Katy Mize, a dancer from Scottsbluff and co-chairwoman of this year's convention, said that while traditional square dancing outfits all have the same basic style, each one is as different as the person wearing it. Fashion booths lined the fairgrounds Friday night as the hall began to fill with ladies in fluffy skirts and men in western shirts. Next is the matching slip with layers and layers of semi-stiff fabric. The poofy slip puffs the overlying skirt, perfect for showing loads of lace and ruffles during dance spins. Skirts and ruffled blouses can be found in every color, pattern and design imaginable.
Women have both regular and dress-up outfits to wear for the right occasions.
For events like New Year's dances and wedding anniversaries, women wear shiny, satin dresses with more frills and gold or silver shoes. Women dancers wear special shoes, too. Mize said women usually have multiple pairs of shoes to color coordinate with their outfits. Accessories like wide, colored belts to tie blouse and skirt together and small, light, color-coordinating purses are popular among women. Mize said many women make their outfits themselves.