Here are some basic, good-to-know tips about costumes:

 - NEVER eat or drink around or while your wearing your costume. You may be trying to be very careful but you could get bumped by someone else. We ordered these costumes in November and are first getting them in the spring! There's isn't time to order a replacement costume.

 - Always wash your hands before handling the costume and keep costumes covered by placing them in a garment bag or hang a sheet over them.

- Do NOT leave your costumes in the supplier's bag that they came in. It will be full of wrinkles. Give the costumes a firm but gente shake when taking them out of their bags.

- Hang all costumes up to help get the wrinkles out. Hang tutus or costumes with full skirts upside down. This helps to keep them 'full'. You can hang the costume in the bathroom (not near the water though) while taking a shower. The steam helps to remove all of the wrinkles.

- Put your name on EVERYTHING - shoes, costumes (all pieces), props, hats, gloves, headpieces, etc. Also remember to put names in the dad / daughter 'costumes' too! There will be over 400 costumes (not including the tons of extra headpieces, gloves, etc.) floating around on recital night!

- Roll the costume from the top down before putting in your feet. There have been times that a foot has ripped out the front of the costume.

- Keep EACH costume's accessories in a Ziploc bag WITH the costume. This helps to save time when changing costumes to have all pieces in ONE area.