Thread: Beadless/Sequinless/Rhinestoneless costumes?

So, I have a couple ideas for simplistic costumes (I tend toward a Tribaret/AmCab/Gypsy aesthetic) from some fabrics with really cool patterns on them (vintage looking block print, etc) but wouldn't be doing any beadwork/blingwork on them, since I suck at it AND am cheap. I also use parentheses too often.

I'm interested in seeing images of minimal and no-bling costumes and hearing thoughts about whether or not they could work, if they'd be viewed purely student level or could be semi-pro, and all that other jazz. Thanks so much!

It would all depend on the venue it would be used for and what kind of dance you were doing. It would also depend on how good of a costume designer you actually are.

But in general, the role of the costume is to help the dancer achieve an amazing "larger than life" look on stage. If everything about the costume, including the commonness and cost of the components, the amount of work an onlooker would perceive went into it says "mundane" then the costume fails.

I can't help you in the picture department, but my first thought is that the fabrics would have to be quite interesting and opulent to pull off a professional-quality triabaret/cabaret look, and possibly even for an ethnic/folkloric style. There is a certain audience expectation that a dancer's costume is going to be stunning, and it's pretty difficult to pull that off with a plain design because there's a fine line between "Elegant in its simplicity" and "Did you run out of money to finish it?" Still, there are options of pleating/ruching, embroidery, and other embellishment techniques that could provide interest without cheesy glitz if you want to go in that direction.

My other concern is that you may have a tough time balancing rich fabric and movement. Something like a heavily embroidered tapestry would not require much embellishment to look complete from a design standpoint, but it may not give you much movement, and part of why fringe evolved on costumes is that it enhances what the dancer's body is doing. Of course, you can always work around that by incorporating additional lightweight fabrics that will carry some of the movement. You can also look at shells, wooden beads, and other more natural decorative pieces that would serve the same demonstrative function as faceted or foil-lined glass beads but without the bling.

While I don't know exactly what you have in mind, bling-free costumes can be a refreshing sight to see when you're performing for other dancers at a hafla or festival. Bhuz's very own Lauren posted an amazing clip of herself doing an Egyptian-style performance in a simple black unitard, and it came across to me as very real.

The general public and Arab audiences, on the other hand, expect to see sparkle and fantasy. If you're looking for paying jobs, you've gotta wear the "uniform," so to speak

Back in the day, dancers in my town would put pennies on the railroad tracks and let the train run over them and smash them. Then they would drill a hole, add a jump-ring and sew it to their costume. If you get enough of these you can make a very cool copper colored coin costume.

There are lots of cool recycling ideas out there, though I can't think of any specific images right now. But some people are using recycled CDs (there was a thread on that recently), which can be turned into jewelry or coin-like dangles for a costume for practically no money, it just takes time. Here' a link: CD Jewelry » How To | Cut Out + Keep

Dancers have also recycled discs from computers, used washers from the hardware store as coins, etc.

I once saw a very cool fringey belt that a clever dancer made. She had a roll of thin chain from the hardware store, cut it into varying lengths (like "icicle" fringe) and sandwiched it between two layers of duct tape. One of those mirror-cloth strips worn over the duct tape part and voila, a cool tribal-ish fringey belt.

Kuchi necklaces can be sewn to the cups of a bra to make a pretty effective coin bra. One on each cup. But please use a sturdy bra and be sure to make sturdy straps - lingerie bra straps and back are a huge no-no and will look tacky unless they are completely covered by a costume vest. Even then they may not be supportive enough to support the weight of metal decorations, but grosgrain ribbon, buckram, etc. to stabilize a bra are inexpensive. People have recommended a certain strapless bra from Walmart as a base for costume bras, then add your own straps and back.

If you add a little metal to your cool fabrics I think you would be right in the tribal fusion and/or tribaret vibe.

People have even made cool costumes out of hammered bottle caps (flattened to look like coins), pull tabs from soda or beer cans, etc. Google it.

Also check out the DIY/Costuming on a Budget tribe here:
DIY/ Bellydance on a Budget - tribe.net

Post your question there, and browse through the photo section. There are some really creative people on that tribe.

p.s. I use the word cool too much,..l;,.

Tassles are also easy to make and if you make them from silky threads instead of yarn they could be tribaret.

And something like this, available on the swap meet, can be sewn to your sturdy costume bra. cheap and almost instant costuming: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/bellydance...red-beads.html

There is a technique that is easy to do, where you wipe a cloth with a black paint over the coins, giving an antique look if you don't like super shiny.

I saw a tribal dancer with a hip belt made from regular leather belts. It was very cool.

I haven't really beaded any of the costumes I've made. If you start with fabric that has shimmer, or some sort of iridescence or pattern, a lot of the leg work is already done for you. Check remnant piles, you can get some great fabrics here for very cheap!

You can also go to your local fabric store and get sequin or beaded trims, ribbons and appliques or try the sew on crystals, the prices here vary. Some trims are very expensive, others are very cheap. You can also go to Claire's Boutique or Forever 21 and buy pins and jewelry which you you can sew on to add interest for pretty cheap. All of things I've mentioned are pretty easy to sew. I taught myself to do it. I do wear my homemades at professional shows when I want an old-school look.

You don't have to be a master beader or seamstress to make nice bra and belt sets.

I did very little beading on my "Candy Costume" (on the home page of my site) - the fabric itself shimmers a LOT and the fringe and sequins were already in place on the scarves I worked into the design (found them at Target). It's probably my least expensive self-made, but my favorite! I wear it for restaurant shows and people love it.

Ooooh, I love the penny and bottle cap ideas! And I've been eyeballing that coin bra in the swap meet - if it's still around on payday, I'm going to be whining to my fiance to let me spend the money for it - it's priced super well right now IMO!

It's not that I'm opposed to beads, I just don't have any inclination to do beadwork but would like costumes between here and when I can afford real professional beadwork.

I was thinking about using some shiney/iridescent fabric as well. I went hunting for costume ideas last night and all I found using fabric they way I'd want to is tribal, but I'm not really a huge fan of the tribal styling (and I'm not a tribal dancer, either). I did find some imitation bollywood jewelry on ebay for cheap that I'm thinking maybe I'll pick up for embellishments - they might look pretty cool, actually.

Low-bling costumes are kinda trendy these days. Melissa Lopez from NE OH often wears costumes with zero bling, but it's impossible to take your eyes off her because her dancing is just riveting!

When fabric is the feature, it has to be soft and flowing to match your movements. Stiff, heavy and crisp fabrics won't work.

Two quick ways to get a beaded look without beading a thing are appliques and beaded cocktail/evening dresses. Appliques don't have to be used exactly as they are, they can be cut apart and the pieces rearranged by themselves or with pieces from other appliques. The final design can be highlighted with a few extra beads or jewels. Beaded cocktail dresses can be disassembled, pattern pieces outlined with fabric glue, and used as appliques or to cover cups or belts.

Browse the major cab costume vendor sites for ideas for low bling, like these on Dahal https://www.dahlal.com/default.aspx?...1=1334&s2=1334 & https://www.dahlal.com/default.aspx?...1=1334&s2=1334

The first has a single large applique at the hip, and very minimal beading on the bra. Instead of beading the bra, you could use two coordinating appliques, or use fabric glitter or prestrung beads to highlight a pattern in the fabric, or just make decorative squiggly lines. The second costume features simple swags of prestrung beads, the only other thing you'd need is two matching appliques for the cups.

Amanda Rose had a really beautiful low-bling costume at one of the Maqam Challenges. It looked like an olive green stretch velvet, and then it just had a couple of pheasant feather accents. I don't remember if the fabric itself was embellished, but if it was it was very subtle. I think she also had one that was a very simple yellow and blue that had very little embellishment. I thought that both costumes looked very elegant.

Originally Posted by luvnafctn

Amanda Rose had a really beautiful low-bling costume at one of the Maqam Challenges. It looked like an olive green stretch velvet, and then it just had a couple of pheasant feather accents. I don't remember if the fabric itself was embellished, but if it was it was very subtle. I think she also had one that was a very simple yellow and blue that had very little embellishment. I thought that both costumes looked very elegant.

I found a picture of the yellow and blue costume here, but I think you have to be on Facebook to see it. Welcome to Facebook

This costume she's wearing as part of the Black Opal Dance Company seems to have minimal bling but looks gorgeous on stage http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload...6-0c1f34646f92

I can't help but think of some of Samia Gamal's really low bling costumes:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1hoCRfeFc0]YouTube - Samia Gamal - episode from movie "Ali Baba"[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qvT6LdG7Is]YouTube - The Fabulous Samia Gamal[/ame]

Originally Posted by laura 2

I found a picture of the yellow and blue costume here, but I think you have to be on Facebook to see it. Welcome to Facebook

This costume she's wearing as part of the Black Opal Dance Company seems to have minimal bling but looks gorgeous on stage http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload...6-0c1f34646f92

I was able to get in by viewing her profile. If you can get in that far, just look at the photo tab. And I was wrong... the olive green does have sparkle right in the fabric, and it was peacock feathers instead of pheasant feathers.

If you live in a fishing town it can be fun to make a set out of fishing lures (hooks removed of course!). A dancer here in town made one out of simple solid silver ones. (and then added the little hoochie squid things for fun)

Oh, wow! Amanda Rose's costumes are just gorgeous!!! That and the Samia Gamal costumes are what I was thinking along the lines of - thank you so much you guys! I re-evaluated the fabric I was originally going to use and I don't think it's good enough, but I found some other fabric that I really think will work! It's a Gold/Black metallic on one side and a bright red on the other - I was thinking it might be fun to use the gold/black side as the main and then just turn the fabric for accents. Wheee!

I also recommend getting your hands on some old hollywood Bible movies. Some of their harem costumes are fabric only and quite elegantly designed. I'm trying to remember which one that had me wanting the ladies outfits...maybe samson and delilah? Something tragic, I'm sure...

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

While I don't know exactly what you have in mind, bling-free costumes can be a refreshing sight to see when you're performing for other dancers at a hafla or festival. Bhuz's very own Lauren posted an amazing clip of herself doing an Egyptian-style performance in a simple black unitard, and it came across to me as very real.

The general public and Arab audiences, on the other hand, expect to see sparkle and fantasy. If you're looking for paying jobs, you've gotta wear the "uniform," so to speak

I love blingless costumes, espcially at festivals where I've already seen blinged-out dancer after blinged-out dancer perform. For me, it's all about variety.
I also think they can sometimes work for a non-dancer audience, but as a general rule I do agree with the quote above.

I wholly agree about gp and arab audiences. I think when I get to the point of need pro-level costumes, I'm gonna have to stick with the bling and brainstorm ways to come up with it.

Originally Posted by Nathara

So, I have a couple ideas for simplistic costumes (I tend toward a Tribaret/AmCab/Gypsy aesthetic) from some fabrics with really cool patterns on them (vintage looking block print, etc) but wouldn't be doing any beadwork/blingwork on them, since I suck at it AND am cheap. I also use parentheses too often.

I'm interested in seeing images of minimal and no-bling costumes and hearing thoughts about whether or not they could work, if they'd be viewed purely student level or could be semi-pro, and all that other jazz. Thanks so much!

A local dancer has a great one, and she doesn't understand why her husband prefers it to the blingy ones. Answer - a beautiful dancer doesn't NEED all that bling (although it sure is fun!). The plainer costume allows her natural beauty to shine without competition.

Of course she doesn't have any pictures of that one on her website, or else I'd link it. It's actually a brown and tan small-scale tie-dye effect fabric in silk chiffon (or similar fabric). It sounds terrible, but it looks phenomenal.

This thread has a number of beautiful lower-bling costumes: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...-costumes.html

I'm having one made based on post #51. I'm adding small hot fix crystals to the design, but there will be no beading and no big rhinestones.

Ooooh, Genevieve! That is absolutely what I spent an hour searching for on Bhuz! Thank you so much!!!

Another Samia Gamal costume that does the job
YouTube - Samia Gamal - Zeina
The fabric and fit are very important, as well as the lines the emphasize her movements.

Costumes, like props, should emphasize the dancing. Don't be afraid to tone down on the bling if it works for you.

Originally Posted by Nathara

Ooooh, Genevieve! That is absolutely what I spent an hour searching for on Bhuz! Thank you so much!!!

Hehe! Sometimes it can be hard to find threads on Bhuz. I just happened to remember that thread title because it was...well...so badass! I'm glad it was helpful!!

Amen to simpler costumes. I'm so fed up with having to be an onstage drag queen. I'm trying to figure out simpler costumes for some of the dance styles I do. So far no success.

Here's a story: I got to see Zoe Jakes run a tech rehearsal with just her costume bra and a pair of regular pants, no doodads or anything. It was probably the best I've seen her dance. Actually, I've seen her do that a few times. Then again, she's phenomenal and would make a potato sack look elegant.

Ooooh, I don't know if I could pull off a potato sack - not even a blingy one. I HOPE that simpler costumes work for me because I don't think I have the patience for beadwork at all! Eek! How cool to see a tech rehearsal, though - I bet you learn a lot of things that way!