Thread: Costume Cover ups - What do you prefer?

Hi all! My website for costumes will be built and up this week. I have several categories of costumes and accessories and I've been contemplating adding a costume cover section. Question is, what do you look for in a cover/caftan/galabeya?

1. Pull over the head or button up the front.
2. Long sleeve, shorter sleeve?
3. Velvet? Cotton? Satin-y?
4. Price Point?

I personally prefer something that buttons up the front so I don't have to worry about hair or make up. I also prefer something with longer, flowy sleeves in velvet.

Thanks for your help!!

As long as the neck whole is generous I don't mind if it's over the head...but curly hair is supposed to look mussed up anyway. :)
I like long sleeves. Dark color.
I prefer washable. I wear my coverups from gig to gig- putting it on while still sweaty sometimes. Right now I'm wearing the flowy crepe galabeyas, often with embroidery.
The ones that sell for $25-30 + another $40 S+H on ebay sell for $17-$22 in the markets in Egypt.

Washable, long full sleeves, open in front. Pockets!!

Front opening, long or 3/4 sleeve, cool material (cotton-y blend or velvet with burnout) and $40-100 depending on detail and materials.

My dream coverup would be cool, comfy cotton with caftan-style sleeves, open allllll the way down the front with a zipper, and have pockets. I'd love to pay less than $45, so it can be a very simple solid color, maybe just decorated with a small tassel on the zipper.

One of our tribe members made us all cloaks - open down the front but with a button-type closure on the upper portion (about three buttons) plus side pockets with an opening to put our arms through. The sleeves are long and very generous. She also put a hood on them. We have had a lot of comments on these cloaks - always positive and they are soooooo nice to wear as a coverup!

open all the way down, long flowy sleeves, material to be wrinkle free, i like plain colors no pattern, some decoration, washable and pockets, maybe a hood and that all under $40 that would be cool :-)

- Opens up in the front
- Long sleeve
- I'm flexible on material as long as it's soft/flowy - I don't like anything stiff
- $40-$50

I still miss my beautiful silk burnout velvet coverup that I got at the 2007 IBDC. It disappeared from a dressing room only the 2nd time I ever wore it.

I'm with everyone else on the design elements - one thing I don't often see is something that would be appropriate for really hot weather - we do outdoor summer gigs and a super lightweight coverup would be nice.

Button up the front.

Loose fit.

Long, loose sleeves.

Lightweight fabric that's not too hot.

Washable.

Originally Posted by CFerhat

I'm with everyone else on the design elements - one thing I don't often see is something that would be appropriate for really hot weather - we do outdoor summer gigs and a super lightweight coverup would be nice.

One of my students sewed me a coverup from some beautiful light blue chiffon that came pre-embellished with embroidery and sequins. It's basically a big square with a hole for the neck, but it's awesome looking!

I prefer my arms covered past the elbow, front opening, relatively loose fit, lightweight but opaque washable material, pricepoint about $40. A pocket is an added bonus!

Deborah

besides opening up the front with long full sleeves, the fabric needs to not get stuck on rhinestones

Thanks, everyone for your responses. I'm still interested in hearing from anyone who hasn't posted. Seems like this would be popular:
1. Open / Button front
2. Generous Cut
3. Sleeves - 3/4 to full length, flowy
4. Pockets (great suggestion!)
5. Lightweight, washable fabric
6. Under $50

Am I missing anything?

I use a snap-front abaya, available on Muslim clothing websites. Has everything you need, and the price point most people are willing to pay - @$40. The only thing it doesn't have is pockets.

I have used them in the past too but found it a little restricting as they are straight cut. The sleeves were perfect length but also presented some difficulty as they were not as open as I would have liked.

You summed it up for me. Oh, opaque seems like it should go without saying, but I have seen sheer ones.

I've given a lot of thought to the pocket over the years -- as I've thought off and on about making my own 'dream coverup.' The pocket needs to be big enough to hold zills and a couple of bucks for a glass of wine at a hafla.

It could be a set-on patch pocket -- easy to do, and the advantage is the opening is at the top rather than the side, so your money/zills wouldn't fall out when you sit down.

Or it could be set into the side seam -- advantage is it could be made REALLY deep, so a CD might even fit in there!

I really like the beaded peacock jackets that Audrena sells (I'm sure other vendors have them as well). THey are loose, not too heavy and elegant. They also open in the front so you don't have to drag it over your head and face.
She has them in multiple colors, I have one in burgundy!
xoxo,
-NJ

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Oh, opaque seems like it should go without saying, but I have seen sheer ones.

My chiffon one is technically a sheer fabric, but it's a pretty heavy weave and when you add all the embroidery and sequins, you really can't see my costume at all under it. I use it in the summer and it's wonderful to actually be able to feel any available breeze at outdoor gigs.

Originally Posted by selmacimcik

Belly, Belly Dancer Costume, Dance, Costume, Dancer, Belly Dance belly dance costume

ARGH! How do you say "Give it a rest, already!" in Turkish??