Big Girls Get To Play Dress-up
When I took part in making my own costumes, for the dance classes, I thought it was some of the most fun I'd had in putting together fantasy outfits. More than any costuming done since I had dressed up for Halloween as a kid.
Fringe, luxury fabrics, sequins, all sorts of creative fun with just basic sewing skills were all that had been required. In our dance school the mistress of the school designed the basic pattern, but the students all created their own outfits with the decorations, fabrics, and colors they chose. My favorite was the basic bra and belt with split skirt over harem pants and a bolero vest over the top. I love the tribal look costumes, too.
Are you ready to start on making your own fabric fantasy creation?
photo from Alaskan Dude
Contents at a Glance
Ten Costume Essentials
- 1Belly dance hip scarf
- 2Skirt -made of velvet or chiffon
- 3Belly dance top -coin bra, choli top, bolero tied tops, beaded bra
- 4Pantaloons- harem style pants of some sort
- 5Beledi Dress -a full dress that doesn't bare the midriff
- 6Khalegi dress -long, very full and wide caftan
- 7Headbands or turbans
- 8Dance shoes - a barefoot-like sandal or dance heels
- 9Sarongs- like a hip scarf,but longer
- 10Hip belt with fringe or coins- can be made of heavy material or of metal
From Turban to Toe Ring
an essential guide
Practice makes perfect- put together a library of home bellydance classes to get the most from your costume efforts.
From Turban to Toe Ring
Amazon Price: $17.96 (as of 06/02/2012)
A guide for designing and making tribal-fusion belly dance wear. From Turban to Toe Ring contains numerous hints, tips, and directions for making, designing, and assembling a tribal-fusion costume, including:
* A country-by-country breakdown of tribal jewelry styles from the Berber people of Morocco to the Ribari of India.
* Pattern making directions for several different choli and salwar designs.
* Directions for traditional surface embellishments, including applique and shi-sha.
* Mehndi (or henna), from mixing the paste to creating your design.
* Adapting Indian textiles, such as the toran and chakla, for tribal-fusion dance wear.
* Extensive bibliography and guide to historical research of Middle Eastern costume.
Choli top
more coverage, but great for belly dancing
Minya Glitter Choli Top (Large, Black Ice)
Amazon Price: $44.95 (as of 06/02/2012)
To practice, for tribal performance,with a performance bra- this is a useful piece to own for putting together your costume.
Dance Sandals
I prefer the Hermes style that lace at the ankle
Capezio Women's H07FB Full Body footUndeez Lyrical/Modern Shoe
Amazon Price: (as of 06/02/2012)
I consider these essential items- they give barefoot freedom while protecting feet from surfaces which might injure you. They also provide a pretty, finished look to the costume.
Costume Jewelry
A big part of the bellydance look
Belly Dance Costuming
A Basic Costume Pattern
Harem Pants, Skirt
Simplicity Sewing Pattern 2941 Misses Costumes, RR (14-16-18-20)
Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 06/02/2012)
Make Your Own Tribal Costume
A little different from the other costumes
- Tiered skirt
- 11 Clear steps, and what to do if you make a mistake, alternatives,and tips on adjusting for your ehight.
- Tribal Turban How-o
- Make your own Turban, again in 11 steps.
Dance Hip Scarf
BellyLady Belly Dance Hip Scarf & Shawl With Paillettes And Fringe, Deluxe V-Shape BLACK
Amazon Price: $10.29 (as of 06/02/2012)
For your practice it is a must have- but you can also use these to create layers for your costume, or instead of a hip belt.
Make Arabian Nights Costumes
more ideas for your costuming wardrobe
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Bellydance Patterns
to make your own Bra and Belt
The Dance Bra and Belt are the most expensive items if you buy them ready-made. Hundreds of dollars is common to spend for one, let alone a set. If you don't mind spending a little time you can make your own professional looking one for a fraction of the cost.
Truly inexpensive "coin" hip scarf that you make yourself, following this tutorial.
How To Sew
the parts of the belly dance costume
I made my own circle skirt and I harem pants as well as other costume pieces and I don't sew well.With these easy guides you can do it yourself, and even better if you have a talented seamstress best friend who will help you.
- How to make Harem Pants
- Complete directions and illustrations for several types.
- Simple Harem Pants
- Pattern, illustrations and directions
- Make a circle skirt
- complete directions and advice for making this skirt that is a bellydance basic. Make at least one for practices.
- Make your own hip belt
- Make your own basic hip belt. Instructions on how to create a pattern and make the base for your belt.
A Sewing Machine Will Whip a Costume Up In No Time
Don't have a machine?
So is the reliable Singer brand.
“A filmy veil, floating gracefully around a whirling dancer is a special ethereal vision”
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Colorful and Creative Costumes
Belly Dance Costume Ideas
And don't forget the zills (finger cymbals)...
Buy the Costume Parts and Put it Together
great Halloween idea, too.
Featured Belly Dance Lenses
for more belly dance culture
For Your Next Hafla
Recipe #8: Middle Eastern Roast Chicken
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eBay Belly Dance
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Silver fringe belt to accentuate your hip movements.
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