Thread: Calling all Bella addicts!

This is a spin off from my post about my dream costume.
I have a few questions for those of you who have Bellas or order Bellas.....

I would like to order a custom Bella. I saw a pink and coin one that I just LOVE LOVE LOVE!

But I don't really love the pink, and I don't really want a full costume. If a bra and belt was less expensive I would go for that in a heart beat. I like the chiffon skirts, and I can make or buy a chiffon skirt to go woth a bra and belt if it will save me a few dollars.
Please tell me if I won't save any money this way!

I don't need all the cut outs...... but I do want the cazy beading she does.

What do her Bras and belts run? I've never seen them, only the full costumes. But I thought I heard or read somewhere that she does do bras and belts. (I still don't have access to her web site, I've reguested a password numerious times).

What should I expept to pay?

I don't know if she designs more basic than this costume, but it's price is 288 EUR, which is around 440.00 USD

Hmmmmm...... So asking her to stay under $500 or even $400 isn't unreasonable.....

i dont think it's unreasonable. it never hurts to ask

Doesn't the Belly Dance Shoppe carry basic Bella bra/belt sets? Or used to?

the belly dance shop stopped carrying Bella maybe a few years ago. To my knowledge there are no US Bella vendors but I could be wrong about that...

Yes Bella does make bra & belt sets and in my experience what Jasani posted is about the price you can expect for her basic sets. Good luck and post a pic once you get it!

B

I sure will! So If I e-mail her, she will respond and not just make it and bill me, will she?

I hear rumors that there are no guarantees she will respond at all, never mind make it then bill you. However, I have had excellent and prompt communication with her through each purchase. Absolutely a delight to work with!

I have heard that too. I'm going to give it a whirl. If she doesn't respond, it's either not meant to be or I will just have to talk someone who she does respond to into contacting her for me!

Have you checked out Paganini Costumes ? they are very similar to Bellas (Mercedes Paganini is Bella's daughter in law, and trained with her) except she is a bit cheaper, and seems to have better (well, faster) customer service. Worth a look if you're after a basic-ish model.

What is with the logins for Bella and Paganini? Bella hasn't responded, and Paganini is saying that I haven't entered my full name when I really have......

Originally Posted by CareyDances

What is with the logins for Bella and Paganini? Bella hasn't responded, and Paganini is saying that I haven't entered my full name when I really have......

You will never get a password from Bella, so just email her directly. Also, always ask first if she's available to make you a costume for x amount of dollars. Dont' send you measurements and color preferences until you're sure you want it, otherwise she'll just start making one.

I've always had great customer service from Bella and hope you also have a great experience. She works wonders with fabrics and crystals!

Originally Posted by naiyahayal

Doesn't the Belly Dance Shoppe carry basic Bella bra/belt sets? Or used to?

I bought a bra/belt set from them at Rakkasah '06 for less than $400.

Originally Posted by CareyDances

What is with the logins for Bella and Paganini? Bella hasn't responded, and Paganini is saying that I haven't entered my full name when I really have......

I had that problem when I first tried to register there too.
I found that you need to put your first name in one box, and surname separately in the second (it comes up as *****'s like a password)
There's not all that much in the exclusive section, but I think she would make costumes to order if you send her a picture of something you like.

I am assuming that this is a horrible thing to do, but I thought I'd throw it out here.......
My dream costume is a Bella design, (but I would want a few changes to it).
If she is going to charge me $450.

Could I send the picture of it to Paganini and have them make it for less?
Since Paganini is close to Bella or maybe just trained by Bella, do they ever cross those lines?

Mercedes Paganini is very nice, few months ago, I showed her a picture of a Bella I wanted with few changes and she told me in a very nice way that she wouldn't copy a Bella costume. I asked...and I was a bit embarrassed...so the answer is no, she won't reproduce something if it's too similar.

I had a feeling that was a bad idea!

Thank you everyone!