Review & Agree to Our Terms

By making a deposit or purchase, you are acknowledging and agreeing to the terms outlined on this page.

🔹 Please carefully review the sections from “Terms – Changes” through “Terms – Taxes & Customs.”
🔹 Read our terms in full to ensure you understand your rights and responsibilities.
🔹 If you have any questions at all about our terms, costumes, goods, or services, we are happy to assist!

Need Assistance? Reach Out!

📍 Multiple ways to contact us are available on the “Contact” page:
✔ Find the Contact link in the top right-hand menu or left side of the footer menu.

We welcome your questions and inquiries and look forward to chatting with you! Let me know if you’d like any refinements or added details.

Terms – Changes

We understand that flexibility is sometimes needed, but changes to your order, delivery, or appointments may incur additional fees based on labor, materials, and scheduling impacts.

Change Orders

🔹 Adjustments to the selection, design, or overall direction of a made-to-order project.
🔹 A change order fee starts at $75 and may include additional charges for extra labor or materials needed to accommodate the revision.

Delivery Date Changes

🔹 If you need to adjust your expected completion date, an earlier deadline may not always be possible.
🔹 If an earlier date is requested, it will be classified as a rush order, adding a minimum of $100 per costume.

Appointment Rescheduling Within 24 Hours

🔹 Last-minute appointment changes within 24 hours of your scheduled time will result in a minimum $25 fee per occurrence.
🔹 While we appreciate our customers and dancers, our time is valuable, particularly during peak seasons—so we kindly ask that you plan appointments carefully.

We strive to keep the process seamless while respecting both your timeline and ours.

Terms – Delivery Expectations

We are committed to fulfilling your order within the agreed-upon timeline, but certain factors beyond our control may impact delivery.

Potential Delays

🚫 We cannot be responsible for delays caused by:
✔ Customer change orders – Adjustments to design or materials after procurement has begun.
✔ Untimely responses – Delays due to slow communication on approvals or decisions.
✔ Fitting accommodations – Scheduling challenges impacting the timeline.
✔ Third-party delivery issues – USPS, UPS, FedEx delays, including inclement weather, theft, or unforeseen events like volcanic eruptions or acts of terrorism.

Lost or Stolen Mail

In the past, we have been able to reproduce lost or stolen costumes within the original timeframe, but this is not guaranteed—especially for last-minute rush orders.

We take great care to ensure a smooth delivery process, but we encourage customers to plan accordingly and communicate promptly to keep everything on schedule.

Shower

Hailey in an age appropriate, jazz costume, “Shower”, a custom, handmade dance costume by ContenderWear™

Terms – Branding & Product Representation

We proudly promote Lona Smith Creates™ and all the brands under our entity, including:
✔ Lona Smith Creates™
✔ ContenderWear™
✔ Plain Brown Label™
✔ HotMess Dance Apparel™
✔ Bitsy Butik™
✔ Havasu Bikinis™
✔ NuptialWear™

Supplier Tagging & Descriptions

Certain suppliers have authorized or restricted specific tags on our products based on their manufacturing guidelines. To ensure compliance, each costume will include a detailed care letter specifying:
✔ How to properly care for your garment.
✔ What tags and descriptors may be used for your specific costume.

Social Media Tagging

We love when customers tag and mention our brands on social media! Feel free to share Lona Smith Creates™, ContenderWear™, Plain Brown Label™, HotMess Dance Apparel™, Bitsy Butik™, Havasu Bikinis™, and NuptialWear™ in your posts.

While you’re welcome to omit our business name or brand, we kindly ask that you do not attribute our work to another business, ensuring proper credit for our craftsmanship.

Agreement to Terms

By purchasing our products and custom works, you are agreeing to ALL our terms, allowing us to continue providing top-tier craftsmanship and service.

Shy Pie in Soldier 2021

Shy in Soldier 2020-2021

From This Moment Custom Dance Costume

Karlie in her dance costume, “From This Moment”, a custom, handmade, dance costume by ContenderWear™

FITTINGS – The Unfiltered Truth

We believe in professionalism and respect, but unfortunately, we have to spell this out clearly for some.

✔ Be clean & wear a barrier – Your underwear or a pantiliner is required during fittings.
✔ Respect the process – Costumes are still in progress, and hygiene matters. No inappropriate stains or residue.
✔ Attitude check – No rudeness, eye-rolling, fussing, or unsolicited sewing instruction during fittings.
✔ Failure to comply? – Poor attitude means we’ll reschedule your fitting at your expense.

FIT – What We’re NOT Responsible For

✔ Body changes after initial measurements – Growth, weight gain, or weight loss is beyond our control.
✔ Costume fit is based on the measurements provided at the time of production start.

A smooth fitting helps ensure a perfect final product—let’s keep it professional, respectful, and efficient.

Would you like any refinements, or does this hit the right tone for your audience?

Terms – Deposits, Exchanges & Measurements

Deposit Policy

Once a deposit is placed, work begins immediately on your custom or semi-custom made-to-order product. We are holding your spot, turning away others vying for that date.
✔ Deposits & all payments are non-refundable – Funds go toward purchasing fabrics, rhinestones, supplies, pattern creation, and renderings.
✔ Deposits are not payment in full – If you have a specific budget, it is your responsibility to communicate this before placing your order.

Exchanges & Returns (Ready-to-Ship Items)

Exchanges and returns are not allowed due to:
✔ Hygienic reasons – Costumes are worn close to the body.
✔ Specialty merchandise – Each piece is unique.
✔ Discount price-point – RTS items are offered at special pricing.

Measurements & Fittings

✔ Local customers – We take measurements for full-service ContenderWear® or Plain Brown Label® costumes.
✔ Remote customers – You must provide accurate measurements. We offer video chat assistance and an instructional page for guidance.
✔ Missed measurement appointments may result in a charge – We plan carefully for each fitting.

Fitting Expectations

✔ Remote fittings must follow our instructions for best results. If instructions are disregarded, we are not responsible for fit issues.
✔ No-shows & repeated reschedules delay production – Your turnaround time depends on when you return the fitted costume.
✔ Appointments should be planned carefully – All customers “have dance,” parties, and obligations—we cannot bump other clients due to poor scheduling.

Optional Items for Remote Fittings

✔ Pre-payment required for optional items sent with fittings.
✔ Refundable only if returned in pristine condition with the costume upon its return.
✔ Deviations from the plan incur a 20% restocking fee on optional item returns.

We uphold these policies to maintain fairness, efficiency, and the quality of service that sets us apart.

Terms – Earnest Commitment & Scheduling

We strive to maintain a fair and systematic approach to costuming orders, ensuring clarity in expectations and timelines.

Deposit Requirement for Quote Validity

✔ Until a deposit is paid, your quote is not considered an earnest agreement.
✔ You have 24-48 hours to make a deposit—or until another order is accepted, which may dismiss your pending estimate.

Dynamic Scheduling & Quote Process

✔ With many orders in progress at all times, our schedule is constantly evolving.
✔ Each customer is allocated 60-90 minutes for their quote session, ensuring we fully understand your needs while answering questions.
✔ If no deposit is made after this process, we prioritize customers who demonstrate earnest commitment.

Pricing Changes for New Quotes

✔ If a quote is created and no deposit is received, do not expect future quotes to match previous pricing.
✔ Pricing fluctuates based on current market rates for fabrics, embellishments, and supplies.

Securing Your Costume Timeline

✔ Customers who book early with a specific date will have their timeline locked in, provided they are ready to start on schedule.
✔ All other projects are handled on a first-deposit, first-served basis.
✔ If a customer is indecisive or not ready, we move forward with the next project—timely decisions are crucial to prevent scheduling delays.

We encourage customers to communicate promptly and make timely decisions to ensure a smooth production process. 

 
When You Believe

Kalie in her beautiful age appropriate ContenderWear™ custom, handmade, dance costume for her lyrical piece

Your Girl Custom Jazz Dance Costume

Hay in “My Girl”, a bright and colorful custom, age appropriate, jazz dance  costume by ContenderWear™

Terms – Payments & Progress Reports

Payments Policy

✔ Deposits are non-refundable – Work begins immediately upon deposit, including ordering materials and creating patterns.
✔ Full payment of work and materials must be made before a costume is sent for fitting.
✔ Certain brands (HotMess Dance Apparel, Bitsy Butik, Havasu Bikinis) require full payment before fittings can be released.
✔ Final payment is due upon completion or at fitting – Unpaid balances beyond 30 days of completion notice may result in the costume being sold to recover unpaid costs.

Ready-To-Ship (RTS) Items

✔ RTS items ship immediately with PayPal or cash payments that can be instantly verified.
✔ Credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay may take several days to verify—items ship once the payment is cleared.

Progress Reports & Communication

✔ Progress reports are sent regularly – If no feedback is given, it is assumed you agree with the current status.
✔ If adjustments are needed, comment immediately – Reversing steps will result in additional fees.
✔ Selections must be made promptly – If responses or decisions are delayed, we continue with other projects rather than waiting.

📌 Communication Consistency
✔ We maintain a single communication thread per customer to avoid confusion across multiple platforms.
✔ If you have a preferred method of communication, it must be requested from the beginning of the process.

This structure ensures efficiency, clarity, and a smooth workflow.

 

Terms – Pricing Discounts & Taxes/Customs

Pricing Discounts

✔ Discount details can be found in the center of the footer in your PDF format quote.
✔ Cash direct payments (Cash or ZellePay/QuickPay) qualify for the highest discount structure.
✔ PayPal has a different discount structure, while Etsy offers no discounts.
✔ Customers choose how they pay, which dictates the discount structure applied.

Taxes & Customs

✔ Out-of-state customers (outside California) are responsible for any applicable local or federal taxes related to the sale.
✔ International customers (outside the U.S.) must pay customs, tariffs, and/or taxes based on their local regulations.
✔ Failure to pay customs fees within your postal carrier’s timeframe will result in the parcel being returned as “unclaimed.”
✔ If a package is returned, customers must request a postage billing and pay the new shipping fee before the item is sent again.

We aim to maintain transparent pricing and policies so every customer knows exactly what to expect.

Sweet Child Custom Lyrical Dance Costume

Shy in a handmade, custom lyrical dance costume, “Sweet Child of Mine”, by ContenderWear™