Judges at competitions critique the dancers primarily on their performance, but they also take into account presentation. In every level of competition the dancers must wear either hard shoes or soft shoes, and white poodle socks or tights. In commission schools, female dancers either curl their hair or wear a curly wig, although most dancers these days wear wigs. In more festival schools the hair is often worn down and loose. Boy and girls wear very distinctive costumes. The girls wear dresses with stiff pleated skirts which are embroidered. The boys used to wear jackets and kilts, but now more commonly perform in black trousers with a colourful shirt and tie. Costumes can be more simple for the beginning female dancer; they often wear a simple dance skirt and plain blouse.
A beginner dancer can be any age, including adults. In the Advanced Beginner and Novice levels the dancers begin to wear their dancing school’s costume. The certain colors and emblem that is used on the dresses represents the dance school to differentiate it from other dance schools. These are in the style of a solo dress, but are simple with only a few colors, while are still more complex than the beginner’s outfit. Many North American schools allow their students to select a personal, or "solo" dress, at Prizewinner Level.
Competition dresses have changed in many ways since Irish Dance first appeared. Several generations ago the appropriate dress was simply your "Sunday Best". In the 1980s ornately embroidered velvet became popular. Other materials include gaberdine and wool. Today many different fabrics are used, including lace, sequins, silk, embroidered organzas and more. The commission dresses have a stiffened skirt pleated into panels which are stiffened with Vilene. Dresses can weigh several pounds, depending on the fabric, and require some getting used to. Again the festival style differs, styling more towards simple designs and flowing, un-stiffened materials.
Preliminary and Open Championship are levels where dancers can qualify for Major competitions. At these levels, solo costumes help each dancer show their sense of style, and they enable them to stand out among a crowd. The dancers can either have a new solo dress made specially for them with their choice of colours, fabrics, and designs (some dancers will even design the dress themselves) or they can buy second hand from another dancer. Championship dresses often have expensive, sequined fabrics, and it is becoming popular for only two or three colors to be used. Since the dresses are hand made with pricey materials, unique designs, and are measured to each dancer’s body type, the dresses cost between $600 and $4,000. When each dancer grows out of the dress she can sell it on at competitions or via the internet.
Along with having the hand crafted sequined dresses, championship commission dancers have wigs and crowns. Dancers in lower levels have the choice to wear either a wig or curl their hair, but usually in championship, girls choose to wear a wig, as wigs are more convenient. Dancers get synthetic ringlet wigs that match their hair color (some go a shade lighter or darker). The wigs can range from $20.00 to $150. Usually the crowns match the colors and materials of the dresses, but some dancers choose to wear tiaras, or tiaras with a fabric crown. The reason why dancers curl their hair or wear a ringlet wig is because traditionally in Ireland girls had nicely curled ringlets, though nowadays, wearing ringlet wigs is going out of style in some feisanna in favor of letting girls and women having their natural hair. The championship competitions are usually danced on a stage with a lot of lighting. To prevent looking washed out, dancers often wear stage makeup and tan their legs. A ban was put in place in January 2005 for Under 10 dancers forbidding them to wear fake tan, and in October 2005 it was decided that Under 12 dancers who were in the Beginner and Primary levels would not be allowed to wear fake tan/make up.
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