Thread: Calling all Tribal costuming experts: does size matter?

(..l;,Okay cheap ploy)I am looking to buy one of these skirts: :tongue:

Reversible GREEN Cotton Tribal Gypsy Belly Dance Skirt - eBay (item 280444109227 end time Jan-04-10 12:14:18 PST)

But the problem is that the seller uses the same picture for ALL her skirts whether they are 10, 15 or 20 yard skirts so I can't tell what I am buying.

My questions are these:

1. Looking at the picture what would you guess the yardage to be on that skirt?

2. Just by looking at a skirt on a person, can you tell the difference in yardage? Her cost is significantly less for the 10 or 15 yard skirt.

3. I want a skirt that will flare out when I spin and one that I can pick up the sides and have enough yardage to make big twirls etc., and basically has a nice swish factor. What yardage is recommended for that? (I'm 5' 8" and about a size 5).

4. Are the skirts supposed to go to the ankle or touch the floor?

I know you guys will know all this stuff. Thanks for any advice:ctr:

That skirt is over 10 yards, I'd say 15 instead of 25 as it's missing the fluffiness of the 25 yard ones. For skirt spinning/work, go with at least 15 yards. The 10 yd spinning skirts spin well, but I feel they are a bit skimpy in fullness for skirt work (unless layered over another skirt). 25 yards may be too fluffy, you can work with part of the skirt but a lot will hang down because there is so much.

For maximum twirl I like circle skirts, the shape really moves.

Also, get it to fit to the floor or top of your feet. Don't forget to allow some extra length in the back for your butt. Once you start moving or tuck any of it up you'll lose a lot of length.

I have a 10 yd cotton gypsy skirt that touches the floor. It flares out just fine and it can be pulled up and tucked in the belt great too. That skirt looks like it's really at 15 yd as it says it is. It should be just fine for what you want! Very pretty too... I like the green!

I second 15 yards. The first tier is probably 18" long and it looks like a circle, so so figure a diameter of 4 foot, therefore 4 yards around the circumference. The first ruffle looks like a x2 gather, so 8 yards at that hem. Add the second ruffle, x2 gather, and end up with about 16 yards.

If that top tier is indeed a circle, it has lots of bias and will stretch. Hang it for a week, then hem it. Sew a piece of ribbon at the center back so that you'll know where the back is every time you put it on... as kazoogrrl mentioned, most people's skirts are longer in the back.

i'm not a tribal costuming expert but i do know:
size does matter! get the big one hehe

you are reasonably tall so you can carry off the 20 yd skirt. i like this type of skirt - big and swooshy on stage with a noticeable weight

Originally Posted by kazoogrrl

For skirt spinning/work, go with at least 15 yards.

25 yards may be too fluffy, you can work with part of the skirt but a lot will hang down because there is so much.

She doesn't offer a 25 yarder, just a 20-is that still too fluffy?

Originally Posted by maurazebra

I second 15 yards. The first tier is probably 18" long and it looks like a circle, so so figure a diameter of 4 foot, therefore 4 yards around the circumference. The first ruffle looks like a x2 gather, so 8 yards at that hem. Add the second ruffle, x2 gather, and end up with about 16 yards.

If that top tier is indeed a circle, it has lots of bias and will stretch. Hang it for a week, then hem it.

Sorry but ya lost me there. I don't sew and haven't the faintest what a bias is, and I'd have to pay to have it hemmed, so probably will keep it as is. But since it will stretch most likely from the weight, should I buy a 36" ? 36 hits me at a smidge above the tops of my feet. 38" touches the floor on me.

If you are 5'8", a tribal skirt that is 36" might not be long enough for you. I am 5'9" (more of my height is in the torso than in the legs) and about a size 5 as well, and 36" skirts--especially tiered ones--are definitely not long enough to touch the floor, or even skim my feet. They look silly on me. Additionally, since us taller gals have longer arm spans, if the skirt is too short, you're not going to be able to get your arms out in a full second position, or all the way out in front of you while you're holding the skirt. That might not be an issue with a 25 yd skirt, but with a 15 yd skirt you might run into that problem, as I have.

I ended up having to buy a skirt from Flying Skirts, because she makes 38" long skirts for us tall gals. :) They are more expensive, but I can vouch for the quality, and they have a pretty good resale value, too, if you decide you want to sell it later on.

Flying Skirts Tribal Belly Dance Costumes: Skirts

Then again, you might not have any problems at all with a 36" skirt, but I just thought I'd share my experience.

Thanks Anjela, definitely something to think about. I have a longer torso too, but 38" would touch the floor and I feel like I'd be tripping over it. Hmmm, the longer arms to skirt ratio hadn't occured to me either..... good point. I am leaning toward the 20 yard 36" though because I do think with all that weight it may strectch over time. And because it's on auction in the color I want on ebay right now...haha but don't want to rush into it. Ladies, keep the feedback coming. It's been so helpful so far. thank you!

I agree with Angela about Flying Skirts. I have the exact opposite problem, being only 5' 2". Gwen at Flying Skirts makes them in short and xshort lengths. I recently purchased a bangara skirt ( with all the dots and mirror work ) and have spent hours shortening the darn thing. I vowed to never buy anything except from flying skirts going forward. That's just my 2 cents from a short person.

I'm 5'8" and the 36" always stretch out after hanging them - by stretching out I mean the 25 yard.

I have 12, 15, and 20 yard skirts. My primary performance dances have always been group improv tribal so I have many skirts. I love them. Nothing beats the fullness and the feeling of wearing a full 25 yard skirt. They are the best for skirt work, IMO. You can do barrel turns in them, lots of swirls and mimic lots of veil work with the hem of a 25 yard skirt.

The ones made from tissue cotton are the best because they are so light and "floaty".

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

Thanks Anjela, definitely something to think about. I have a longer torso too, but 38" would touch the floor and I feel like I'd be tripping over it. Hmmm, the longer arms to skirt ratio hadn't occured to me either..... good point. I am leaning toward the 20 yard 36" though because I do think with all that weight it may strectch over time. And because it's on auction in the color I want on ebay right now...haha but don't want to rush into it. Ladies, keep the feedback coming. It's been so helpful so far. thank you!

Remember when measuring the length for these that they don't hang straight down, so a 36" long skirt will actually hang at an angle and be about 34" long to the floor. The larger the flare of the skirt, the more the angle at which it will hang from your body. Is there any way you can try one on from a friend or at a dance event? That would help you narrow down the best length. (For example, I am 6' tall and when I wear a normal skirt I can get a way with 38" length, but when I wear this style for a 25 yard skirt I need 41-42" length.)

Originally Posted by mahsati

Remember when measuring the length for these that they don't hang straight down, so a 36" long skirt will actually hang at an angle and be about 34" long to the floor. The larger the flare of the skirt, the more the angle at which it will hang from your body. Is there any way you can try one on from a friend or at a dance event? That would help you narrow down the best length. (For example, I am 6' tall and when I wear a normal skirt I can get a way with 38" length, but when I wear this style for a 25 yard skirt I need 41-42" length.)

Hmm, I think I know what you're talking about. Because of the fullness right? Okay, now leaning toward a 38". I can always roll the waist band over once. I don't know any tribal dancers that I could try....Thanks Mahsati.

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

Hmm, I think I know what you're talking about. Because of the fullness right? Okay, now leaning toward a 38". I can always roll the waist band over once. I don't know any tribal dancers that I could try....Thanks Mahsati.

Right! Because of the fullness of the skirt, the length moves away from your body as it goes down...which means that it covers less hip to floor length. :)

IMHO, a 10 - 12 yd skirt is just a little too small for wild skirt twirling, so go with 15 yd at least.

Tall girls usually have longer arms and torsos than shorter girls. So while a shorter girl might be able to easily sweep the hem of a 15 yds skirt up over her shoulder, a taller girl may need a full 10 or 15 yd skirt to look good like that.

I'm a happy customer of Scarlets Lounge and pretty sure this skirt will be just as nice and full as the photo.

My opinion of the so-called 30-yard skirts from we3 probably belongs in a different thread...

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

[COLOR="Blue"]I don't sew and haven't the faintest what a bias is, and I'd have to pay to have it hemmed, so probably will keep it as is. But since it will stretch most likely from the weight, should I buy a 36" ? 36 hits me at a smidge above the tops of my feet. 38" touches the floor on me.

If I am correct and the top is a circle, and it is not pre-hung by the vendor (what are the odds?) then what will happen is it will not stretch at all at two points (where the main grainline is -- the straight length of the fabric) very little at two other points (the grainline running across the fabric) and it will stretch 4 - 7 inches at the points in between (where the threads are running at a diagonal). Your eyes are beginning to glaze over, I can tell. Short solution: Find out if the top is a circle. If I am wrong, and it is a straight piece of fabric, my advice can be DISREGARDED.

It says the skirt is 15 yards on the auction...?

You need at least 15 yards if you want to do fun stuff, I think. I believe the bottom pic in the auction, the tannish skirt, is 25 yards. Hard to tell though because her arms are not held the same way in every shot. But it does look bigger.

If that skirt is like one of my dancemate's (also SL), it is a pretty good weight - not tissue cotton. I like both weights but it depends on what you want to do as well.

If you're wearing pants under the skirts that could also have an effect on the length, depending on pants and skirt.

I've seen the tissue cotton skirts and while pretty, not what I'm looking for in terms of weight for "swooshing and swirling"

And it never occured to me about the spinning! haha! Could you just see the big ole' granny panties! Must get some leggins. You guys are great with all the advice.