A Word about Leotards

I hope everyone is watching the US lady's gymnastics team and are wowed by the awesome ladies led by the super-human Simone Biles.  Not only were the skills stellar, I'm sure no one missed how absolutely gorgeous the leotards were. The crystals and intricate inserts and patterns were stunning! I have a confession to make. The very first thing that drew me to put my then preschooler in a gymnastics class was how adorable the little girls looked in leotards, so I'm sure at least a few of the viewers were motivated to enroll their daughters in gymnastics because of the beautiful leotards!  
While these competition leotards are to die for I just want to point out that in work outs or classes COMFORT should be the over-riding priority.  First, although the metallic fabrics are fabulous the application of foil to a spandex reduces it's elasticity and causes it to fit more snugly.  Every jewel can become a point of scratching and itching inside the leotard.  Those complex styles require extra seams that can also be a source of irritation and discomfort. Don't get me wrong - they are stunning and certainly make the girls feel and look special.  My daughter competed at the highest levels all the way through college and used to say, "Sometimes it hurts to feel beautiful". 
So, if you are enrolling your gymnast in classes for the first time, before you spring for the high prices and high style of leotards that are comparable to what you see on TV, remember that ultimately you want your gymnast to look and feel special - but you also want her to be comfortable so that she can enjoy her gymnastics class!