Thread: utterly non-historical costume

This morning I happened to be changing channels and suddenly saw a bellydancer on the screen. Of course I stopped instantly!

The dancer was Leila Guiraut of "From Russia With Love" fame, but this was a 60s movie about General Gordon called "Khartoum." In 1885 General Gordon met with the rulers of Egypt to discuss the uprisings in the Sudan, and in this movie version they were entertained by a bellydancer.

Okay, picture it, it's 1885, so of course the dancer is wearing:

• sheer harem pants
• dance trunks
• bare midriff top

Umm... I'm thinking... not so much! If General Gordon HAD been entertained by a dancer in 1885... which I kind of doubt!... what do you think she would have been wearing?

1885, huh? I'd hope for a satiny ghwazee coat, maybe a belt of embroidered designs around her waist and hips, silk pants and linen underthings. Gold or silver bangles and earrings, maybe a necklace of beads. She'd definitely have to have something on her head, some kind of scarf..maybe she'd have scarves tucked into her belt.

Well, I think I just described my SCA dream costume...g.:

Something like that, yeah. Ottoman garb of the late 1880s.

I don't have Flaubert's descriptions of Chuchuk Hanem to hand but I seem to recall him writing about her wearing a tight vest that pushed up her breasts, scarf around her hips (this all over skirt and shirt of course) and a great deal of jewellery. In particular a huge amber necklace he was being all fetishy about. That was a little earlier but not by much.

i agree that she would be wearing ottoman garb...some sort of coat, an embroidered scarf around her hips, opaque harem pants, some sort of headscarf/turban and, of course, coin jewelry

Leave it to Hollywood to interpret bellydancing wrong!

Originally Posted by Fotia

Leave it to Hollywood to interpret bellydancing wrong!

Sometimes I wonder if Hollyweird ever does anything accurately. Even "based on a true story" movies are full of inaccuracies and simplifications "to make a better movie."

Originally Posted by tigerb

Sometimes I wonder if Hollyweird ever does anything accurately. Even "based on a true story" movies are full of inaccuracies and simplifications "to make a better movie."

Sometimes entertainment and sales are more important than the integrity of the story

Hollywood is rarely accurate, regardless of time and culture portrayed. If it's a 60s movie, just enjoy the cheese factor...that's probably all you can do.