Thread: Gaining height for hippy girl

I'm a hippy girl and I've seen examples and read up on how to draw the eye away from where I don't want to draw the eye.

So my question is, how do you bring attention upward, or gain height, and pull the eye away from the beltline? What can I do with my hair, which is thigh length. (Usually worn in a single long braid) I figure since it's my other figure extreme, if I could use it to good advantage, I will. But I'd like to avoid anything too obnoxiously complicated.

Would it be good to decorate the braid and leave it a single braid? Or twin braids for the motion? And use it as a kind-of accessory (the idea appeals)

If covering it is good, do you have suggestions?

I do plan on making a coin bra. The girls are big; the only trouble will be finding an adequate bra ...

And how do I make a good-looking belt, without bringing attention to my most gifted booty? (lol)

We are wearing 25-yard skirts, I have a med/dark green one, and "big brown belts" but we have a lot of flexibility there. I plan to have a ghawazee in green and a coin bra in brass coins and stuff. Hope this is clear.

Thanks in advance!

Ah, a subject I have contemplated a lot! Amongst my local group of dancers I am the Big Booty Queen. It's an important role and somebody's got to play it.

In general you want to emphasize the vertical and de-emphasize the horizontal.

V shape belt (ie with dip to shallow V front and back) is more flattering than straight line going around. Concentrate trim on the belt in the centers and make it more sparse out towards the hips. Long fringe better than short fringe.

Also ideally skirt should be as long as possible without you stepping on it. It's a proportion thing, the shorter you look the wider you look.

PS - Once you've got yourself all looking great . . . use that big beautiful booty; make it speak!

Rosette

Brighter colours on top. Sounds as though you are doing tribal style. So my next suggestion is, like Rosette's, you make your belt be V shaped. If you are not wearing your hair unbraided, then make it into a cornet and put flowers, etc in it.

Another thing to do which will sound counter intuitive is to make your hips appear bigger. Because then people will have no idea what the truth is!

{{{HUGS}}}

Your subject line pretty much describes me.
I try to keep with simple once color costumes. Like above I try to get V belts with a trumpet/mermail style skirt. The big chiffon ones can make you look bottom heavy and shorter. I know its Tribal so Melodia's might be best.
The other thing to avoid is color blocking on the horizontal. Meaning don't have large cutouts down the leg or contrasting colors going on the horizontal. That will cut up your line. That goes for skirts & gauntlets/armbands.
Also try to avoid stuff on the ankle, If you are showling leg it will look longer bare than with a costume peice, even coined anklets.
Hope that helps!
xoxo,
-NJ

IF you are doing tribal/tribal fusion you will probably end up with most or all of your hair up. The tribal teacher at our school, who is not tall, has about hiplength hair which is beautiful but she usually wears it in elaborate small-head updos with hair sticks, flowers etc. Hair up *does* create an illusion of height by drawing the eye up and creating interest on the head rather than the hip - which will also balance a wide hip line.

Yup, like Zumarrad said, git yer hair UP & don't part it in the middle (if you do). Side sweep the "bangs" to create interest at the forehead & put a garden on your head. Chunky chokers, & things on the shoulders to balance the hips and chest.

Originally Posted by Azhia

Yup, like Zumarrad said, git yer hair UP & don't part it in the middle (if you do). Side sweep the "bangs" to create interest at the forehead & put a garden on your head. Chunky chokers, & things on the shoulders to balance the hips and chest.

Why not the center part? I'm seeing an emphasis on drawing the attention to a center line; why not the part? Just curious.

Put a garden on my head? I have some lovely vine-type crap I can tuck into a bun. After all, I'm wearing green ... I could sprout ... heh

I'm thinking of leaving the lower part of the hair in two long braids. As they swing they will create some interest. And use the "top" part of the hair in the mean-lady (think librarian) bun, and maybe decorate that bit with pendants or what-have-yous.

Thanks for the tips! Y'all are WUNderful!

Originally Posted by nadyasidhe

Why not the center part? I'm seeing an emphasis on drawing the attention to a center line; why not the part? Just curious.

Put a garden on my head? I have some lovely vine-type crap I can tuck into a bun. After all, I'm wearing green ... I could sprout ... heh

I'm thinking of leaving the lower part of the hair in two long braids. As they swing they will create some interest. And use the "top" part of the hair in the mean-lady (think librarian) bun, and maybe decorate that bit with pendants or what-have-yous.

Thanks for the tips! Y'all are WUNderful!

A part in the center does draw attention to a center line but it doesn't quite give "lift" if you're looking to draw the eye upward; it's more like a downward arrow...to me.