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'Dancing with the Stars' Costume Secrets of Kirstie Alley, Kendra Wilkinson, Wendy Williams, Petra Nemcova

by Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick (Subscribe to Beth Cooney Fitzpatrick's posts)
Posted Mar 21st 2011 at 10:00AM  
5 Comments
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Dancing with the Stars Randall Christensen

Randall Christensen, Courtesy Photo

Between Kendra Wilkinson's prominent assets, Wendy Williams' size 11 feet and wrestler Chris Jericho's bulging pectorals, "Dancing with the Stars" costume designer Randall Christensen has some Lycra to stretch.

Christensen took a break from outfitting celebrities including Kirstie Alley and Wilkinson to share his behind-the-seams plans for making the new cast sparkle as brightly as that coveted mirror ball trophy.

The new season begins tonight on ABC.

StyleList: Last season Florence Henderson and Jennifer Grey were your muses. Who are you excited about designing for this season?
RC
: Well, I have to say after meeting all of them it's going to be great fun dressing Chris Jericho. He's not opposed to wearing rhinestones and showing some skin. Costumes don't intimidate him at all and he has that rocker edge to him, so I'm good. And Petra Nemcova is gorgeous with legs that start at her shoulders practically, but I was delighted to learn she's actually studied fashion. She's got a great eye and even sent me some sketches of ideas!

Wendy Williams and Kirstie Alley have such dynamic personalities I can only imagine what we're going to do together! I can't wait.

dancing with the stars kirstie alley petra nemcova wendy williams

Bob D'Amico, ABC

StyleList: Kendra Wilkinson has said she wants to go against type and not show too much skin but, c'mon,you want to go skimpy with her?
Randall Christensen:
With Kendra, I think we can prove that being covered up is just as sexy as showing a lot of skin. We certainly did that last season with Bristol Palin. But, as the weeks progress, if she continues competing, I'll bet you see she wants to peel some layers away.

StyleList: Kirstie Alley has had a very public weight struggle. How do you dress her in a way that makes her feel confident and beautiful?
RC:
First of all, Kirstie is every woman! She is open, honest, excited and possibly a bit nervous about the costumes. But definitely, she is loving and embracing the costume aspect of the show. We have tried several looks on her and will continue to do so during the production time. Finding just the right look for her is an ongoing process and Kirstie really knows what looks good on her body. I've even had her show me clothes she loves to wear, so I can borrow some of that detailing. So I'm confident we will find just the right thing.

StyleList: Wendy Williams is so tall and wears a size 11 shoe. Are you going to have trouble finding things that fit?
RC:
Wendy is a dancing goddess already. She looks phenomenal in her clothes and knows what looks best on her. Everything that she will be wearing will be custom made for her body as it is for everyone on the show. She's going to be amazing.

StyleList: Is Sugar Ray Leonard ready for rhinestones?
RC:
He liked everything and even more impressive, he looked good in everything! His boxer body is still in great shape.

StyleList: Is Chris Jericho going to need custom shirts to cover his 12-pack?
RC:
Um, and exactly why would you want to cover that 12-pack? He's in marvelous shape and I think as the season progresses we will find a way to appreciate his hard work and dedication to his body.

Speaking of supermodel Nemcova, read about her upcoming wedding plans.

And for more looks from "Dancing with the Stars" check out StyleList's retrospective of Christensen's favorite finale costumes of all time.

Read All Comments
Filed under: Celebrity, News, Celebrity Style
Tags: chris jericho, ChrisJericho, costumes, dancing with the stars, DancingWithTheStars, dwts, kendra wilkinson, KendraWilkinson, kirstie alley, KirstieAlley, petra nemcova, PetraNemcova, wendy williams, WendyWilliams
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READER COMMENTS

(5)Add A Comment

Lynda, 3-21-2011, 2:27PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Lynda

We like to watch this show with our family. I have young ladies who want to dance. But do the costumes have to be so skimpy. A less skin and I would prefer a little less sexy. I am not a prude but dancing costumes reflect on a young dancer.

Reply »

toffeenutte, 3-21-2011, 4:02PM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
toffeenutte

I completely agree with you! DWTS is one of my favorite shows! But I think the producers, over time, have gotten away from the real premise of the show. That is, to take people who have little or no dancing experience, and teach them how to dance, while we - the audience - watch and enjoy.

It seems the show has, at times, gotten much too political although, thank God, there are no politicians this season. And the costumes, while almost always beautiful, have gotten pretty skimpy (sometimes).

I DO love all the sparkles! And I am not a prude so I generally don't mind the 'barely-there' costumes. I would just like to see the focus be more on the enjoyment of watching the folks learn, or TRY to learn how to dance!

»

Adele H., 3-21-2011, 4:13PM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Adele H.

I agree with you 100%. One of the professional female dancers in particular makes you wonder if you're watching ballroom dancing or pole dancing. I have young family members who are dancers and desperately want to watch, but are forbidden from doing so because of many of the costumes and continual grinding. Do we really need to see a bra and panties with a short robe seductively left open or the peek of a breast or the groin area to get the point of the dance? No!

»

Becker, 3-21-2011, 5:02PM

2.5 stars vote downvote upReport
Becker

Well, the show did start out with so much class...but over time has gone down a few notches with not only very little clothing, but with "stars" that are in question. I often wonder what a true hollywood star thinks of someone like Kendra who just took off her clothes to get on Dancing With the Stars, to their years of acting and speech classes. Please DWTS...keep it clean....young kids like to watch this too.

Reply »

Joleen, 3-21-2011, 8:31PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Joleen

Don't for one minute believe that a gal that is on the far side of middle age can't look fabulous in one of those "skimpy costumes" Randall and the rest of the marvelous costume designers do wonders with power net that gives illusion of skimpy while maintaining a wonderful dignity. I actually challenged one of Randall's employees that he wouldn't have anything for me. They pulled out this red number that was to die for. So have fun everyone and try it. You won't believe how much fun it is to dance and take it to the competition level. And to wear those great costumes even if you will never see 50 again or a size 2!

Reply »

 
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