Welcome to the Costume Lounge by Angela King Designs

Sit back and relax in The Costume Lounge - a blog by Angela King Designs and Go Wild! Wear. Since 1989, AKD has been creating top fashions in cheerleading, dance and performance wear. In the Costume Lounge, we discuss today's hottest trends and topics, who's wearing what, how to get the competitive edge in performance fashion and more. Once you are caught up on the latest news, browse our fashions at www.gowildwear.com or drop us a line at sales@gowildwear.com. Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, April 29, 2013

Sales Director Laura Eilers Clark Featured on Ultimatecheerleaders.com

Get an inside look at the personal and professional growth of National Sales Director of Angela King Designs and Go Wild! Wear, Laura Eilers Clark, alumni Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams Cheerleader, former Professional Indoor Football League Dance Team Director, and established cheerleading and dance professional. 


After a Whirlwind 2012, Going Pro founder Laura Eilers Clark Continues her Multi-dimensional Cheer-ful Life. Read the Complete Article by Midwest Dave at www.ultimatecheerleaders.com 

....for over three years, Laura has been Sales Director for Angela King Designs and Go Wild! Wear. “In 2009-2010, Angela launched ‘Go Wild! Wear;’ a readywear for performance teams based on 20 years of designs for the NBA, NFL and NHL,” Laura details. “I was hired as Angela’s Sales Director, and we set forth to build a sales team of seasoned professional cheerleaders. We now have eight representatives across the United States. I am the point of contact for teams in the Northeast U.S., and I also direct sales, marketing, and program development for Go Wild! Wear. I assist Angela in the annual Sports Model Search, the Junior Designer Program, and Style Pro Training Program.”


So, what is the best way a new pro cheer team should go about deciding on the optimal look? “At AKD we believe branding your team is the most important first step,” Laura explains. “You want to create a look that is different and speaks to your personality. It’s really fun to brainstorm creative costuming and see where it goes. Angela is so good at creating just the right look that connects with the region, the sport, the mascot, and the overall team identity. That uniform should be so memorable that it becomes famous. It will be recognized by your fans no matter who wears it. And at the same time it should be so fabulous that every girl in your city and around the world will want to earn the chance to wear it!” 

Asked about the future of cheer wear, Laura responds, “I think we will see less traditional costuming, more pops of color, more movement within the design of the costume. Practicality of the economy and quick costume changes mean more ‘mix and match’ or removable options to instantly create a new look. I really can’t be sure! But I do know that AKD is always creating the next trend in pro cheer, and the best is yet to come.” 

Meet the AKD team of Style Pros 

Monday, April 15, 2013

Spotlight on Style Pro Michelle Gagnon

MICHELLE GAGNON
Phone: 1-877- 97-GO-AKD, x721
Email: Michelle@gowildwear.com
Location: Concord, New Hampshire
Territory: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia

Background:
  • NFL Cheerleader, New England Patriots 2000-2002
  • Performed at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans
  • Choreographer and Coach, Southern New Hampshire University Dance Team
  • Degree in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University
  • Coordinator and Assistant Choreographer, Manchester Wolves Arena2Football Dance Team
  • Dance Instructor, Dance, Etc. Studio 
  • Board Member, Dance Visions Network

ABOUT MICHELLE GAGNON: 
As a Cheerleader for the New England Patriots, Michelle not only experienced the adrenaline rush of cheering on the sidelines of an NFL stadium, but also at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. She remember wearing her AKD uniform proudly during those days. 

Years later, Michelle has immersed herself in many facets of dance performance, including serving as Coach and Choreographer of the Southern New Hampshire University Dance Team and previously as Coordinator and Assistant Choreographer of the Manchester Wolves Arena2Football Dance Team. During her days in pageantry, Michelle was a featured dancer for the Miss New Hampshire Pageant. 

Michelle spends much of her time in the dance studio, where she instructs dance performances and competition pieces at Dance, Etc. Studio. She also enjoys serving on the board of the Dance Visions Network during annual recitals and performances of the Nutcracker Suite. 

Michelle resides in New Hampshire near the Boston Metro area where she is the mother of two children. As one of three new Style Pros joining the AKD Team in 2013, Michelle looks forward to sharing her passion for performance and style with sports teams and other organizations. She recently contributed a blog on Enhancing Team Unity based on her experiences and will continue to author advice to be shared within the Costume Lounge. 

View AKD Style Pro Directory

AKD Junior Designer Mackenzie's Costume is Revealed!



Blog #5: Following Mackenzie, Age 14, Michigan: In February, we introduced you to Mackenzie - our second AKD Junior Designer! Mackenzie submitted her dream sketch to be produced by Angela King Designs. As a dancer and gymnast, we knew Mackenzie's vision would be a fun performance outfit she can enjoy on stage in her home state of Michigan!

Mackenzie created a two-piece feminine dancer performance costume with layers of ruffles and petticoat. The top features a collar and a cinched chest. The skirt is designed to rest high on the body with just a bit of skin showing.

Mackenzie was overjoyed to receive her final performance outfit! She remarked, "This is my favorite costume ever!!!" 

Mom Rebecca said, "The costume is gorgeous and looks perfect on her! She's wearing the shorts today at a dance convention, and everyone is complimenting her." 

This tiny dancer is sure to perform above and beyond wearing her own creation just as she envisioned. At Angela King Designs, we often say, when you look your best, you perform at your best! 

Check back to meet our next Junior Designer - Tate from Colorado! She is a high school freshman tennis player located in the Denver area. Tate says, "I love designing clothes, so I have always wanted to do something like this!" Tate, we welcome you to the AKD Junior Designer program and can't wait to unveil your design to the world!


Apply to Become the Next Junior Designer

About the AKD Junior Designer Program: Our intentions in creating the AKD Role Models "Junior Designer" program are to promote design and creativity in our society's youth. We want to reach out to young designers and help them to realize their goals of becoming future fashion leaders. We hope that these Junior Designers will influence more children and teens to become young leaders and encourage them to follow their designing dreams.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Logo and Lettering 101

At Angela King Designs and Go Wild! Wear, we specialize in creating a custom unique look for each customer, from dance and cheer teams to corporate ambassadors.

Your logo is your brand! So the women who represent your team or company should showcase your brand in the most prominent, classy, and consistent way possible.

Here are a few considerations when adding your logo to your AKD / Go Wild! attire:
  1. Is your logo legible? Do you want it to be seen from far away in your stadium, resonate in photos or just be seen up close? Your Style Pro will advise you on the logo size as some logos should only be produced at a certain size and larger, or else their detail will be lost.
     
  2. What is your budget? Logos can be done in a variety of ways that best fit your detail, fabric and budget. Ask your Style Pro about sublimation, embroidery, patches, twill letters, rhinestone letters, or rhinestone logos.
     
  3. Is your lettering generic or customized? Generic lettering embroidery is less expensive usually available in script or block letters. Custom lettering is classified as a logo as we will produce this to exactly match your font, size and colors.
     
  4. Do you have the best file possible to send to AKD? We'll need a high resolution file in order to send you a logo estimate. Usually this is an .eps or .pdf file.
     
  5. Do you have time to add your logo? Allow for a little more time to not only create your costume but also add the logowork. If you absolutely do not have time, we can take back your items at a later date to include logo, rhinestones or lettering, although doing it all at once will save on shipping expenses.
     
  6. What will it look like? Ask your Style Pro to see images of the logo superimposed on your costume selection so you can be sure it's placed exactly as you envisioned. 
Ready to get creative? If your team has several looks, it can be fun to show off the logo or mascot name in a new way through design techniques or customization. We even have removable logo options that allow you to mix and match or add new pieces to your wardrobe without the cost of a whole new uniform! Check out the logo boot cuffs and logo buckles. The sky is the limit! Angela King Designs has been producing the most creative and memorable costuming in professional sports entertainment since 1989, we've got you covered! 

Contact a Style Pro

Visit Angela King Designs, Inc.

Shop Now at Go Wild! Wear 

Monday, April 1, 2013

Spotlight on Style Pro Darlene Clancy

DARLENE CLANCY
Phone: 1-877-97-GO-AKD, x714
Email: Darlene@gowildwear.com
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Territory: North Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota

Background:
  • Current Director of the "Axe Maidens", Cheerleaders for the Axemen - USA Rugby League, 6 years
  • Current Board Member, Professional Cheerleaders Alumni Inc. 
  • Jacksonville Jaguars Cheerleader, 3 years
  • Marketing and Special Events Coordinator for the non-profit organization "Communities in Schools Jacksonville" 
  • Former member/Media Relations for Sweethearts for Soldiers 
  • FOX and CBS Jacksonville - career in branding, public service and special events (8 years)
  • Former Sales Assistant - Financial Industry, New York, NY
  • Attended Hunter College and Queens College in New York, Liberal Arts

ABOUT DARLENE CLANCY: 
Growing up in New York, Darlene earned a successful career in special events and sales before relocating to Jacksonville, Florida. When she arrived, Darlene tried her hand at becoming an NFL Cheerleader, and made it! This accomplishment changed her life and shaped her passion. 

After three years cheering for the ROAR Cheerleaders of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Darlene began coaching and developing other performers, something she loves to do. As an NFL alumna, Darlene was asked to join the non-profit performance group Sweethearts for Soldiers and later became their Marketing Manager. She became active in Jacksonville's alumni group and continues to coordinate training programs for up and coming NFL cheerleaders as a member of PCA. For the past few years, Darlene has traveled with her team to attend classes and network at the All Pro 3 convention in Atlanta. 

Darlene truly cares about the professional cheerleading industry, which led her to become a Style Pro for Angela King Designs and Go Wild! Wear in 2010. Her customers have included Rollins College Dance Team, Saginaw Spirit Ice Girls and her own team the Axe Maidens. Darlene resides near Jacksonville with her husband and two children.

View the Style Pro Directory