Thread: "AmCab" for Oompa Loompas - Help!

Being an Oompa Loompa, I try to avoid the "classic cabaret" look like the plague.

Between the yucky horizontal lines, the cascades of fringe, the V-belts, and the billowing layers of chiffon, it's just not a look that I find very becoming on anyone under 5'2". I'll go classic if that's what a client requests, or if I'm doing a very family-friendly type of gig, but it's really not my cuppa tea.

That being said, a client explicitly stated that she wants me to dress traditionally for her event. Traditional as in, not modern, as in chiffon and fringe. This begs the eternal question: how do I accomodate this request without calling attention too much attention to my vertically challenged figure? Is there a way to go "traditional" and still add height? Or will I just have to represent the Lollipop Guild with a smile? I still haven't quite figured it out....or maybe my Napoleon complex is just getting in the way

Shorties, talk to me!

You look beautiful in whatever costume you wear!! Fluffy or tight!!

Thanks, my love! And you've seen me in workshops, barefooted and shorter than ever!

While I am 5'6" I am very short waisted. So wearing layers of chiffon is not something I am particular to. But if you could maybe get something with a bit of a drop, where something doesn't start to billow out until you get to the hips may add a little to your height. That's what I do with most of my clothes or my waist would just about get lost!

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Thanks, my love! And you've seen me in workshops, barefooted and shorter than ever!

Thats right! We have met and you are beautiful no matter what you wear!!

Originally Posted by Fotia

While I am 5'6" I am very short waisted. So wearing layers of chiffon is not something I am particular to. But if you could maybe get something with a bit of a drop, where something doesn't start to billow out until you get to the hips may add a little to your height. That's what I do with most of my clothes or my waist would just about get lost!

Yeah, I'm thinking I'll wear one of my Tony & Robbies, for this reason. They've got fringe, but not an overpowering amount. And the skirts are swooshy, but tight at the hip.

I mean, they want classic - but I'm sure if I show up in full-blown old-school regalia, they'll be sorry they asked. No exaggeration, but I look like a friggen' cupcake in drag when I wear that style .w.:

I just looked at your gallery real quick. If you still have it, your turquoise costume would work, IMHO.

The model at the Belly Dance store, kitty, has a small frame. She't not as petite as you are...but you could get an idea of what might work. If it is too overwhelming on Kitty, it will be on you fo sho.

You could bling it up your way:

# 6001

I know you like super glam, haute couture--But I think it is ok to have one less than gawgeous work bedlah---especially if you can bling it out your way.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I mean, they want classic - but I'm sure if I show up in full-blown old-school regalia, they'll be sorry they asked. No exaggeration, but I look like a friggen' cupcake in drag when I wear that style .w.:

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

can you have slits in your skirt? that could help

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Being an Oompa Loompa, I try to avoid the "classic cabaret" look like the plague.

Between the yucky horizontal lines, the cascades of fringe, the V-belts, and the billowing layers of chiffon, it's just not a look that I find very becoming on anyone under 5'2". I'll go classic if that's what a client requests, or if I'm doing a very family-friendly type of gig, but it's really not my cuppa tea.

That being said, a client explicitly stated that she wants me to dress traditionally for her event. Traditional as in, not modern, as in chiffon and fringe. This begs the eternal question: how do I accomodate this request without calling attention too much attention to my vertically challenged figure? Is there a way to go "traditional" and still add height? Or will I just have to represent the Lollipop Guild with a smile? I still haven't quite figured it out....or maybe my Napoleon complex is just getting in the way

Shorties, talk to me!

You've seen Cory Zamora, right? She's very short and petite and toned, and she rocks the Am Cab look in ye olde style. Minimalist version.

If they don't specifically want fringe, you can also consider a coin set with the skirt, rocking the splits, and wear the belt LOW.

Oh, good idea, Zum. Here is a rocking picture of Cory. I think you could pull this look off:

Ooooooooooh, now I like the way you're talking, Zum!

Now, if I can go old-school in such a way that also allows me to be bad-ass, that's something I can live with.

Off to go see what I can do with my old neglected coins-and-mirrors set...

If all else fails, I think I'll wear my "Miss America" costume (aka the turquoise Tony & Robbie) or its red-and-gold counterpart:

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn, Cory's hot.

Vertical stripes or trim in the skirt, vertical slits, fringe in the same color as the skirt to avoid an horizontal line in the middle of the body. Shoes in the same color as the skirt would help elongate the leg, but if it's a bright color this may not be suitable. Wear your hair long and loose, dangly earrings, lariat type necklace, arm pieces with dangly bits. Basically, anything that creates a vertical line. Avoid horizontal lines as much as possible and camouflage the unavoidable ones in the same color as the background (fringe same color as skirt, etc....)

HTH some,

Kem

wow you guys, "blush"....i was thinking...i am 5' 1"...i now find ..in my old age, ...that my short torso looks better in an egyptian style bra....no fringe.....but my belts i make the same, old school.

Panel skirt? Worn over sheer chiffon harem pants iwth slits up the center front? Coin or mirrored bra/belt set?

Aszmara is a tiny little thing (with a larger then life stage presence.) She wears the Am-Cab look (tons of fringe, big skirts, ect) and pulls it off nicely. I think the key is to bring attention to the shoulders as well as the waist by creating lines that draw the eye both up and down at the same time, elongating the torso. I would reccomend pannel skirts to show leg so you don't look like Cherry Merry Muffin!

I'm a bit over 5'2", but I have a short torso and a comically short rise.

For bra and belt sets, I remove any excess fringe from the bra (a thin strip in the middle is ok if it's not too long...but it needs to stop above my navel or it goes. Looped fringe is ok IF it's very close to the band like some Sims.) I then prefer to stick to belts that are narrower and don't have excesively long fringe. (Wider belts actually hit my legs because of my low rise...I've even cut off/narrowed a belt to make it fit better.

For chiffon skirts (which I also tend to avoid...) They have to have leg slits and a little weight at the bottom (sequins or beads) so they hang *down* and don't just pouf out. I don't wear a lot of this type of skirt, but when I do it works ok...although I have proportionally long legs, so maybe that helps.

It *is* possible for an oompah loompah to look fairly elegant in a bedla and chiffon skirt, the key is to have the right skirt and the right proportion. :-) It's finding that right proportion that is difficult because they are usually proportioned for bigger people.

Here's Oreet in a more "traditional" costume with a chiffon skirt with slits. She is also a tiny little thing and I always think she's taller than she is. Another spitfire, that one.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTjQ9jD6K6I]YouTube - OREET is Bellydancer of the Year 2007[/ame]

I think that's very traditional looking, lots of fringe, chiffon and no lycra. As sommakes me shorter at eone who's 5'1" tall (I'm no oompa loompa ) I don't find that fringe on the belt shrinks me at all. But you definitely don't want a ton of fringe on top.

The Miss America one is gourgeous.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Ooooooooooh, now I like the way you're talking, Zum!

Now, if I can go old-school in such a way that also allows me to be bad-ass, that's something I can live with.

Off to go see what I can do with my old neglected coins-and-mirrors set...

If all else fails, I think I'll wear my "Miss America" costume (aka the turquoise Tony & Robbie) or its red-and-gold counterpart:

I know you are sensitive about costuming for your build, but I've seen a lot of short American Cabaret dancers (much shorter than 5'2") blinged out with tons of fringe and chiffon skirts and they looked fine.

If that look makes your client happy, then go for it. It's only one performance and I'm assuming that your height isn't a concern for them.

I'm 5'4" and fat - I wear the horizontal lines, the chiffon, and giant fringe monsters. I do everything that's a don't for my height and build, but I ran into a former client on the street yesterday who didn't recognize me at first because she thought I was taller and slimmer!

It sounds like you are being asked to dress in a way that you don't like and don't feel comfortable with, but really, you'll look great.

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

It sounds like you are being asked to dress in a way that you don't like and don't feel comfortable with, but really, you'll look great.

Yeah, I'd have to admit it's not my favorite look. Maybe because I cringe every time I look at baby dancer photos of me, back when I wore 12" superfringe and enormous, disproportionate skirts in different shades of tie-dye

It's not unlike reading your high school diary or revisiting photos from your "ugly duckling" years. Personal, I guess.

I busted out a couple of bedlahs and fluffy skirts today and couldn't stop laughing at how goofy I looked - an inappropriate response, I suppose, because the Cabaret look still reigns supreme in most American audience's minds. I envy my friends who can buy all those candy-colored bedlahs and crazy skirts!

I should embrace it at some point. In moderation, of course. I think I owe it to myself to get a Great Loop as soon as I get a job and a steady paycheck.

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

I'm 5'4" and fat....

Woman, I refute that claim of "fat" in the strongest possible terms. You are 5'4" and stacked. And very beautiful. Big difference!!!

Great Loops look fabulous on slender figures, much to my surprise.

Amira of Annapolis, from whom you purchased your black/red costume, just recently did a shoot with us in her gold great loop + full skirt and she looked proportional and totally gorgeous.

Originally Posted by Zana

Woman, I refute that claim of "fat" in the strongest possible terms. You are 5'4" and stacked. And very beautiful. Big difference!!!

OT:

SHA RIGHT.

I love you, Bassmah!!

(And Zana, I keep missing you while I'm in town, darling!!!!) ..cr.:

I know, lovey -- let's fix that, please!
Idea: Drop me a line next time you're going to be in Philly. I'll take the train up and we'll get together and spank Bassmah.

i agree with azhia on the great loop....

also, , fringy costumes where the bra fringe start on the outside of the top of the bra, and tapers long in the middle (kinda like a vee....) work well to elongate and make tall......as long as there is no fringe on the under bust to shorten the waste....my abla fringe monster is like that, and i'm short wasted, but the fringe is so well placed and vee'd on the bra, and the belt hugs my hips, it makes me look curvey and tall :p

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Ooooooooooh, now I like the way you're talking, Zum!

Now, if I can go old-school in such a way that also allows me to be bad-ass, that's something I can live with.

Off to go see what I can do with my old neglected coins-and-mirrors set...

If all else fails, I think I'll wear my "Miss America" costume (aka the turquoise Tony & Robbie) or its red-and-gold counterpart:

Is that you in the picture? Damn! I love that costume. It's just the thing I'd mentally design.

Originally Posted by Zana

IDrop me a line next time you're going to be in Philly. I'll take the train up and we'll get together and spank Bassmah.

Rowr....I like the way you girls think! Get here soon, I've been a bad girl.....

Originally Posted by BELLA_BELLA

Is that you in the picture? Damn! I love that costume. It's just the thing I'd mentally design.

Yep, that's me! The costume is by Tony & Robbie, a Brazilian designer that's darned near impossible to get in the U.S. unless you speak Portoguese or have a friend who's traveling to Brazil. Bhuzzer Kalinka Mahaila is the one who hooked me up!

I love the unusual lines of the costume. Needs a little bit more work before I perform in it, but I think it's very Versace ..g.: