Fashion With the Stars

Nov. 20, 2006 — -- Sizzling and sultry.

We're not just describing Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke's moves that helped them win on "Dancing With the Stars," but rather the costumes that added to the shake and shimmy.

It's no doubt that dancing is the sure way to win on the show, but it never hurts when the stars dress to impress.

So while they're busy working the floor, costumers are working the sewing machine.

"Costume plays a huge part in getting the audience pulled into rooting for them, but they've got to back it up with their dancing," said "Dancing With the Stars" costume designer Randall Christensen.

Normally, costumes as exuberant as the ones on "Dancing With the Stars" would take weeks or months to complete.  The wardrobe crew gets it done in about three days.

After the results shows on Wednesdays, the couples make a mad dash to wardrobe to give the designer their ideas for their next costume.

"They really don't want to decide their costumes until they get their music," Christensen said.   "The music dictates the theme of their style of costume."

On Thursdays, costumers pick out the fabric, usually in downtown Los Angeles. Then, it's handed over the manufacturer.

By Friday, the costumes are sewn. Saturday, they're fitted. Sunday, the rhinestones go on. And Monday, the costumes are delivered.

Dancers don't get the final product until two hours or three hours before the show at dress rehearsal.

Getting the costumes at the last minute can mean little mishaps turn into big problems.

"One of the most panicked moments we had was with Willa Ford, her last dance," Christensen said.

That night, Ford was wearing a teal-blue rhinestone costume that kept shifting and exposing half of one of her breasts.

To avoid the wardrobe malfunction, Christensen bought and dyed material to cover her.

"We actually had three people sewing and stoning on that dress in the hour and a half before we had the show time," Christensen said.

"So when she was dancing, the glue on the rhinestones was still wet."