Arts & Culture Style & Fashion

Randall Christensen – Fashion Mastermind behind Dancing With the Stars

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Everyone’s watching ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. You love the dancers, you feed off the judges, but who makes them look so darn good?

Emmy award-winning costume designer Randall Christensen.

A little background on this mastermind: Christensen creates and manufactures high-end glamour costumes for television, film, Las Vegas projects, cruise line shows, and the competitive dance world. Randall’s work in Season 2 of Dancing with The Stars won him an Emmy and has earned him the title of sole designer for the series ever since. He has worked as the costume designer for the TLC network series Ballroom Bootcamp, contributed gowns for Jennifer Lopez in “Shall We Dance” and Mary Steenburgen in “Charm School”, designed for the hit TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”, and for the films "Take the Lead" and "Dance with Me." And if you thought he wasn’t busy enough, as the owner of Randall Designs, the leading company in the dance industry for dance related apparel, he contributes gowns and costumes to the United States Professional Champions & Finalists, the World Showdance Finalists, World Professional Latin Finalists, and other professional teams.

Christensen’s designs graced the ballroom floor on the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars. This past season, Christensen had the pleasure of dressing celebrities such as N SYNC’s Lance Bass, Grammy award-winning singer Toni Braxton, soap star Susan Lucci, celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito and football professional Warren Sapp.

Christensen answered some burning LA’s the Place questions for the fans:

LATP:  How do you come together with the celebrities and dancers each week, to create the beautiful and elaborate costumes they wear on television?

Dancing With the Stars Kim Johnson, Randall Christensen, Joey Fatone

Randall Christensen: Every Tuesday, after the Results Show, the couples get their new dance/music assignment for the following week. The couples do NOT want to discuss designs until they get their music, due to how much the style of music contributes to the overall tone and look of the costume. For example, if we were to design a Paso Doble (which is a classic Spanish costume, matador/flamenco look) and they were to get a "rock" type song, a classic Paso costume would not work as well as a rock inspired theme. A Bon Jovi song used for Paso Doble just would not work as well if the couple were to wear a classic Spanish theme. The song is screaming for more of a rocker edge to it. So, I have to wait until after Tuesday’s show to even begin to conceptualize each couple’s look. We then meet (and only have about 20 minutes per couple) and look online (YouTube, Google-ing images, etc.) and try to nail their look ASAP. We have all the other couples waiting their turns, so we have to work as quickly as possible. These couples want/need to get out of here and recoup before the next day’s new dance lesson. I must say, there is A LOT of trust between the celebrity and me. They really do believe I’ll give them the best look, based on the music, type of dance, and address their concerns about their body and/or how the costume should move for that particular dance.

LATP:  How long does it take to make each costume, and what happens to them after they wear them?

Randall: We design on Tuesday evening and SHOP THE ENTIRE SHOW on Wednesday! By Wednesday at 6 p.m., we’re delivering the fabrics to our cutters, so that they can start immediately. The costumes are then sewn together Thursday, fit on Friday/Saturday, and beaded/rhinestoned on Saturday/Sunday. The couples come back in for their next and ONLY fitting on Sunday, after they block their routines for the cameras. Final adjustments are made Sunday, and then final trims are put on. The couples get to rehearse in their costumes for their FIRST AND ONLY TIME 2 hours before going live! Any last minute adjustments are done while the dress rehearsal is going on. We take their costumes and run them upstairs with alterations notes, while the couple finishes Dress Rehearsal in a robe!

After the show is over, the costumes go into our stock. Once the season is over the costumes are either worn on the DWTS Tour, or they’re shipped to Phoenix, AZ where my company (Randall Designs) has an agreement to sell the costumes for ABC/BBC.

Randall ChristensenLATP:  Which celebrity dancer has been your favorite to work with over the course of the show?

Randall: I have been so very fortunate over these past seasons, in that almost all of the celebrities have been such a joy. They’re in a strange new environment, completely out of their comfort zone. And I find that they really do trust me (and their professional partner) completely. We "get" the dance world, and they really do follow our lead. George Hamilton was a dream, and had great ideas – bringing a bit of that old Hollywood glamour onto the dance floor. Kristi Yamaguchi was a dream too. I’m sure it was because she was so accustomed to the rhinestones, beads and lycra!

LATP:  What was the worst costume mishap you have had while working with the show?

Randall: I think my experience within the dance community has helped me avoid any major mishaps costume-wise. We really have not had any big mishaps on the show, even during Dress Rehearsal (when mistakes could happen). Everything has stayed in place, nothing has "popped out" that shouldn’t have. Pretty boring, I know, but I think it’s quite
exciting watching (with a bit of anticipation) the show, wondering JUST HOW those costumes stay on these women’s bodies, seeing as sometimes there’s barely a yard of fabric used!

LATP:
  What is a costume designer’s worst fear, while watching his creations out on the dance floor in front of millions of viewers?

Randall: My worst fear is having a Janet Jackson moment! In spite of my best efforts, you never know if this week is going to be "the week" that "it" happens! So far, so good! I guess those double and triple hooks and eyes DO come in handy!

For more information on Randall Christensen or Randall Designs please visit: www.randalldesigns.net.

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