RSSTips to Finding the Right Veil
16 May 2010 No Comments
With a huge variety in veils out there, how do you know which is the right one for you? There are so many possibilities. There are different weights of silk, chiffon, and organza. They come in circular and rectangular, both large and small. Some even consider scarves to be veils. Some have hemmed edges and others don’t. Some are even edged with a heavy trim to give it more weight or with sequins, beads, or bits of metal scattered throughout. It’s all too easy to fall in love with a veil that isn’t right for you because it’s just so pretty and feels so soft! Just keep in mind, just because you adore a veil doesn’t mean it’s right for you.
For a good starter veil, I definitely suggest chiffon. They’re easier to care for than a pretty silk veil. Because of their weight, they are easier to move around and build much more arm strength, which means you’ll have more stamina when working with something lighter. They don’t have the same delicate float and drift of other veils, but they are tolerant to being whipped around and are less prone to tangle. You may have to work a little harder with them, but they are the easiest to use. If you look around, you can find an inexpensive solid colored one for as little as $20! They really are ideal starter veils.
Chiffon veils suit far more than the beginner. Their weight makes them wonderful for faster veil work. They also come in a variety of styles. While most of them have a simple hemmed trim and are one solid color, you can also find ones with a great personality of their own. Sequins or small beads can be sewn in along the hem of the veil, giving added weight. While it sounds like this would make the veil float less and be harder to work with, adding sequins to the trim can make the edge easier to find. The extra weight may make the veil harder to maneuver, but it’s excellent for fast and strong veil work. Dancers who prefer “power veil” will generally gravitate towards these as they can not only handle the swift and powerful movement. The added sparkle and color on the trim will also draw the eye and offer a beautiful color contrast. In a similar idea, there are veils with little bits of metal or rhinestones scattered across the surface of the veil. Again, this makes for a heavier veil, needing more power and force to make it fly, but that little bit of added detail can make these veils very eye catching and beautiful. With all the options available for chiffon veils, it’s not surprising many professionals choose them.
Silk veils are my personal favorite. As they are much lighter than chiffon, they float through the air. Silk veils come in different weights, making for different options when using them. Obviously, a lighter silk needs a lighter touch. Too much force and they collapse. Heavier silks require a little more force or they don’t float as gently, but they tend to be far more forgiving. Many silk veils come in hemmed or unhemmed. One is no better than the other, but many prefer a hemmed veil as finding the edge is so much easier. Silk veils aren’t sheer, like chiffon veils are, so it’s hard to see the dancer when in or under the veil, but their ability to float elegantly more than makes up for it. Often times they are more expensive than chiffon as well, and more ideal for an experienced dancer, but a heavier silk will work for just about anyone. The only variety in silk tends to be the weight and the color. Silk is a commonly hand-dyed material, so there are a wide variety of options for color and pattern. There are a multitude of vendors that dye their own veil, but they do come at a cost.
Shape and size are also something to consider with veils. The standard veil is a three yard rectangular veil, which is ideal for most dancers. Rectangular veils are the most favored because there is such a great variety of movements. There are also four yard rectangular veils, but these are more recommended for experienced dancers. The longer the veil, the more fabric there is to work with, move around, and move within. As a result, the more fabric you have, the more challenging it is to work with. For the most part, if you hang the top edge of your veil over your shoulders, the top corners should not both come to the floor. This is an ideal length of veil for you, though a more experienced dancer can often get away with something longer. Circular veils are also an option, though they offer a more limited movement range. Many of the moves used with a rectangular veil no longer work with a circular, but they do have their own beautiful style. These veils are commonly chosen by dancers who wish to use multiple veils at once. Circulars also come in different sizes, depending on the vendor. A’kai silks, for example, call them “little wings” and “big wings’. I’m not sure the dimensions. However, I would suggest that with any circular veil, you take the opportunity to try using them before you purchase a set, since it seems sizing isn’t always standard.
Once you’ve determined the material and shape of the veil, the next consideration is the color. For most beginners, color isn’t a problem. Either their veil color will be picked for them as part of a recital piece, or they can choose any color they want to practice with. For performers, however, color is a lot more important, especially if you’ve got quite a collection. When buying a veil it’s easy to fall in love with a beautiful color, but sometimes that color isn’t right for you. What good is a beautiful veil if you’ve got no costume that will work with it? I know it’s easy to say you’ll make or buy a costume to match your veil, but very few dancers actually follow through with it. As a result, they have a collection of beautiful veils that are only used for practice or class. There are also dancers that tend to buy veils in the same color tones. I knew a dancer that had fourteen purple veils! They were all in different shades of purple, and some of them were quite stunning, but even she admitted that she hardly used them all enough to make them worth it. Therefore, it’s nice to have some variety in your selection. If you’ve already got a veil in that color back home, maybe it would be good to get something in a different color entirely. Of course, if every dance costume you have is in the same color range, then having a bunch of veils that match that color range isn’t so bad, but many dancers have a brilliant variety of colors to their costumes, so it only makes sense to vary your veils to match.
Most importantly, try your veils before you buy them, if possible. If you’re purchasing online, see if you can test drive one by the same vendor owned by another local dancer. Trying each veil is the only way to ensure that the veil you choose will be of a size, weight, and fabric that works for you.
Good luck and happy veil hunting!
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