Thread: American Icon and Americon Icon II bedlehs

I'm looking at these two on Dahlal, and the only difference I can tell is in the fringe under the bra. For any of you that have seem them in person, what are the differences?

How well-made and sturdy are these? Would these be considered "work horses"? How resistant to tarnishing are the coins?

It looks like the straps cross in back, but one for sale in the swap forum clearly shows a halter. Do these come with straps long enough for the X back (my preference)? How "uplifting" are the bras (I need all I can get!)?

I'm also trying to decide which color to go with. I can get American Icon in solid gold, but the American Icon II is only available in a mix of silver and gold. What would you go with? I'm leaning toward the solid gold, but the mix would be more versatile. If money were no object I'd just get both and be done with it! ..c::

The silver and gold looks great in natural light, but not under stage lights. It still looks good mind you, but the silver gets washed out.

I wouldn't consider them workhorse, because the quality isn't that great, but they are a good costume for the money. My first costume was an american icon. The straps are usually long and can be adjusted anyway. I like the gold one too.

My first costume is Andalee's Am. Icon so it's still holding up just fine. The straps were long enough for me to cross them in the back. You can see it in my profile pic;)

The coins shed like crazy, but you really can't tell because there are so many. I saved them up and sewed them back on later.

I didn't like the way the fringe hung on the bra so I gathered it to have a 2 inch wide finge piece instead of the 4 inch piece.

Overall I think it is a good starting set with a couple different skirts to change the look.

For the money, it's a good buy. Personally, when I got mine, I was a little dismayed at how flimsy the straps are (I'm a D, so my girls need support). After my seamstress got a hold of it, mine is solid as a rock- I would consider it a workhorse now. I haven't had the shedding problem that others have had, and very little tarnishing.

Incidentally, my American Icon II will be for sale soon (I need a silver that matches the rest of the troupe). I'm not exactly sure when I'm posting it- I need to see if I need it for an upcoming thing (might need a silver, and wouldn't have time to buy another silver beforehand). But it'll hopefully be soon.

Originally Posted by amarasdance

For the money, it's a good buy. Personally, when I got mine, I was a little dismayed at how flimsy the straps are (I'm a D, so my girls need support). After my seamstress got a hold of it, mine is solid as a rock- I would consider it a workhorse now.

Hey, can you share what you/she did to make it so sturdy? Because I ordered one! Should be here in about a week. Can't wait!

The straps were just a thin fabric with the coins sewn through it, so with a little snip of 1 thread, it could lose all of the coins on the straps. So I know she lined them and reinforced them with grosgrain. Honestly, I'm not positive what else she did. I emailed her asking for specifics, so that I can list the improvements in my swap meet listing, so when she responds, I'll list her changes here.

Hope I'm not pestering you too much, but I would love to see a close-up of the bra for ideas of what I can do. And I'm wondering how much the grosgrain shows.

I got it today, and it'll work but I was told by them in an email that the straps were over-the-shoulder and long enough to be converted into a different configuration and they are definitely NOT. I'm a bit ticked about that as all it would've taken for them to correctly answer that question when I emailed them was for someone to take a glance at it. Now for me to get the strap configuration I was told it was already in, I'm going to have to sew on additional material and I don't see any chance of finding an exact match.

Ugh. The adventures of mail-order bellydance costuming. ..c:: I'll probably start working with it and fall in love, though. And I did get it at a sale price so it's still worth what I paid.

Originally Posted by amarasdance

....Incidentally, my American Icon II will be for sale soon (I need a silver that matches the rest of the troupe). I'm not exactly sure when I'm posting it- I need to see if I need it for an upcoming thing (might need a silver, and wouldn't have time to buy another silver beforehand). But it'll hopefully be soon.

I might be interested in your coin bedlah if you are interested in selling. Pm'd you!

just popping in to say I'm considering an American Icon for my first costume and would LOVE to see pictures of it

Originally Posted by Nebula

I might be interested in your coin bedlah if you are interested in selling. Pm'd you!

Didn't get a PM, but I am definitely selling mine- it was on hold for a student of mine, and she tried it on and it didn't work for her. So it's for sale. I can try to get pictures of it tomorrow, hopefully.

I'm selling my gold one too. It's brand new. Pm me if anybody's interested.

Originally Posted by amarasdance

Didn't get a PM, but I am definitely selling mine- it was on hold for a student of mine, and she tried it on and it didn't work for her. So it's for sale. I can try to get pictures of it tomorrow, hopefully.

Still interested, pending price/measurements/photos..g.:Sent a real pm this time.