Dancing With The Stars Costumes

ABC

Reading in a recent Us Weekly about Dancing with the Stars' Pam Anderson (former Baywatch babe and Playboy playmate) hoping to compete without cumbersome undergarments on live TV...well, it's not really a shocker. But when you think about it, you know what is shocking? The fact that -- despite all the people applauded on camera each week (contestants, judges, hosts, dancing pros, guest-star singers, backup singers and band) -- viewers never get a behind-the-scenes peek at the talented, super-speedy wardrobe team at work.

So, what's the story? How are all the dancers (busy for hours in rehearsal) fitted with such impeccably tailored -- often witty -- costumes, in mere days, week after week? Well, the first step is for head designer, Randall Christensen, to consult with every contestant, in order to get input about each new dance, before a crew of stitchers buckle down to make magic.

"After each results show, we get 15 minutes with each celebrity to discuss the next look," Christensen told In Style recently. "Wednesdays we shop for fabric, Thursdays we cut patterns and Fridays we do fittings. The only dress rehearsal is just two hours before the Monday shows, so we’re often stitching someone into a dress and gluing on rhinestones during the overture." Talk about down to the wire!

On his People.com blog, skater Evan Lycacek also has praise for the skill and speed of DWTS' wardrobe pros: "Because we’re not in L.A. during the week [Lycacek tours with Stars on Ice] Anna and I get to the studio around 10 a.m. and go directly to the wardrobe department to try on our costumes. Most couples have their final fittings over the weekend, but ours is done on Monday morning. The show’s amazing costumers, who are used to doing things on the fly, make the necessary adjustments to our outfits while we do a music check."

As if the wide variety of body types the costumers accomodate isn't challenging enough, they knock out their fab fashions fast! From Nicole Scherzinger's sailor duds, to Chad Ochocinco's gilded matador look, to Kate Gosselin's red-with-anger "Paparazzi" dress, we give the whole DWTS costume team high marks, indeed.

And if you're talented with a sketchbook, enter ABC's "Design a Dance" contest, sponsored by Macy's, in which viewers get to submit original costume ideas. (Entry deadline is Fri., April 16, after which finalists are selected; viewers vote for a winner beginning Tues., April 27.)