Square Dance Clothing Styles

I love the fun of square dancing, the social aspect and the physical and mental exercise.
I also love any excuse to dress up.

Modern square dancing gives you plenty of options whether you like to dress up or not.

At our local club, on the learners & full SSD Tuesday nights, we just wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Depending on the time of the year that could be long or short pants or any style of skirt you can move in comfortably. Many people wear jeans or shorts and a T shirt with sneakers or walking shoes.

Our Mainstream & Plus Friday night dances are mix of styles.

Some ladies will wear a nice pair of jeans, some with T shirts or tops with a flowing style. Others will wear simple skirts, modern square dance outfits or the more traditional outfits with light to medium fullness petticoats.
Closed toe shoes are recommended for safety but not enforced.

Men will wear a nice pair of jeans or pants, T shirts, polo shirts or long sleeve shirts with a collar. Men’s tradition shirts can have extra embroidered designs, often in a western style or have feature fabric panels around the shoulders.

A common accessory worn by men is a small scarf or cravat, held together at the front with a ring or a string neck tie with a decorative clasp, called a bolo.

For bigger local dances most will wear square dance outfits but a few of our ladies prefer to wear pants and flowing style tops.
Square dance skirts normally finish just below the knees and worn with a 1950s style petticoat.
The long red skirt above is a style known as a western or prairie skirt. They are not commonly worn at conventions but are an option if you don't care for a knee length skirt.

The State and National Conventions attract hundreds of dancers.
These events have a more formal dress code.
Follow this link to read the current Australian National Dress Code as of February 2022.
Each state can set there own rules that will apply to their State Conventions. Most states follow the National Dress Code but there may be some variations state by state.

At a National Convention, Full Square Dance Attire should be worn at all Evening Dance Sessions with the only exception being Special Programmed Dance Sessions. 

Morning and Afternoon Sessions are at the discretion of the Convention Committee. 

Hats are not to be worn indoors unless it forms part of a demonstration or on stage.

All Delegates shall at all times wear their Convention Ribbon, and Name Badge of some form.

Full Square Dance Attire - Men 

SHIRTS – Shirts must be neat and tidy, have a collar, buttoned, long sleeve shirt, and tucked in complete with bolo tie, cravat or similar.

TROUSERS – Tailored trousers, slacks, or non-faded jeans/chinos shall be neat and tidy, Slashed, ripped or frayed clothing is not appropriate.

SHORTS – Dress shorts are permitted only in conjunction with long roll top socks.

FOOTWEAR – Clean shoes, dancing pumps or dress boots shall be worn and shall be of a type that will not mark or damage the floor.

Relaxed Square Dance Attire - Men 

SHIRTS – Shirts must have a collar and be neat, tidy, and tucked in. Must be Square Dance appropriate and NOT surf brands, T-Shirts, sleeveless shirts, singlets, football, and other sporting shirts, fluoro work shirts, shirts with large advertising/printing are unacceptable.

TROUSERS – Tailored trousers, slacks, or non-faded jeans/chinos shall be neat and tidy. Overalls and work wear, track pants are unacceptable.

SHORTS – Tailored shorts, drawstring shorts must be neat and tidy. Football shorts, sports shorts, board shorts, cut-off jeans are unacceptable.

SOCKS – Walk socks or sport socks permitted with shorts. Football socks or work socks are unacceptable.

FOOTWEAR – Walk shoes, sport shoes or regular dance pumps permitted. Work boots, sandals, thongs, spiked shoes, desert boots and bare feet are unacceptable.

Full Square Dance Attire - Ladies 

DRESS / SKIRTS – the wearing of a full-type Square Dance dress or skirt and blouse. Full backless-type, bare back or bare midriff dresses or blouses are not acceptable. Prairie style skirts are an acceptable alternative at all sessions.

PETTICOATS – American style petticoat with suitable discreet underwear. Remember, you may not see what you have on (or do not have on) under your petticoat, but the spectators and dancers sitting on the side lines will be very knowledgeable about your underpinnings, or lack of them.

SHOES – Clean, low-heeled, or flat-heeled shoes or jiffies of a type that will not mark or damage the floor shall be worn. Spike or small type heels are banned (heels must be a minimum 25 mm long in all dimensions in contact with the floor surface).

ACCESSORIES – Dress and jewellery must be such that they will not damage other Dancers or their clothing this includes badges and ribbons.

Relaxed Square Dance Attire - Ladies

DRESS / SKIRTS – the wearing of a full-type Square Dance dress or skirt and blouse. Full backless-type, bare back or bare midriff dresses or blouses are not acceptable. Prairie style skirts are an acceptable alternative at all sessions.

PETTICOATS – American style petticoat with suitable discreet underwear. Remember, you may not see what you have on (or do not have on) under your petticoat, but the spectators and dancers sitting on the side lines will be very knowledgeable about your underpinnings, or lack of them.

SHIRTS – Shirts or blouses must be modest and be tucked in unless fitted or intended to be worn outside the trousers/shorts. Tank tops, T-shirts or sun tops are not acceptable.

BOTTOMS – Acceptable options include Skirts, Shorts, Tailored Slacks, Culottes. Brief skirts and shorts are not acceptable.

SHOES – Walk shoes, sport shoes, clean, low-heeled, or flat-heeled shoes or jiffies of a type that will not mark or damage the floor shall be worn. Spike or small type heels are banned (heels must be a minimum 25 mm long in all dimensions in contact with the floor surface). Work boots, sandals, thongs, desert boots and bare feet are unacceptable.

ACCESSORIES – Dress and jewellery must be such that they will not damage other Dancers or their clothing. This includes badges and ribbons.

DANCERS WHO REGULARLY DANCE IN THE LEFT/RIGHT-HAND DANCER POSITION

Ladies dancing in the left-hand position (usually referred to as the man’s position) should be welcomed without discrimination. Such ladies may adopt either the ladies attire with the addition of a coloured material sash or, if they exclusively dance in the left-hand position, the attire set out in the dress regulations for Men and those who regularly dance in the right-hand dancer position are to follow the dress regulations for Ladies.

The ladies shirt is most commonly tucked in and the look is often finished with a cinch (elastic) belt.

A sash is worn by the lady to indicate to the other dancers and the caller that they are dancing in the left hand position. (traditionally the mans side)
The colour of the sash is most commonly blue but not a requirement. The choice of colour can be to make it stand out from the shirt colour or pattern.

Ladies shoes must be clean, low-heeled or flat-heeled shoes or jiffies of a type that will not mark or damage the floor. Spike or small type heels are banned (heels must be a minimum 25 mm long in all dimensions in contact with the floor surface).

Sandals and thongs are not allowed to be worn at Nationals.

For safety, I would suggest closed toe shoes, although this is not specified in the current National Dress Code and some wear Peep Toe dance shoes. With lots of people on the floor at conventions you can be dancing very close together and not uncommon to clip your own or each others feet. 

The Queensland Callers' Association (QCA) run the Queensland State Conventions. The QCA variation to the National Dress Code is "Neat casual dress is considered suitable for dancing on the Sunday, provided that suitable dance foot wear must be worn whilst dancing."
This suits dancers that may be starting a long drive home straight after the dance, in what they are wearing.

The older style, huge petticoats are still worn by some at conventions but the modern types with light to medium fullness are much more common.

Traditional full body petticoats like the one on the left will hold its shape even with heavy fabric skirts.
The one on the right is designed to give lots of body but is softer and will lift into a horizontal line while twirling.

The most popular modern style petticoats are generally soft while still creating a bit of body under a full circle skirt.

Modern look 50’s, vintage or Rock and Roll petticoats and skirts are also popular for square dance outfits.

The most commonly worn knee length, full circle skirts and petticoats are designed to get a horizontal line as you spin and twirl around. For suitable discreet underwear you can wear a slip, short leggings / bike shorts, dance shorts or pettipants (frilly dance shorts) .

Ladies short sleeve blouses vary greatly in style and don’t need to be specially made for square dancing.
Peasant shirts are still popular although with generally less exaggerated puffy sleeves and frills of the traditional style.

Some of these older traditional style, frilly peasant tops with matching skirts are not my thing but if you love that look you can still where them, particularly at the big dance events.

These are two USA made, full circle skirts that I own.
The bone coloured skirt alternates with lace that can be seen through to show off the colour of the petticoat worn under it. This lace pattern matches some of the traditional shirts above, so in the same colour, could be worn as a matching set.

Bubble shirts are now becoming more popular as they have been sold at a number of conventions. Bubble shirts come in lots of colours and stretch to fit most sizes. They are easy to pack and don’t need to be ironed.
My favourite convention skirts are now a soft pleated type that are also easy to pack, wash and wear.

60s Theme night at the 58th National Convention in Bendigo 2017

 Suitable footwear still must be worn on theme nights at conventions.