Thread: Costume finished-ish!

My fingers hurt. It's the beads I clutch, the bling I catch. It is beading time again at casa de Ozma...and train de Ozma...and coffeshop nearby de Ozma. Oh, let me admit it, the beadings never end over here.



I could claim that I've been working on this costume for months...but it is also true to say this has been three years in the making.

The truth is that this costume started at the end of 2004 when I was in a troupe run by a crazy teacher (who is no longer in Japan) and she decided that we needed to order professional level costumes.

Let's call my teacher Ms. B.Robins, because she was 31 flavors of CRAZY. When I first joined the troupe in 2004 the troupe costume was simple hippy-wear. It set us back about 180$ but when you live in Japan you get used to shipping and crazy extra expenses....and OMG I would be dancing in a troupe! The costume went with our general attitude: not particularly serious dancers, nor very good, but a nice group of girls. We all customized as we saw fit. Some girls added ric-rack and tons of gold fringe, I embroidered a wasp across the ass of my hip-scarf and did some bead and coin trim.

By the end of 2004, those of us who started getting more serious about the dance (and who had not run away from the crazy) remained in the troupe. Ms.B.Robins had come back from her first trip to Egypt and wanted us to seriously upgrade our look with professional costumes…made by someone that she’d befriended on her trip. I'm not naming names, because I don't blame them. After a choreography rehearsal, and a long talk about how she wanted us to always be open with her, and to feel free to study with teacher, and no divas and sisterhood and the moon..blah, blah, blah...she put a bunch of costume pictures on the floor and wanted us to stand by the costumes we liked.

Troupe mates, used to the hippy style, freaked out at the spandex and bras. Three of us picked costumes, unafraid of the overly sexy-showy nature. One student, a friend of mine, in fact noted “all those sexy holes” as to why she’d picked hers...the others sort of hovered in the corner, afraid of all options....and...sisterhood aside, too afraid of the crazy of Ms.B.Robins to argue.

It was going to take more meetings. People felt that the costumes were too revealing, too “not our style” and just too damned pricey. We didn’t have any paying gigs, so why drop 400$ plus dollars per person?!

Later, as I was being farmed out to restaurants I wasn't ready for, and occasionally to parties, giving my teacher a cut, I had one good answer as to why she might want a couple of us in pro-costumes.

At the additional meetings we suggested coin costumes, or Necklemans, which would have fit our budget better. Crazy Lady wasn’t having it. We all vetoed spandex with sparklies and pushed for a simple gold bedlah ( bra & belt) with chiffon skirts in different colors. One girl, was very worried about exposing a slight skin condition that she had, so I offered to get a more covering bra-design along with her because I was a few cup sizes larger and a little self-conscious of my weight...and a peacemaker.

We were warned that the costumer didn't think we should get gold, because the problems with the stretch gold fabrics were becoming apparent to them. My teacher pushed and we got them. For those of you who experienced gold-fabric-rot of the gold layer peeling off their costumes, you know what issue I speak of.

We went home to write down our measurements and get color swatches for the color skirts we wanted (each of us would have our own color.) I picked raspberry, but we had too many pinks and reds I was told, so I picked a dark green instead. After sending everything to the costumer, I was told that they didn’t have the right green. I’d be getting grass-green. YUCK. I also learned, after sending everything out, that the other girl had decided that she’d go for the sexier top. I was stuck alone in my big one. Damn.

In being a peacemaker I had stuck myself with a less than my ideal costume.

During the time it took to get our costumes, my teacher went to India and returned SERIOUSLY insane. If you ever want access to some of the Olympic Level Insanity tales, meet me for a drink some time. The costumes arrived, but the new levels of crazy in our teacher caused us to lose two members the very day they came

The fit was crazy, which was no doubt 30% our fault, 30% margin of error and 40% mistakes Japanese girls might have made with cup sizes... I had an ugly Star-trek-esque top that fit, while all the regular bra designs were at least two cup-sizes too large for everyone else. We shorten straps and padded and did nipple checks.

Eshe can back me up on this, as we were troupe mates. It should also be noted that Eshe and I buy very affordable costumes nowadays and don't order the big names or pay the big bucks. This costume probably emotionally scarred us. The idea of ever ordering another custom made still scares me.

Really, nothing fit right and were were all in rough shape. at the time I wrote:

Rehearsal sucked. We are a sickly group of pulled muscles, ill-fitting costumes, flu, and pollen allergies. Right now we resemble a well-running troupe the same way that a Dadaist exquisite corpse resembles a real person.

This upcoming event will be the debut of our new troupe costume, the shiny ‘professional’ one that doesn’t seem to fit anyone correctly. I am the only person who doesn’t require disturbing amounts of padding (I ordered a size smaller than normal) in the bra. During our choreography we have one specific move that seems to be designed to allow nipples and costume cleavage gap to be displayed towards and shaken at the audience. Everyone except me has been ordered to shorten straps and pad more. I have also been working on Opua’s costume a bit, but now she’s taken over the re-hooking and swearing. As for me, my skirt is too short and I don’t have enough hair to keep the headband from flying off the back of my skull, and one of my gauntlets is looser than the other.

When I turned in for the night, and pulled the blankets up tight, one phrase filled my mind: We are golden Frankenstein dancers. Within the ill-conceived, poorly executed skins of our costumes we desperately want to behave like real dancers, to be accepted as such…but the audience will take one look at our exposed nipples and bolts. Torches will be lit.

There were more problems than you want to know with the skirts and bras. Our performance was bad, the one a week later was slightly better. Time passed and we eventually ran away from the crazy lady, taking our costumes with us. Without the poofy skirts, the bra and belt were solid workhorses, good for restaurant gigs. Well, every bra but mine.

That's me, zombie puppet dancer...front and center!

My original bra was designed in a way that the fabric stretched over my back and across the costume, like a blinged out turkish vest permanently attached to the bra. It's a look that works for some, but not for me. After we all ran away from the troupe, Opua (not her real name) gave me her gold bra. The cups were too big for her and she was going tribal. It fit me perfectly and served me well for years.


Eshe had very bad experiences with the crazy teacher and sold her bra and belt on Bhuz and soon as she had other costumes so that she could be rid of things connected with those days. Mine was serving me well, no bad mojo.

Opua and I had always planned to sell my old bra and her old belt as a set (along with any of the skirts or other bits that we wish never to touch again.) But as I’ve mentioned, stretch gold lame is not a strong material. Because my original bra was designed in a way that stressed the fabric, in 2006, when I pulled it out to to photograph it for sale, I realized that the lame was flaking off and the bra simply couldn’t be sold. The basic belt and bra style didn't have any problems, but the stretchy nature of gauntlets, headbands, and my bra killed them, gold-rot. Opua and I worked out a deal and she gave me her extra belt, headband, and gauntlets for parts.

I was still using my bra and belt (well, Opua's bra and belt) but I decided that the wide belt, while it looked smashing with trumpet skirts, was too wide for chiffon skirts. So, Using Opua's spare belt and some AB crystals I picked up in Tokyo, I made a second, skinny gold belt for my bra. Now I had one bra and two belts that I could wear, one molting huge bra that I couldn't wear, one half-picked apart belt and two sets of molting gauntlets and headbands.




At casa de Ozma, we use all parts of the costume.

In 2007, I was commissioned by a friend, Farasha, to make a bling-tastic gold set for her. I recycled the beads and sequins from the rest of my "parts belt & bra & gauntlets" AND some crystals from Eshe's headband, which she found when she was moving, for most of my beads and sequins. Farasha dances in The Afet Collective (an international collective of dancers working for a charity) with me, Eshe, and Opua (and others some from the crazy teacher days) and was excited about the idea of having a costume with the good mojo of 3 of her fellow dancers in it.





In early 2008, I sold the wearable bra and the original wide belt on Bhuz to Bernie V. (right? I've sold you two costumes I think?)...along with a fuzzy creature. I kept my homemade gold skinny belt. I also sold the original green skirt to Annwyn who has since sold it.

After that I only had 2 gauntlets left over.

In early spring ago I went and bought some beads and AB crystals and a base-bra...because I need a gold set again. I picked all the beads and stuff from my last remaining gauntlets and added them to what I had left over from Farasha's set. Now, months later and with additional rhinestone chain and AB crystals, I am soooooo close. I'm going to need to re-up my beads in Tokyo this weekend...I am sooooo close.

Looks like it's all going to be worth it in the end, that's absolutely beautiful!!

wow!!! That is the shape I find most flattering. The breasts sit in the cups like proper ladies and dont go sliding about like drunken whores.

Originally Posted by anala

wow!!! That is the shape I find most flattering. The breasts sit in the cups like proper ladies and dont go sliding about like drunken whores.

..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

Best quote ever!

and ozma, your work is beautiful!

Originally Posted by anala

wow!!! That is the shape I find most flattering. The breasts sit in the cups like proper ladies and dont go sliding about like drunken whores.

That is an amazing thing to say.

How about two drunken sailors in a pitching ship?

*applauding*

Originally Posted by anala

wow!!! That is the shape I find most flattering. The breasts sit in the cups like proper ladies and dont go sliding about like drunken whores.

Originally Posted by ozma

Right now we resemble a well-running troupe the same way that a Dadaist exquisite corpse resembles a real person.

That's a pretty good line, too.

Wow, what a story! I'd love to hear some of the tales of crazy -- look me up if you ever make another trip to San Francisco.

Your costume project looks really nice, by the way.

Ozma, you are the best storyteller ever! You could post about going to the store to buy toilet paper, and I'd be riveted!

The bra is coming along lovely, but most of all I admire the storytelling!

it's absolutely amazing. I love your verbage :)

Nilaja

Originally Posted by selmacimcik

Belly, Belly Dancer Costume, Dance, Costume, Dancer, Belly Dance beautiful belly dance costumes

Bad, spammer, BAAAAAAAD move.

Originally Posted by ozma

If you ever want access to some of the Olympic Level Insanity tales, meet me for a drink some time.

I know we'd all love to hear more tales. When your fingers aren't sore from sewing, Let's hear some.....g.:

Ozma, I don't know which I enjoyed more, the story (You're a master at imgery) or seeing the outcome of the costume. Loved that thread!!

I love reading about your costume tales Ozma-they give me so much inspiration and are fun to read! Thanks so much!

I really love reading your posts and seeing the development of your projects. :) The gold set looks gorgeous! Keep posting please!!

I am close! It is hard to keep going because I got a used costume I bought off the swap meet and I am doing the upkeep. I am trying to document all of what I do with a new used-costume. (exciting photos of re-lining, coming up!)..and it is so easy to just do that and put the beading aside....because I am sick of beading. Tonight I'll go into Tokyo early, before I perform, to pick up some more beads, because I need to made the straps and finish my middle fringe.

I've started to line the ribcage band now, so I'll be able to put hooks on so I have and easier time figuring our strap placement.

You know this is costumer porn dont you? I am still struggeling with the B to D conversion of my copper set. I have the bra reconstructed with all fabric additions in place and took off the sequins at the top of the bra running under this pits so I could integrate the new with the old without having a line of demarcation. Well the copper sequins I orderd do not match. The color is right...but the finish is satin, not bright. Sorry for the threadjack. I just had to vent to someone who understands!!!

Originally Posted by laura 2

Ozma, you are the best storyteller ever! You could post about going to the store to buy toilet paper, and I'd be riveted!

hear, hear! that's just kept me up way past bedtime ..g.:
and your work, as allways, is magnificent

Originally Posted by anala

You know this is costumer porn dont you? I am still struggeling with the B to D conversion of my copper set. I have the bra reconstructed with all fabric additions in place and took off the sequins at the top of the bra running under this pits so I could integrate the new with the old without having a line of demarcation. Well the copper sequins I orderd do not match. The color is right...but the finish is satin, not bright. Sorry for the threadjack. I just had to vent to someone who understands!!!

Can you order the right finish? Or is it time to free up a few of the other copper sequins so you can mix, and when you replace them alternate the finishes so it doesn't stand out?

I have looked all over the net for bright finish medium copper 6 mm cupped sequins. You got a connection? I hate to strip off good sequins.

Originally Posted by anala

I have looked all over the net for bright finish medium copper 6 mm cupped sequins. You got a connection? I hate to strip off good sequins.

I have Tokyo, I am afraid of ordering sequins when I need a match.

Other than that...Cartwright's Sequins, Beads, Buttons & Glitter

Thats where my bad matches came from ;-}

I love reading this! I am indeed the owner of the original gold bra and belt. It is soooo nice to hear it's tale. Ozma you do tell such great stories and are incredibly talented! Oh and the fuzzy critter and I are very happy together...He says hi!

Ozma -- Now you've inspired me to rebuild my new gold...aieeee!

Originally Posted by maiaraqs

Ozma -- Now you've inspired me to rebuild my new gold...aieeee!

I am down to just the straps...when I finish decorating the straps I'll just need to line it...so close

Then you have to don it and pose for photos so we can all admire you and it. O.K.?