Szizzle Designs creates, sews, and embellishes custom bodybuilding competition stagewear, swimwear, and unique fitness apparel. Check out our website and contact us with any questions!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose Szizzle Designs?
We’ll bet you’ve Googled ‘competition suits’ quite a bit since you decided to take the plunge into competing! We know it’s overwhelming to choose a bikini designer, especially when a lot of women don’t know much about how bikinis are made or what to look for beyond “oooohhhh look at that sparkle!” Check out our Features page to see to what lengths we’ve gone for continuing education, materials sourcing, and our commitment to providing excellent customer service.
How early should I order a stage suit?
For women’s suits, a good rule of thumb is at least 12 weeks before your show, though it’s never too early to begin the design process! Men’s trunks can be 4-8 weeks before your show. The sooner you can book your spot on our calendar the better, especially when we’re coordinating remote fittings.
WHEN WILL I GET MY STAGE SUIT?
We currently schedule our work by our client’s show dates. This means we prioritize work by show date and not by order date. Of course, we do not want you to stress! We aim to get you your suit well in advance of your show so there is time to address any potential issues. If you want/need your suit much earlier than your show, please let us know so we can make arrangements to meet that deadline instead of your show. Communication is key, so let us know what you need!
How will I know how much weight I’ll lose?
It really depends on your body shape, how much body fat you have to start with, and how long your prep is. If you plan to drop a lot of weight, talk to us about getting a posing practice suit: not only will this fit you throughout your prep, but it also serves as a base for us to discuss how your stage suit should fit. We’ll make sure that your suit fits your body where it’s at on show day, not to some ideal weight. This means we can finalize the fit closer to show day as necessary. It’s important to us that you feel comfortable and secure.
Where are you located?
Our home-based studio is in Upstate NY. We’re a small business and feel proud to serve clients across the country!
Do you Ship outside of the United States?
No, we do not ship outside of the USA.
How Do I order?
Fill-out the form on our Contact Us page, or send a message to the following:
We ask that you review and submit the Service Contract before we begin work on your custom order.
How does the Design Process Work?
Submit your show and contact information via our Contact Us page.
Review and submit the Service Contract.
Discuss design and budget via video chat, phone call, or messaging/text. We’re flexible!
Client is invoiced via PayPal. The deposit is due before we begin work and order materials.
Send Photos and Measurements.
Choose Fabric, Connectors and/or Crystal design. We can send digital or physical fabric swatches.
We’ll create your base, un-crystalled suit and mail it to you for your fitting.
Send us front and back photos of you in your base suit, along with any questions or comments on the fit.
Mail us back the base suit for alterations (if needed) and crystalling.
Receive photos of your finished bikini.
Ensure the balance is paid on your invoice. Once it’s paid-in-full, we’ll ship your finished suit to you!
Do you sell Ready-made or pre-owned suits?
We currently do not carry an inventory of suits. At this time, all of our products are made to-order.
Will you alter a bikini made by another designer?
It depends. We cannot make major alterations to suits that have not been made by us. We recommend going back to the original designer for assistance or letting us create a new suit for you. We can, however, make minor adjustments, add rhinestones, or swap out connectors. Reach out to us for assistance and we’ll give you options based on your situation.
I purchased a second-hand szizzle designs bikini - will you alter it?
Yes. We will make alterations to our previously-loved bikinis to make sure it fits you as perfectly as possible. We recommend you consulting with us prior to purchase to make sure the alterations needed are feasible.
Can you duplicate another designer’s suit cut or design?
If you prefer the exact fit or rhinestone design of another suit designer, we recommend letting them create your suit. As a designer, artist, and small business owner, I respect the work of other designers. We can certainly reference photos of other suits you like as an inspiration for your suit: we can make a “franken-suit” from your many ideas!
How should I care for my suit?
Remember that your stage suit is a work of art and can be fragile - especially if you have connectors. While we use the strongest glue, professional sewing techniques, and have sourced the best quality connectors available, we recommend caring for you suit like jewelry! Avoid pulling directing on or twisting the connectors: this means completely un-tying the straps whenever dressing/undressing, and utilizing the clasps next to the hip connectors. When adjusting, pull on the fabric instead of the connectors. Store your suit in the protective hard case (included with your bikini!) instead of throwing it into your suitcase where it can be squished.
We do NOT recommend practicing posing in your stage suit. Handling and sweating in it excessively may increase the chance of damage. Practice in a regular bikini, or ask about our posing practice suits so you can pose in the same stage cut.
To prolong the life of your suit, be sure to gently clean it post-show. Sweat and tanner can speed up corrosion or staining, but fortunately they’re both easy to clean! Simple fill your bathroom sink with cold water and a gentle detergent (ie: Woolite), and swish your suit in the water: you’ll see the tanner come loose immediately. Rinse with cold water, and repeat the process as-necessary. Hang or lay flat to dry completely before storage. You can also brighten the connectors with denture cleaner and a soft toothbrush.
Help! My connector broke before my show!
Every connector is inspected for flaws before it is packaged and shipped or delivered. We cannot stress enough that you must be careful when handling your connectors. We realize that damage occurs inadvertently, so please contact us immediately if anything is broken on your new suit before show day. We’ll do our best to make arrangements for repair or replacement.
how can I get the suit of my dreams on a budget?
While our base suit costs are set, we can work with your budget on the extras. Fortunately there is a huge variety of fabrics that are sparkly on their own, and we can come up with rhinestone and color designs that can maximize the sparkle effect. You can always upgrade your suit in the future as well: we can add or change connectors, and add extra rhinestones to your existing Szizzle Designs bikini to have it look like a brand new suit!
what payment methods do you accept? Do you offer a payment plan?
Yes. The following deposits are required before we begin work on your suit:
Men’s suits: 100% (paid in-full)
Women’s posing practice suits and summer bikinis: 100% (paid in-full)
Women’s stage suits: 50% deposit
The deposit is non-refundable as we use the cost to cover materials and labor required to make your suit. Any discounts will be applied toward your balance. The balance on your suit shall be paid in-full prior to picking up your suit, or before the finished suit is mailed to you.
We accept payment via PayPal and credit card (Square). Cash or check will be accepted in-person only. If you’d like to make payments on the balance, we will send you a PayPal invoice on which you can pay on your schedule!
How will my bikini be shipped?
Suits will be shipped via USPS Priority Mail. You’ll be provided with a tracking number, and suits generally take 2-3 days to arrive. Your package will be fully-insured and properly protected.
How shall I return the base suit for crystalLing?
It is your responsibility to mail the base suit back in a timely manner to ensure meeting your schedule requirements. Package the suit securely to avoid damage to the connectors, and we recommend insuring the package as well. We are not responsible for replacing a lost or damaged suit for free. Return the suit to our business’ mailing address:
Jayme Szili
Szizzle Designs
5 Oakview Dr.
Johnson City, NY 13790
Do you offer discounts or have sales?
Yes! We offer the following discount programs - ask us for details!
Loyalty Discount: As a thank you for your continued patronage, we can pass-on the time savings since we keep your perfect pattern on-file!
Military & Law Enforcement Appreciation: We fully support those who protect us and want to thank you for your service!
Do you accept returns or exchanges?
No. We cannot accept returns or exchanges on custom apparel, competition suits, or swim bikinis. Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any issues with our product an we’ll do our best to make it right.
Do you have a Re-SALE POLIcy or Buy-Back Option?
Not at this time. Should you wish to sell your bikini, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your re-sale options. We’re happy to provide you with information about the suit that may help you sell it faster and to the right person.