performance costume

Corylus · 02-01-2010, 11:20 PM

Dear all,

I am looking for a decent looking performance costume. I live in the UK and was wondering if any of you know any good costume suppliers or if you could suggest the best place to get them? I have had a look on Farida dance and Aladdin's cave, I know sometimes nice costumes can be found on Ebay. Are there any other suggestions?

I appreciate any advice you can give me.

Mosaic · 02-02-2010, 12:13 AM

I don't know what is available in UK, although I have heard of the places you mentioned.

I am in Australia, and I tend to buy from bellydancestore.com, great service, good quality and reasonable prices and the shipping is excellent for international. I also like dahlal.com who also has excellent service and good quality. The costumes there overall are a bit more expensive although there are some nice ones in the lower price range, worth looking at.
~Mosaic

lizaj · 02-02-2010, 12:38 AM

MandyT ( here on OD) designs wonderful costumes and her company is called Shimmyshop. If you look at the photo I posted of Tracey Gibbs from the Casino el Leyl show, she is wearing one of Mandy's. In fact she wore 2. I have 2 a 2 piece and a gelebeya and bra. They are fabulously made and on the highest quality

maria_harlequin · 02-09-2010, 02:57 PM

I like browsing the Market Place here and the Swap Meet at Bhuz...so many treasures!

Corylus · 02-12-2010, 01:51 PM

Thanks for all of your advice ladies.

There are some gorgeous costumes on those websites that you suggested Mosaic.

Lizaj - I emailed shimmyshop at least 5 days ago enquiring about veils and haven't had a a reply yet, maybe I should email again in case the lady didn't receive my message.

Maria - good idea, hadn't thought of that. Thanks

Amethyst · 02-18-2010, 08:52 PM

Hi Corylus, I live also live in the UK (London) it would be nice if there were some belly dance shops that I can go to and have a look at and try on some costumes!

The only belly dance shop that I have read about (after doing research on the internet) that is in London, is Koochi Bazzar

Dance Class in WAREHAM (UK) - Koochi Bazaar - Belly Dance Shop
Photos of London - Images of London, United Kingdom - VirtualTourist.com

I've not been there yet, would like to pop in one time to have a look.

I have ordered my first costume from Turkish Emporium
Belly Dance Costumes Belly Dance Costumes Hip Scarves Belly Dancing Accessories

I did a few long searches on ebay for belly dance costumes, and you can get some really lovely ones from America or Egypt (Ebay.com not ebay.uk). I ordered my (made to measure) costume from Turkish emporium, mainly as I have a student group performance in March, and wanted to make sure the costume arrived in time.

Good luck with finding a costume!

Corylus · 02-19-2010, 02:33 PM

Hello Amethyst,

Thanks for your post. There is a Koochi Bazaar shop in a town called Wareham, not too far from where I live. This shop is owned by the same lady who owns the one in London. She has some lovely things, but she specialises in tribal (which she makes herself and they are beautiful) and unfortunately doesn't really deal with cabaret style two piece costumes which is what I am looking for.

It seems to me that the best way to see and try on costumes in the uk is to attend haflas/festivals who have souks. We always have a souk at our haflas but they only happen twice a year. However, I reckon I'll wait and see what she has at the next hafla.

Amulya · 02-20-2010, 12:15 AM

EBay is a good place, or you can go for foreign shops, just google a bit. It all depends on how much you want to spend. Or: make your own

Aniseteph · 02-20-2010, 01:25 AM

There's Maayan at Brighton Orient

Unfinished websites would normally put me right off, but I can vouch for the fact that she has a huge stock and some very nice stuff. Not the cheapest, but nice quality, and to me it's worth a few quid to be able to try things on. She emails out every few months when she's having a bazaar, and if she's doing souks. She's based near East Grinstead at the moment, so not much use for Wareham, but not too bad for London.

I bought a veil from shimmyshop - no problems (and a gorgeous veil

).

02-01-2010, 11:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Corylus Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southern England Posts: 176	performance costume Dear all, I am looking for a decent looking performance costume. I live in the UK and was wondering if any of you know any good costume suppliers or if you could suggest the best place to get them? I have had a look on Farida dance and Aladdin's cave, I know sometimes nice costumes can be found on Ebay. Are there any other suggestions? I appreciate any advice you can give me.

02-02-2010, 12:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mosaic Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Australia, but a Kiwi Posts: 3,786	I don't know what is available in UK, although I have heard of the places you mentioned. I am in Australia, and I tend to buy from bellydancestore.com, great service, good quality and reasonable prices and the shipping is excellent for international. I also like dahlal.com who also has excellent service and good quality. The costumes there overall are a bit more expensive although there are some nice ones in the lower price range, worth looking at. ~Mosaic __________________ When your soles rest on the floor and you balance your weight on both of them, then you can rest in yourself, you are in your centre. With every step, you renew contact and the connection to the earth, to matter, to Mater the Mother. ~ Rosina Fawzia Al - Rawi

02-18-2010, 08:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Amethyst Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: London Posts: 30	Hi Corylus, I live also live in the UK (London) it would be nice if there were some belly dance shops that I can go to and have a look at and try on some costumes! The only belly dance shop that I have read about (after doing research on the internet) that is in London, is Koochi Bazzar Dance Class in WAREHAM (UK) - Koochi Bazaar - Belly Dance Shop Photos of London - Images of London, United Kingdom - VirtualTourist.com I've not been there yet, would like to pop in one time to have a look. I have ordered my first costume from Turkish Emporium Belly Dance Costumes Belly Dance Costumes Hip Scarves Belly Dancing Accessories I did a few long searches on ebay for belly dance costumes, and you can get some really lovely ones from America or Egypt (Ebay.com not ebay.uk). I ordered my (made to measure) costume from Turkish emporium, mainly as I have a student group performance in March, and wanted to make sure the costume arrived in time. Good luck with finding a costume! Last edited by Amethyst; 02-18-2010 at 08:55 PM..

02-20-2010, 12:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
Amulya Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern Rivers (NSW), Australia Posts: 2,737	EBay is a good place, or you can go for foreign shops, just google a bit. It all depends on how much you want to spend. Or: make your own __________________ The Belly Dance Video Clip Blog Blog: What Were They Thinking? Amulya on BellyDancingDiva

02-02-2010, 12:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
lizaj Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 4,247	MandyT ( here on OD) designs wonderful costumes and her company is called Shimmyshop. If you look at the photo I posted of Tracey Gibbs from the Casino el Leyl show, she is wearing one of Mandy's. In fact she wore 2. I have 2 a 2 piece and a gelebeya and bra. They are fabulously made and on the highest quality

02-09-2010, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
maria_harlequin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 960	I like browsing the Market Place here and the Swap Meet at Bhuz...so many treasures!

02-12-2010, 01:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Corylus Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southern England Posts: 176	Thanks for all of your advice ladies. There are some gorgeous costumes on those websites that you suggested Mosaic. Lizaj - I emailed shimmyshop at least 5 days ago enquiring about veils and haven't had a a reply yet, maybe I should email again in case the lady didn't receive my message. Maria - good idea, hadn't thought of that. Thanks

02-19-2010, 02:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Corylus Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southern England Posts: 176	Hello Amethyst, Thanks for your post. There is a Koochi Bazaar shop in a town called Wareham, not too far from where I live. This shop is owned by the same lady who owns the one in London. She has some lovely things, but she specialises in tribal (which she makes herself and they are beautiful) and unfortunately doesn't really deal with cabaret style two piece costumes which is what I am looking for. It seems to me that the best way to see and try on costumes in the uk is to attend haflas/festivals who have souks. We always have a souk at our haflas but they only happen twice a year. However, I reckon I'll wait and see what she has at the next hafla.

02-20-2010, 01:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
Aniseteph V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 3,231	There's Maayan at Brighton Orient Unfinished websites would normally put me right off, but I can vouch for the fact that she has a huge stock and some very nice stuff. Not the cheapest, but nice quality, and to me it's worth a few quid to be able to try things on. She emails out every few months when she's having a bazaar, and if she's doing souks. She's based near East Grinstead at the moment, so not much use for Wareham, but not too bad for London. I bought a veil from shimmyshop - no problems (and a gorgeous veil ).