ABOUT US

Designs to Shine by Maria McGill is a name synonymous with luxury and distinctive design.You always know when it’s a Maria McGill dress,we’ve heard a hundred times. We specialize in creating glamorous gowns for fabulous women of every shape and age and over the past decade, Designs to Shine has become expert on making ballgown and latin costumes for all styles.

It all started in 1996 with Maria McGill, then still a professional dancer. Maria often found it difficult to find gowns that she loved so she started making them herself. With the help of her mother and sister and long time friend, she made all of her own competition dresses. When people started buying them straight off her body, she knew she had started something special! From her mother’s kitchen to our studio now, Designs to Shine has grown into what we are today. We are happy that nearly all of our employees have been with the company for at least 3 years and many close to 10! We are truly a family and believe in our product 100%! Designs to Shine is one of the largest companies producing Ballroom Dancewear, and our seamstresses and embellishment staff are all artists. We truly feel that we are the best in the world at what we do.

Designs to Shine was chosen to design all of the gowns for the Premier Season of Dancing with the Stars, Dancing with the Stars Rematch Special, So You Think You Can Dance, American Ballroom Challenge, and on Skating with Celebrities. Our gowns have also been showcased on the Maury Povich Show, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, in several nationally published magazines & newspapers, and we continue to get involved with charity and other special events, locally and nationwide.

Between our love of the dance industry and our desire to make every woman look amazing, we continue to surpass our own standards every year. Designs to Shine by Maria McGill: Style & elegance on and off the Ballroom floor. Experience a whole new world of luxury with our custom designed Dancewear, Evening & Bridal Gowns.

Guide to buying Our dancewear

“Design is not just what it looks like
and feels like.
Design is how it works.”

Guide to buying-dancewear

Measurement forms

Male and Female measurement forms.
Use our online measurement forms
or open and save the forms for later use.

Measurementform

Specialty Wear

We design fabulous specialty wear,
exiting Ice Skating costumes, Entertainment,
and many other types of events.

Karina-Smirnoff