Thread: What did you wear before going pro?

I'm wondering what to put together for dancing without being in public. You know, when you want the look for extra confidence (oh gosh, that sounds like a feminine hygiene product commercial) but didn't have the money and weren't sure you were ready to commit to something professional and beautiful and expensive.

I got an isis exchange 79 dollar bedlah (I think they are 99 now) and a vintage matching skirt. I also borrowed costumes from a friend.

Without being in public? You mean like class? When I first started taking classes, I wore a choli and a colorful broomstick skirt with a hipscarf and some jewelry. It was enough to get me in a different headspace from an "exercise" class. Your teacher may or may not like this, as she cant see your legs to help you with posture and foot placement.

I spent silly money on silly costumes... if I could turn back, I would definitely go the LRose route! Excellent quality, perfect fit, and versatile.

Something like a sleeveless, pinched half top, a mermaid skirt with a slit, sleeves and a headband would be great! This way, when and if you decide to get a more professional costume, you could buy a bra and belt set to match your LRose. Cost efficient, and beautiful! Assuming you want this for performing at student events and such. For class, LRose and Sharifwear make great practice wear too.

Welcome to L. Rose Designs

I'd second the L.Rose recommendation. As a beginner, I wasted too much money on stuff that didn't fit right or just looked goofy. A nice basic skirt and accessories from L.Rose will last you many dancing years and complement a more professional bra and belt set when you're ready. Plus, you can have your L.Rose gear made to your measurements, in whatever fabric and color you like!

L. Rose is a great way to go. It's so easy to be seduced by cheap-o sparklies as a beginner simply because they're shiny and they fit your budget. So to the not-yet-trained eye that $65 Airport Special looks like a pretty good deal next to a $75 L. Rose skirt--until you realize the cheapy costume is practically unwearable and the L. Rose items will last forever, are machine washable, look good on everyone and are easily upgraded to the next level. A good top and skirt plus a couple of nice hip scarves will serve you really, really well.

Of course, I also have one of those Isis Exchange bedlahs Tanya mentioned that I'm looking to sell...never worn! I had a heck of a time with their customer service (this was several years back, not sure if they've improved), but the costume is not a bad starter piece.

will you be sewing or buying?
if you are practicing at home, you can wear what ever you want. cotton gauze is great for at-home practice wear in the summer. for fall and winter, start with layered practice wear you can remove as you warm up and put back on to keep warm during the after-stretching.

if buying, yes, l.rose, and the other vendors for class appropriate stuff. bellydancewear.com has some cute practice clothes too. i like their pants especially.

in the beginning i wore totally inappropriate, bulky, harem pants and choli/peasant tops to class, ...cause that's what i had (sorry angelika! ) then i learned that the teacher wants to see you lines, like all other dance classes *facepalm*

if its you practicing at home alone or with friends, perhaps get a nice chiffon skirt that can be used under a costume later. if you can avoid the "first purchases" pitfalls so many of us have made, you will have enough saved for a pro costume when you are ready. remember, cheap quality costuming is not a bargain, just a pita to fix ;)

I'm going to assume you mean what to wear to perform at haflas and student recitals - yoga gear and a hip scarf will do ya for class or home practice.

When I first started dancing I sewed my own costumes. Back then I liked vests, cholis and panel skirts, paired with skirts, harem pants and either my one beaded hip scarf, my cheap silver coin belt or my costless style mirror belt and bra that I made myself. Sometimes I made a matching choli and hipscarf.
I just found a bunch of my old photos so I think I'll go ahead and share:

my very first costume:


Same vest and hip scarf paired with a new version of the skirt and a newly covered bra with matching harem pants and a different veil:


Different vest and panel skirt paired with black harem pants, black silk hip scarf, my mirror set and a silk veil:


Another vest and square skirt paired with white harems and my mirror set:


Lace choli and skirt paired with sparkle dot harems and my mirror set:


My tribal look - I bought the choli and made the rest to match:


My ghawazee coat:


One more - I bought this dress after new years eve - it was an on sale party dress and paired it with my mirror belt and necklace:



Right now, I have my basics students wear nice fitted black printed T-shirts (some fold them under) with black dance/yoga pants and a colorful hipscarf and I really like the look. It is simple, relatively inexpensive, looks clean and does the job.

I had my next class up invest in sharifwear skirts and the same printed T-shirts in white, paired with their hip scarves and veils, which I asked them to coordinate. The photo below is by Carlo and Elise of Stereovision (and if any of my students see this, I haven't got the whole photo set back yet, just a couple sample shots):


I think something like this is a nice, relatively cheap solution for a student performance or hafla. Picking up a set made by lrose, sharifwear, firefly designs, melodia or some other like vendor would be along these lines.

Otherwise, I'd just keep my eyes on bhuz's swap board for a killer deal on a used costume.

Along the lines of converting holiday clothes into costumes - my (former) troupe picked these sparkly white skirt and tops up from a newport news holiday catalog, we cropped the tops, added a few extra sequins and paired them with the sequin net hip scarves and they looked really pretty and the whole ensemble was fairly cheap.


I also more recently re-purposed this nightclub party dress pairing it with a beaded hip scarf and some black Latin flare pants.

You can often find costumes for under $100 on the swapmeet boards, and I'd go for something you can pair up with different colored skirts and veils. A gold or silver bedlah, for instance. One of those would give you extra miles for your money. A used one might require a little surgery but you can find one close to your size as long as you keep checking the boards often. And if you find one you like, snatch it up, even if you don't have anything planned because chances are it won't be there when you really need it.

what beautiful photos!

My friend Lisa got me on at a pro gig in Colorado, neither of us had much money so we used a lot of hipscarves, panel skirts, circle skirts, and silk veils.

Neckelmanns was my first move towards something more pricey. I did a combo of satin circle skirts from WE3 and a orange and black neckelmanns

can't get photos to load to facebook at the moment, will share later

I did the Neckelmanns bra/belt as well and paired it with a crushed velvet trumpet skirt from LRose. Then I upgraded the costume by adding one of Jes's incredible veils :)))

Thanks so much!