Thread: Question for costuming a curvy/short figure!

Hello Bhuz! I'm feverishly trying to finish my lovely 'Cinnamon Gypsy' costume and I've run into a snag. I'm 4'10" and feel that a full skirt would make look like a cupcake with a head sticking out of it. My other option is to make a tribal style pair of endless wave harem pants. Would that be just as bad? Would the base pants be too poofy made out of cotton (yummy printed fabric with paprika, tawny gold, and red dragons)? The 'fins' would be made out of opaque rayon.

Or....I have a black heavy chiffon circle skirt that would match the sleeves on my Turkish vest.

Ralp!!!

I think your instincts are correct... too much volume on the bottom will "wear you" instead of you wearing it. Have you read:

Ask the Belly Dance Costume Goddess: Flattering Costume Ideas for Short Dancers

You can probably wear a full skirt as long as the fabric is light and if you avoid the tiered skirt. I made a tiered skirt. I'm 5'4" and literally I look like a short blunt pyramid in it. Instead I got a very lightweight circle and a half skirt with a same-color ruffle and it's much more flattering. But my mermaid skirts are even better as they make me look taller -- more vertical line.

Hey Tiger, I forgot about the costume goddess (foreheadsmack).

I'm tempted to skip the vest (or take the chiffon sleeves off of it) and just make a trumpet skirt and gauntlet set out of panne' if I can find it wide enough. I have the Madame X pattern.

Otherwise I can just do a great fitting straight skirt.

Thank you for your input, it's always helpful to have honest opinions for this kind of thing! Mwah!

Originally Posted by Doozer

Hey Tiger, I forgot about the costume goddess (foreheadsmack).

I'm tempted to skip the vest (or take the chiffon sleeves off of it) and just make a trumpet skirt and gauntlet set out of panne' if I can find it wide enough. I have the Madame X pattern.

Otherwise I can just do a great fitting straight skirt.

Thank you for your input, it's always helpful to have honest opinions for this kind of thing! Mwah!

Well, if you like to hide your legs (I do, *shudder*), then go for the trumpet skirt, but if you have a fine set of "gams" then make a straight skirt with a slit.

I do love that there is a built in set of costume consultants here on bhuz.

How about a pair of regular harem pants and a panel skirt?...the sort where you wear one rectangular panel in front and one in the back with the sides open.