kayshier

what i want to know is, what in your opinion are the innate things that make a belly dance costume beautiful. (no this is not an ugly costume discussion thread)

is it the combination of colours, is it the style and structure?
is it for traditional costumes authenticity?

what are the things that attract you to conclude whether or not a costume is beautiful?

Mya

Well for me it depends on what the type of costume it is.

If i'm looking at a cabaret costume, i don't like to see enough fringe to edge all of the drapery in my house. I'm a fringe minimalist, but i love pretty beadwork. I don't like solid colours like an all pink or all green bedleh - give me shades give me blends! I am fond of coins used well though and i'm hoping that someone will show me a picture of a beautiful vintage costume that used coins so that i can try to recreate it.

I love those sleek fitting skirts like trumpet skirts and such but they don't look so hot on my huge hips. I find refuge in my beloved circle skirts which i find can create so many looks!

I'm not fond of cabaret costumes with strategically placed cutouts that can go terribly awry with a little shifting or of those with mesh in suspect locations. I have to wear black tights under my Hanan or else my clients will get a show that they didn't bargain for!

I'm the opposite for the folkloric costumes though. I don't want to see a beledi dress beaded and fringed into some sort of bellydance version to Cousin It. I prefer those to be simpler, maybe a pretty fabric, but not overly beaded - it's still gotta look good if it's going on a stage right?. Maria Aya's green beledi dress is the best balance i've seen in ages. Dhalal was selling a pretty striped beledi dress that was patterned after a Fifi costume. I LOVE that dress. I will make it and it shall be mine. And then one day i'll learn to dance beledi and i will wear it.

Nice thread - let's hear each other's tastes.

Phoebedances

I am drawn first of all to the basic structure/lines of a costume. All of the beading/fringe in the world and pretty colors can't save a costume that structurally doesn't work, that doesn't have elegant lines or is not balanced. I don't have a single 'look' in design that I'm drawn to. I like circle skirts and straight skirts, tiered skirts, mermaid skirts, and likewise bras that have a variety of designs, too, but the overall look of the costume has to flow well.

I don't like overly fussy costumes - too much decoration on the top edges of belts and bras, though I like a moderate amount at times.

Then once a costume has a good basic line, the rest of it has to harmonize with that. Beadwork, colors, farbric choices all have to echo the lines of what are already there and reinforce the idea that started with a good foundation to begin with.

Does that make sense?

Shanazel

1. Costume flatters the dancer as well as compliments the dance.

2. Good quality materials are used and worksmanship is excellent.

3. Decoration is well-executed and does not overwhelm the dancer.

4. Colors are harmonious and do not immediately bring to mind a particular occasion or event, such as bright red and green= Christmas, orange and black=Halloween, purple and red=The Red Hat Society (I really resent this last, because I love red and purple in combination).

5. No unintended optical illusions are present in design (eyes, genitalia, etc.- we've all seen this)

6. Costume is unique in some way: beautiful beadwork, fantastic fabric, unusual skirt, fresh combination of colors.

I could probably go on at great length, but I'll hush up- for now.

Caroline_afifi

Costumes are a very essential part of what we do, but it should compliment and not the main focus.
However, a dodgy costume can be exactly this.

In Egypt, a large percentage are horrible.

Many of the costumes are made by women are who are truly gifted ,but they lack design and colour co-ordination.

I am not talking about the designers here but the Mahmouds and Yassers of the world. You have to spend a few hours trawling through ugly costumes to find one or two good ones. Lime green with Cerise with purple beading wtc.
cut outs where it should be illeagal etc.

People jump on the band wagon in Egypt in order to make money but dont have a clue what they are doing.
One designer has a sister who makes costumes (not Iman), strip them down a bit and they would be nice, however I dont know who matches the colours or chooses the fabrics for some of that stuff... horrible muddy green and greys with pink beads.. you would not want curtains made from it so why would you want to part with $200 to wear it?

I dont know what they do with this rubbish and I dont know who buys it but someone somewhere obviously does.

A costume should suit the wearer and show off his/her best assests and compliment the parts you would not usually want to show. You do not have to spend a fortune to do this.

A nice costume can also look ugly if worn on someone who clearly does not suit it.

Poeple often go mad and apply different rules with costumes compared to what they would normally wear... why?
take advice from a friend and make sure it is someone who has the guts to be honest if you are not sure.

if purple does not suit you during the day then why should it in the night?

Think about what you want the costume for and does it suit your needs etc.

That is my grumble on the matter... I know tastes vary etc. but I have seen people say..'OOh that is gorgous' about the most hideous dresses! I want to shout NNOOOO dont do it!!

A dodgy costume can make a mockery out of this dance, I still sometimes make the wrong choice for myself, it can often be hit and miss.

Aniseteph

I suppose the colour thing depends where you'd be wearing it - on a stage with a ton of make-up on and under stage lights you might pull off a colour that makes you look like a dead thing in real life. But if you are dancing in natural light or closer to the audience - absolutely agree.

OK, all you with experience of trying things on... is it ever worth trying on costumes that look dodgy on the hanger? Or do some of them become things of beauty rather than so much polyester tat?

Caroline_afifi

Sometimes yes. I once bought a costume that looked like it was made from liquorice allsorts.
I tried it on for a laugh and ended up buying it because it looked good and was fun!

da Sage

First of all, it should fit and be flattering. Quality construction helps. Unity of concept? Sometimes you see a top and bottom that "match" in color and material, but don't seem to go together well.

Marya

Is the Red Hat society so powerful in your community? Red and Purple does not immediately remind me of Red Hat society. I have a wonderful Purple and Red costume which because it is a two piece I have not worn much. But I figure the Red Hat society stole the idea from us, so go ahead and wear those colors proudly.

Marya

da Sage

Red and purple is definitely "red hat" in the public's view. And pink is very often "breast cancer awareness".