Inspiration for costumes

gypsyroze · 04-29-2008, 09:08 PM

Where do you get inspiration from costumes? Me, believe it or not, Star Wars episodes 1-3, Padma Amadala's costumes have inspired many design sketches for me... too bad i don't have any advanced sewing abilities.

Fatima · 05-01-2008, 10:12 PM

Sources for inspirations come from lots of places: vintage photos, other dancers costumes, haute coutures dresses, and sometimes when I find a beautiful fabric in the fabric store the costume just comes out it. I do sew most of my costumes and the fact that I can wear a costume that suits the mood of a particular dance and that it suits me is just priceless.

gypsyroze · 05-01-2008, 10:38 PM

Lately I've been blitzed with inspiration for costumes, the problem I'm having is actually sewing, since my sewing knowledge is very basic. Also how does one may bray tops?!? I must be on glue on something because I can't seem to find a decent bra to make into a top.

Kuchi_Cookie · 05-18-2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsyroze

Lately I've been blitzed with inspiration for costumes, the problem I'm having is actually sewing, since my sewing knowledge is very basic. Also how does one may bray tops?!? I must be on glue on something because I can't seem to find a decent bra to make into a top.

You'd be surprised how easy it is. My sewing knowledge is pretty much the basic of the basic, but using the same coloured thread as the bra, I was pretty shocked at the results!

I just used an old black bra - I think, as long as you put enough decoration on it, it doesn't matter what the style really is.

I've made a few more since then, since I have a stockpile of old bras I no longer wear (I thought the colour was boring :P). You improve so much with every bra you make; I'm now making stuff I never thought I'd be able to pull off in a million years.

Ebay is great for hoarding 'ingredients' for your bra; there's loads of crafty little outlets that sells nicknacks that would look great on it. Possibly the most expensive part, but I've found that reels of Jacquard ribbon sells pretty cheap there too, and looks REALLY effective on a bra. Then again, you may or may not want to use that kind of thing, depending upon the style you're going for.

Anyway, I'll put in a few links to little outlets that might be useful. Good luck!

eBay UK Shop - chameleon accesories: GLASS, ACRYLIC, STONE

eBay UK Shop - Karma Cosmeceuticals: mineral, foundation, cruelty free

eBay UK Shop - Beads: plastic acrylic, glass beads lampwork ab millefoire, Tibetan

eBay UK Shop - WHAT I GATHER: Latin American Treasures, Contemporary Beads Components, Religious Treasures

eBay Seller: audrey vw: Beads, Painting, Drawing Art items on eBay.co.uk

eBay.co.uk Shop - WOOLSHABSCREAMS: TRIMMING: MEDIEVAL BRAID RIBBON TRIMMING EDGING LUREX 8YDS NEW (Jacquard heaven!)

10 Gold Hippy Bells - Jewellery Findings Making Beads on eBay, also, Pendants, Jewellery Making, Crafts (end time 16-Jun-08 23:55:43 BST) (Linked you to the bells, but the rest of the shop is nice too)

eBay.co.uk Shop - The Gem Tree: PENDANTS FROM 99p TO 9.99: TIBETAN SMOKY QUARTZ PENDANT EXCELLENT QUALITY (While it's primarily a jewellery store, have a look at her loose pendants/crystals. They can look really effective.)

eBay UK Shop - DANGLY BEADS RHINESTONES BELLS STONE CRAFT EMBROIDERY SEQUIN: STITCH-On BEADS, yummy mummies craft corner (This one is really the cream of the crop. It has some GORGEOUS stuff you could put on your bra.)

Hope this helps!

Shanazel · 05-19-2008, 02:42 PM

Local fabric stores sometimes offer beginners lessons in sewing, and you can always ask friends for some instruction. I taught myself when I was about 15- the first dress I made was tailored and lined; no one told me those were advanced techniques, so I just followed the instructions in a book I checked out of the library and did just fine. Simplicity has a good basic sewing manual for a very reasonable price.

I am usually inspired by fabric, choosing pieces that sing to me and going from there.

Maria_Aya · 05-20-2008, 08:40 AM

As I design my own costumes and Seif at Cairo make them for me (he is great !!!) usually my inspirations are songs.
The lyrics of a song, the feeling it gives me, the image i would like to have dancing it.
I just try not to make it so limited so to be able to use the costume in other performances also lol

Maria Aya

Caroline_afifi · 05-20-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maria_Aya

As I design my own costumes and Seif at Cairo make them for me (he is great !!!) usually my inspirations are songs.
The lyrics of a song, the feeling it gives me, the image i would like to have dancing it.
I just try not to make it so limited so to be able to use the costume in other performances also lol

Maria Aya

A dress for every song! I wish...

Who is Seif?

Maria_Aya · 05-20-2008, 09:36 AM

Awww Seif is my costume angel lol

Saif abd el Aziz full name, was working in designing gawns and wedding dresses for 15 years.
He changed business to bellydance costumes 5 years ago.
So in general his costumes are different than the usual bellydance. He pays great attention to fabrics and import them from all Europe.
I dont have one costume per song lol, but have already 10 costumes from Seif.
I'll try to post photos over here or links with photos and costumes.
Also he have great prices.
And he is the sweetest guy but I hate him and his wife when they want me to eat soooooooo much at their house. You cant get away with egyptians when they force you to finish all your dish (which is HUGE lol)
his e-mail is saif_azyaa@yahoo.com

designed this one for Alf Leyla wa Leyla

This one for baladi, its pure silk and have my name in arabic written at the back:

This one for Talisman the specific song, but have danced also Gana el Hawa with it:

And this extra sexy Saidi dress (wasnt my intention lol)

Also have 5 more costumes from Seif.
Unfortunately (or Fortunately

) none of them fits me now as i've lost alot of weight and I have to take them back to Cairo on June to make him fix them.

He is preparing now an Iskandarani dress for me, that is inspired from the fishermen of Alexandria, it have blue light net like the one they have and small star-fish and shells are on it. Hope its ready on June.

Maria Aya

Caroline_afifi · 05-20-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maria_Aya

Awww Seif is my costume angel lol

Saif abd el Aziz full name, was working in designing gawns and wedding dresses for 15 years.
He changed business to bellydance costumes 5 years ago.
So in general his costumes are different than the usual bellydance. He pays great attention to fabrics and import them from all Europe.
I dont have one costume per song lol, but have already 10 costumes from Seif.
I'll try to post photos over here or links with photos and costumes.
Also he have great prices.
And he is the sweetest guy but I hate him and his wife when they want me to eat soooooooo much at their house. You cant get away with egyptians when they force you to finish all your dish (which is HUGE lol)
his e-mail is saif_azyaa@yahoo.com

designed this one for Alf Leyla wa Leyla

This one for baladi, its pure silk and have my name in arabic written at the back:

This one for Talisman the specific song, but have danced also Gana el Hawa with it:

And this extra sexy Saidi dress (wasnt my intention lol)

Also have 5 more costumes from Seif.
Unfortunately (or Fortunately

) none of them fits me now as i've lost alot of weight and I have to take them back to Cairo on June to make him fix them.

He is preparing now an Iskandarani dress for me, that is inspired from the fishermen of Alexandria, it have blue light net like the one they have and small star-fish and shells are on it. Hope its ready on June.

Maria Aya

Very nice Maria!

Where in Cairo is he based?

Maria_Aya · 05-20-2008, 10:00 AM

I'll pm you Caroline

04-29-2008, 09:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
gypsyroze Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 65	Inspiration for costumes Where do you get inspiration from costumes? Me, believe it or not, Star Wars episodes 1-3, Padma Amadala's costumes have inspired many design sketches for me... too bad i don't have any advanced sewing abilities.

05-01-2008, 10:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fatima Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 135	Sources for inspirations come from lots of places: vintage photos, other dancers costumes, haute coutures dresses, and sometimes when I find a beautiful fabric in the fabric store the costume just comes out it. I do sew most of my costumes and the fact that I can wear a costume that suits the mood of a particular dance and that it suits me is just priceless. __________________ I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself. Mikhail Baryshnikov Blogs: Fátima Baila.

05-20-2008, 08:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
Maria_Aya Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 2,138	As I design my own costumes and Seif at Cairo make them for me (he is great !!!) usually my inspirations are songs. The lyrics of a song, the feeling it gives me, the image i would like to have dancing it. I just try not to make it so limited so to be able to use the costume in other performances also lol Maria Aya __________________ ... www.orientalexpression.gr

05-20-2008, 09:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
Maria_Aya Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 2,138	Awww Seif is my costume angel lol Saif abd el Aziz full name, was working in designing gawns and wedding dresses for 15 years. He changed business to bellydance costumes 5 years ago. So in general his costumes are different than the usual bellydance. He pays great attention to fabrics and import them from all Europe. I dont have one costume per song lol, but have already 10 costumes from Seif. I'll try to post photos over here or links with photos and costumes. Also he have great prices. And he is the sweetest guy but I hate him and his wife when they want me to eat soooooooo much at their house. You cant get away with egyptians when they force you to finish all your dish (which is HUGE lol) his e-mail is saif_azyaa@yahoo.com designed this one for Alf Leyla wa Leyla This one for baladi, its pure silk and have my name in arabic written at the back: This one for Talisman the specific song, but have danced also Gana el Hawa with it: And this extra sexy Saidi dress (wasnt my intention lol) Also have 5 more costumes from Seif. Unfortunately (or Fortunately ) none of them fits me now as i've lost alot of weight and I have to take them back to Cairo on June to make him fix them. He is preparing now an Iskandarani dress for me, that is inspired from the fishermen of Alexandria, it have blue light net like the one they have and small star-fish and shells are on it. Hope its ready on June. Maria Aya __________________ ... www.orientalexpression.gr

05-20-2008, 10:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
Maria_Aya Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 2,138	I'll pm you Caroline __________________ ... www.orientalexpression.gr

05-01-2008, 10:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
gypsyroze Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 65	Lately I've been blitzed with inspiration for costumes, the problem I'm having is actually sewing, since my sewing knowledge is very basic. Also how does one may bray tops?!? I must be on glue on something because I can't seem to find a decent bra to make into a top.

05-19-2008, 02:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,225	Local fabric stores sometimes offer beginners lessons in sewing, and you can always ask friends for some instruction. I taught myself when I was about 15- the first dress I made was tailored and lined; no one told me those were advanced techniques, so I just followed the instructions in a book I checked out of the library and did just fine. Simplicity has a good basic sewing manual for a very reasonable price. I am usually inspired by fabric, choosing pieces that sing to me and going from there.