial and error. For example, some gymnasts refuse to wear strappy back leotards because they do not like how the straps feel on their back. Whereas other gymnasts only wear strappy back leotards because they feel like it allows them to breathe more and allows more ventilation during hot practices. Some gymnasts think racerback or t-back leotards are too tight on the neck where as others prefer t-back leotards so you cannot see their sports bra. So, it really depends on the gymnast and what they find the most comfortable and flattering. Although we can not tell you the best style for your gymnast, we can give you some advice. For young and new gymnasts, we recommend biketards. Biketards are gymnastics leotards that have shorts attached to them. These are geared towards younger gymnasts who are just starting out but even pre-teens find them cute and comfortable! These are the best leotards for young gymnasts because they leave no opportunity for wardrobe malfunctions (we mean wedgies), so their little tushies will be securely covered all practice long! For pre-teen and teen gymnasts, we recommend starting with tank leotards. These leotards are cut like a simple tanktop with two shoulder straps. The next style we recommend is t-back or racerback leotards. These leotards come together to make a T on the top of the back. This is the most subtle change from a tank leotard so your gymnast can test the waters. If she doesn't mind the racer-back, then she should be okay testing out some strappy back and open-back leotards. Be sure to look at the exchange/return policy for the company that you are buying from. You will want to make sure you can exchange the leotard if your gymnast ends up not liking it. Lucky for you Snowflake Designs has a 30-day return policy!
How to Find the Best Leotard Size
As we mentioned before, sizing varies from company to company. So, it is important to check each company's size guide before ordering. Gymnastics leotards must fit properly to allow gymnasts to perform their best gymnastics while feeling comfortable and confident. If a leotard is too tight, it will be very uncomfortable for the gymnasts. They may get wedgies from the leotard rolling or riding up and the leotard may rip if they pop any seams. If a leotard is too small, the gymnast will be worried about falling out of it, they will get wedgies, and they will not feel comfortable. The best way to ensure you order the correct leotard size for your gymnast is to get her measurements and compare them to the company's size chart.
How to Measure for a Gymnastics Leotard
You need four measurements for a leotard; chest, hips, waist, and girth. We will start with the most crucial measurement, girth! Using a soft measuring tape, go all the way around the body from the front of the shoulder to the back of the same shoulder. Make sure to keep the tape measure flat all the way around the body for the most accurate measurements. To measure the chest, wrap the tap measure around the widest part of the back. To measure the waist, wrap the measuring tape around the smallest part of the stomach. Usually right above the belly button. To measure for the hips, stand with feet together and wrap the tape around the widest part of the bottom. For a video demonstration of how to measure for a gymnastics leotard click here!
