Thread: The new costumes and their prices

Nice Response! I would have posted some examples but I did not want to offend the makers of the costumes. And to be really honest I only ever beaded one costume in my life and NEVER did it again nor did I balk at the price of really good bead fringe. Today that fringe is almost unheard of and most designers are using plastic beads and round glass beads. I have only bought 3 off the rack costumes in my career mostly because I could not afford to buy one but my costumes out striped most of the off the racks anyway. I have nothing against any of the costumers but I do have a gripe about the use of cheap fabrics, Cheap applications of embellishment, and the lack of what I consider cost WORTHYness. An example of a really bad costume would be one of the necklemans Sorry kids but beading right onto a bra strap, no lining, Plastic beads, spells disaster. I say this because I reccomended them to my sis who does Samba but when her costume arrived I was SO EMBARASSED!. I would never build a costume like that and as I have seen in some of the for sale postings of the minimalist lycra costumes, i would be ashamed to own one especially at the prices they charge.

When I was "willing" to sew for Belly dancers I charged 10.00 per hour for what ever they required but when the bill came most of them got angry. So it puzzles me why dancers are willing to pay 600.00 for a barely there costume.
We're not talking Italian shoes, Versace handbags, or a vera wang dress here. We are talking about a costume that will work for you and not fly apart on stage or become useless to you because the spandex has been eaten away by your sweat. A good name depends on how the item is constructed and lasts. not because everyone wants to wear the "name". I am sure that the bellas pharonics etc are really great but with the lack of actual product on the costume I find it hard to want one myself. Its not about taste for me its about intrinsic quality.
No I never said any maker is crap. Though necklemans is definitely will not get any more of my recommendations or money.

He he he
Thanks
Andrea..g.:

I've had alot of cossies run through my dance closet, love the vintage ones I have - tons of high quality work beading, fringe, stones, fabric that lasts, yum, when they wear well its all good!

Belly dance costumes have fashion trends like anything else. They have high end and low end like any other fashion. You are paying for the conception, the materials and the time ..and the name. There is nothing to stop a professional dancer buying a basic bra and belt set and embellishing it but she may not and she likes to have a fashionable and classy ( and an added bonus are comfort and durability) costume. Prices have gone up recently with costs, postage etc and the designers are aware they can more for their handiwork as they become desirable. Compare the 600$ you might pay to the cost of a glamorous evening or high end prom dress and they come off well in comparison.
Mind you as an older non professional performer, I am glad to have shed all but my old time favourite dresses ( an Eman and an Amira) and bop away in a £45 Hannan gelebeya.

Originally Posted by lizajuk

Mind you as an older non professional performer, I am glad to have shed all but my old time favourite dresses ( an Eman and an Amira) and bop away in a £45 Hannan gelebeya.

I am with you here!!! And I wore one of mine dancing for Dina this past weekend in Chicago . . . black and silver!!! I got tons of compliments on it and the silver glitter did shine a lot from the stage!

Just to comment on the designer name factor: I currently have a Sim and two Bellas (lucky me!) and two beauties with no designer identification whatsoever.

Ironically, one of my no-names is more sturdily and elaborately beaded than either of the designers--what looked like appliques when I ordered it for $300 turned out to be individually sewn glass beads. Just proves again you can get excellent quality without a big name.

I think the points about the amazing construction and fit of the newer and expensiver (LOL) costumes is well taken, although I can't see myself justifying paying for a Sahar et al when I just dance the one gig in a garlicky, smoky lil Italian restaurant.

But something that the OP mentioned is very true and it puts me off purchasing many a costume; and it is about the quality of the embellishments and the longetivity of a costume. I have seen costumes with high price tags on them where the beads are plastic and the stones are glued on. No thank you!

It's all about perception. I have bought several home mades and fixed up quite a few costumes made by both dancers and well known designers and am usually appalled. Honestly for me bellas and pharonics are the most sturdy and well made hands down.
I think it is so special that we get to wear and own these handmade pieces of art. I do not think the prices are exorbitant even if they are lightly beaded or minimalistic. I think dancers are sometimes unrealistic in their expectations also. I cannot tell you how many jobs I turn down because someone only has a budget of $100.
I even tried to create a budget student model for $150 earlier this year. Big mistake. Way too much work for so little $. Thank god we have so many designers and styles and prices to choose from!

Originally Posted by cbarros

I am with you here!!! And I wore one of mine dancing for Dina this past weekend in Chicago . . . black and silver!!! I got tons of compliments on it and the silver glitter did shine a lot from the stage!

SNAP! Mine's black and silver. I also have a pink one with an Elvis collar I bought from Candi and you know I'd love to stretch to another. You can wear them to certain performances and to bop away in..I think they are just fabulous for a more modest outlay.

I think, that 600 Dollar is o.k. for a well made "pure" costume with nice idea and perfect fitting and dance-feeling. If we like the costume to dance and feel well, than we'll use it some times for shows and also get money for this.
Don't forget, that bellydancecostumes are cheap against dance-sport-costumes!!! Dance-sport-costumes You never find under 1500 Dollar! This is a high-fashioned Bella!!!!!
And if You would make the costumes Yourself, the material alone can have the price of a costume!
I made this costumes myself and the material of the red was about 700 Dollar, the leo about 700 Dollar and the green 600 Dollar! The work I have done myself!

I don't have a problem coughing up the funds for well made costumes. I have an original Madame Abla that I paid over $800 for and you could run that thing over with a truck and still wear it. I prefer my older bra and belts with lots of fringe, but I have grown to like some of the lycra sets.
I actually like some of the minimalist cheaper Sahars, I just wish that she made bras in a D/DD size, because theres no way in heck I'm cramming into a Sahar "C".

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

I think it is so special that we get to wear and own these handmade pieces of art.

This is so true! A lot of costumes are truly works of art. I have some costumes that I spent more time on than paintings and sculptures.

Originally Posted by anala

Let us talk shoes...$800 and up for Sex in The City MBs? You step in dog crap in those things for Gods sake! And make up... can we talk? Never under estimate the desperation of a 50 year old in front of a Needless Markup make up counter. How many of us have bought a 25 dollar tube of wax and pigment...ran out to the car and slapped it on cause we couldn't wait to get it home, looked in the review and went.."I am soooo stupid"? Tell me...what "guys products" are so overpriced that it should be considered highway robbery? Double forward somersault dismount offa my generic soap box.

I read an article once that called this "Beauty Stupidity." When intelligent women lose their brains and fall for the hopeless lure of products and potions...and fashion.

Originally Posted by eshtabellydance

I think every dancer should try to make a totally beaded costume themselves and then we can talk about price. I guarantee you will be so frustrated and gladly hand over $600

yeah but we are talking about costumes that are not fully beaded. and pretty simple looking. while pretty, the sahar's do not flatter me at all which is maybe why i have trouble understanding the price. nice thread! it's good to see different perspectives.

i definitely understand valuing an artist, but i believe that a LOT more time goes into the bling than the simple costumes. so i am guessing the price does not reflect the labor time, but the designer. thanks for the insight.

Interview with Dancing With the Stars designer:
Interview with "Dancing With The Stars" Costume Designer - Threads

I think I saw an article with prices for some of those costumes that went on sale ..off to look .... it's worth comparng the cost of ballroom costumes to BD costumes!! If you think OURS are expensive .....

Sound of these are so reasonable & can be turned into great BD costumes -- whatcha think?

Dancing with the Stars Dresses Celebrity Style

With a bit of work, this could be Eman's dress -- with a few scarabs & Swarovski's?

Dancing with the Stars Dresses Rhinestone Gown

.and how to order replicas of your favorites (sorry, I got carried away by the dazzle ........ blinded by rhinestones and fantasies of how they could be converted .....)
Custom Dancing with the stars dresses