Thomas Sirkot is a talented designer and entrepreneur. This fashionista designs digs for dancers. See why gendance loves him and wants to hook you up with his knowledge…

How did you get started in costume design?
I was pretty young when I did my first community theater show, "Gypsy". The choreographer owned a dance studio and never charged me for lessons; a sure way to get much needed male dancers. There was rarely a decent selection of costumes for guys, so I learned to make my own. My mother taught me how to run a machine, and my creativity took it from there. It wasn't long before friends and parents were asking me to make their costumes.

What’s your advice for someone to take the leap to custom designing?  
Go for it. You'll be excited to see a performance piece that is a complete vision with costumes that enhance the choreography and fully convey your piece's meaning.

Where do you buy fabrics?
All over, but if I’m looking for sequin fabrics and trims, SequinsDirect.com  is the place to go. They’re the most reasonable with great quality and consistency in their product.

What's your favorite fabric to design with?
I don’t really have a favorite, but I do love engineering the fade of color into a garment. I like anything that has to do with dying and distressing things to create texture for a unique look.

How long does it take to sketch your creations? 
A loose, pencil sketch takes about an hour. A full color illustration takes hours. I usually do a combination of pencil and marker on watercolor board so a company director or teacher can present it professionally.

What's the average price of competition costumes?
They start at $150 for a basic contemporary piece that doesn't involve lots of fabric or trims. More extravagant pieces go up to $500 or more.

Pick one…rhinestones or sequins?
Honestly, both!

Really?
It depends on the routine and the choreography. For a sleek, modern piece, a subtle use of rhinestones can look amazing. Theatrical pieces call for sequins. I think the level of the dancer comes into play here. Younger beginners shouldn't invest in rhinestones; sequins are just as spectacular. More experienced dancers tend to go for the rhinestones.  

Tell us how to use fringe.
Long fringe is key. Short fringe gets lost on stage. Hint: the movement of long fringe also hides poor technique.

What's your fave costume category on Dancing with the Stars?
I really like the draping and movement of the Rumba costumes. Those costumes retail for between $2000 and $3000 each!

Rumor has it you’ve been on reality TV.
I was actually very close to being on a certain show. I got through the entire interview and portfolio process. At the very end I was told, "Your work is amazing, just not the direction we are going this season." I don't know if I’ll make another attempt. I've realized that talent and ability have very little to do with reality TV.

The latest trend in custom costumes is…
Fashion-forward. If you're going with a custom piece, it should be right on with the fashion trends.

Any tips for cost-effective designing?
Update older costumes! I’m designing with a studio right now and we'll be sequining, rhinestoning, dying and distressing costumes they’ve accumulated over the years. It's a fun, creative venture and we're saving the parents money.

What inspires you?
Everything. The biggest inspiration is music. Reading, nature, watching music videos, the latest fashion shows. Checking out fashion trends in the city. I like to hear what story a choreographer is telling... the inspiration behind the piece. The audience might not always get it, but it helps keep the creativity flowing.

Well, there you have it-from a pro!  Now, see him in action. Visit our media page to see this costume guru in our live interview.