Thread: New costumes from Istanbul!

Merhaba!

After a FANTASTIC week in Istanbul (or was it paradise??? It felt that way!) I am back with new sparklies! One costume is still in the making at SIM, but I can show off my Bella and Legend costumes - note that I distribute my money evenly

The skirts are the new fashion and I really like it! It's about the complete opposite of Egyptian lycra-with-no-decoration costumes. These skirts look so awesome when you move in them!

As I was saying earlier, I was on the hunt for multi-color costumes that can be combined with various skirts (so more pictures are to follow in other combinations). But I didn't expect that my long searched white/silver costume would be multi-color as well! But I like it, it saves the costume from making me to pale.
It's one of Bella's cheaper line, rather light weight (which I wanted). I bought some Swarowski stones to sew on it, but it already looks great that way.

The Legend costume is actually only the bra-belt set (made in one week according to my wishes), the skirt is from Gülseren.

I have only just arrived a few hours ago, so the update on the English version of the website will have to wait. But pictures are universal
3 pictures of each costume:
Galerie Raqs Sharqi 2008






My shopping guide will also soon be updated!

MEISSOUN

Wow! That Legend is amazing! Did you ever find out about what happened to Mercedes Paginini?

Outstanding costumes! You look gorgeous. I love the full skirts with the petals.

I am jealous, I want to go back to Istanbul!

Love the photos on the staircase too.

yummy!

That legend is FANTASTIC!! Who is it that made the skirt for you? Have you got a weblink for the designer? Thanks!

I love the new skirt style. The skirt look so fun to dance in. Have you" test danced" your new cossies yet?

Alrana

Those are gorgeous! I love those "ruffly" skirts!

The costumes are lovely Meissoun. Love the ruffles, its so nice to see soft "flowy" skirts again.

I haven't had time to test dance the costumes - we were so busy all week long - but I have a gig coming up this Thursday and we'll take pictures.

If you want to read about our week in Istanbul (with some pix) you can read the blog: My Blog - tribe.net
It goes backwards, you can start at day one here:
Day one in Istanbul - Life is good! - tribe.net

The purple/pink skirt is from Gülseren. She had that style on another costume, so I ordered it in this colors.

MEISSOUN

Is there a website for Gulseren?? I love the flowy skirt styles. I have 2 Bellas with these skirts on them :)

I'm going to Istanbul in April, I'm looking forward to it even more now after seeing these!

Does Gülseren have a low inventory in her shop? I feel like when I went there (if it is the right place), there were only a couple of things in there and it wasn't that wow-worthy or striking. However, I was too shy to actually talk to her to find out who she was and what she did.

Did you stay in that hotel that the pics were taken in ? It looks amazing.

Yes, I stayed at the hotel.

And one must never be shy at costume shops :-)

Gülseren had a lot of stuff in the shop. Give me a few days and my travel pictures will be online, then you can see for yourself.
Did you go to a shop downstairs? It has never been low on inventory in the last 12 or so years that I have been going there! ..g.:

All website / address infos are here: Istanbul - Adresses for Shopping
(to be updated soon - Misar Butik has moved to the Gran Basar)

MEISSOUN

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

Wow! That Legend is amazing! Did you ever find out about what happened to Mercedes Paginini?

I was wondering this too. Anyboby heared about her?
I know she was pregnant and wanted to take a little break after the baby was born (about april this year).

@Meissoun: the Bella is gorgeous, I love multicolor design and this is one of the nicest I've seen for long!

Meissoun, can you tell me what average price range you found in Sim and Legends.... I was in a hurry, and she did not mention the inventory downstairs.
Also Can you give me the address for the Ballroom shoes. I try to find one and that location was not in the best area of town so I did not even go after all.
Thank you

The "real" Gülseren shop is ONLY downstairs, there is no upstairs. You enter down the steps to get into the shop.

On the other hand, you have to WALK up to the 5th floor if you want to go to Legend costumes...

Prices are flexibel: You get what you pay for. For example Bella has a rack for cheaper costumes (mine was about 320 Euros, I also tried one on that was double the price, and it CAN go higher). My friend paid 550 Euros for her SIM costume. I ordered one for 450 Euros (will be sent later).
You can basically go to any of the costume shops and tell them how much money you plan to spend, so they will show you what you can get for that amount.

Prices at Gülseren are the same if you want a really nice pro costume. But you have to ask for them, otherwise they will only show you "middle class" stuff.

I was a good girl and uploaded my vacation pictures. Shopping pix on top, for you my friends ..g.:

Istanbul 2009

Tango info (also for shoes):
Tango in Istanbul

Note: MEISSOUN has an advice page for EVERYTHING ..l;,

thanks I was in Legends and Bella, but since I went to Bella without buying anything from Legends...I end up spending all my money at Bella on those super cute, pricey, one of a kind costumes...so next time I will check the Sim and Legends again.
I like to get shoes for sure though.
:)

The Legend was custom made. I basically knew what colors I wanted and then looked at existing costumes for inspiration. Shimi also had some good ideas so we designed the bra-belt set together and they did it within a week.
So don't just look at what's in the shop - it costs the same to have something tailor made for you!

MEISSOUN

Im amazed that you only bought 3 coatumes!! I think if I went to Istanbul I would need to take out a second mortgage. LOL!!!

Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love the Bella and that skirt style! You look amazing!

Just wanted to say that even though I am clearly a Bella fan I am simply stunned my the legend you "designed with help". I was going to ask for the style name but now I know better! WOW! Just beautiful and unique.

Originally Posted by meissoun

The "real" Gülseren shop is ONLY downstairs, there is no upstairs. You enter down the steps to get into the shop.

That is definitely not the shop I went to. But I swear the sign said Gülseren, cause you know I was carrying a print out from your Web site and I was able to compare.

This is the Legend set combined with:

purple skirt/gauntlets from LRose:





a green skirt from a Swiss vendor:





I love it that it's so versatile!
The Bella costume also goes with several skirts, will post pix after I have changed the bra straps (they crossed them in the back, but I find that very uncomfortable).

MEISSOUN

Those are beautiful. It looks as though at least the Turkish vendors are going back to alittle more old school. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

I love your blog! I've bookmarked you!

Originally Posted by meissoun

Yes, I stayed at the hotel.

And one must never be shy at costume shops :-)

Gülseren had a lot of stuff in the shop. Give me a few days and my travel pictures will be online, then you can see for yourself.
Did you go to a shop downstairs? It has never been low on inventory in the last 12 or so years that I have been going there! ..g.:

All website / address infos are here: Istanbul - Adresses for Shopping
(to be updated soon - Misar Butik has moved to the Gran Basar)

MEISSOUN

Hopefully I am off to Istanbul early next year..not to buy costumes ..honestly so can you advise on a good hotel for sightseeing and eating out.
I don't do 5 * just clean,comfortable, handy..g.: Email me, my dear

OMG drool!! Thanks for the info Meissoun! I hope to make it there some day and do some real damage! ;-) I have a legend costume and just love it. Yet to own a bella until today! I am so- excited for it!