Strictly: Week 6

The Halloween edition of Strictly Come Dancing is always a huge audience favourite and for costume, make-up and hair it’s truly a time to shine. This year did not disappoint with a vast array of characters and themes on show from Alice in Wonderland to Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

But one creepy character outshone the rest in that famous ballroom and impressed the judges too, with her almost perfect-scoring foxtrot. Michelle Visage as Morticia Addams had it all – wonderful characterisation, dazzling dancing on the night and a glittering frock to boot. “Michelle was perfectly cast for Morticia,” enthuses costume designer Vicky Gill. “She was brill, with hair, make-up and every part of it just right.

“Her dress consisted of a Navy and Purple crepe lining, embellished with Jet AB stones, which ensured we maintained a little Strictly sparkle, giving light and shade through what predominantly would be a very dark show in terms of garments. A black mesh eight-panel dress lay over the top to keep with the character’s needs.”

Vicky adds: “Given that they were performing foxtrot we needed to keep as much volume in the skirt as possible. Fitting the dress as low as we could before allowing flare was tricky but we managed to balance all elements. Small Georgette floats remained, again in keeping with the character and requirements of this ballroom dance.”

Halloween is always a very creative time of year for wardrobe. “In studio we carried out a lot of breaking down of garments,” laughs Vicky. “So much so that many were unrecognisable from where they started, it all worked out in the end. Emma B’s dress started off life as a DSI practice skirt! So if you’re a dance enthusiast who liked how it moved, get in touch!”

For more of an inside look at what goes into making an unforgettable Strictly dress, don't miss DSI London's exclusive Behind the Seams tours, which are booking now till March 2020.