Thread: 1960's costuming fusion

Hi All, I am preparing for a Belly Dance Raqs! hafla and I am dancing to a Motown song from 1962. I want to wear something pin-up and/or rockabilly, but not to restrictive. I want it to look more retro than belly dance, but still have some belly dance flare.

My searches are coming up short. Any ideas, links, etc?

Here are mine:

1) Midriff baring halter or bikini top with poofy skirt
2) Midriff baring halter or bikini top with short flared skirt and melodias
3) Retro dress:

What do you think?

Hmm, Motown performers in the 60s were all about sophisticated glamor. The rockabilly idea doesn't really fit in my mind. The retro dress is cute but looks like the 50s to me, not the 60s.

What song are you using?

A halter top, short skirt and Melodia pants might have more of a 60s vibe, since halters and bell bottoms were "in" back then.

"Do you love me?", by the Contours. At the time this song came out the 1960's fashion that you think of hadn't come out yet. Think of fashion from the first part of the Dreamgirls movie.

Here's what the Motown singers were wearing:







I can't dance in pencil skirts or gowns!

I agree that the rockabilly look, although cute, is not the right vibe. It does depend on what song you're using, but in general I think a glam look like the gowns the Supremes wore would go much better with Motown.

More 1962 fashion:

Yeah. The retro dress is definitely more of a 40s-50s look, as is anything "pin up" (ala Betty Page) or rockabilly. Although there may have been vestiges of it remaining in early 60s fashion, it would have been looking dated at that point, and it's not a look that says 60s. Even in the backwaters of Alberta, Canada, one saw more fitted fashions, shorter skirts, go-go boots, "pop" designs, etc. in the early 60s.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

I had a suit just like the middle ones in the 1960s. I wore it with a pussycat bow blouse.Skirts were slim after the fullness of the 50s(I was devastated) although Audrey (Saint) Hepburn had always favoured that neat look.
Another just pre-Beatles look was the pencil skirt again with a big sweater (ala Beatnik style) Skirts then started to shorten alarmingly until my father accused me of wearing a window pelmet and not a skirt
Meissoun did a very entertaining fusion in a typical sixties Mary Quant look and beehive hair do. I think her routine is on Belly Dance sensations..that girl can twist!!!..g.:

images from my youth!!!
Twiggy! Not me of course!



Mary Quant style..London then Liverpool was the centre of the universe



The wonderful Dusty Springfield



Fab before Ab Fab Joanan Lumley

I'm thinking something with maaaaaaad crazy paillettes like that luscious lime green costume Tex bought awhile back!

Did Thalia sell her yellow/brown costume with paisley design & crazy pailettes? I think that would be totally "it"!

Originally Posted by naiyahayal

Did Thalia sell her yellow/brown costume with paisley design & crazy pailettes? I think that would be totally "it"!

That's exactly what I'm thinking! And Tex has the same thing or very similar in lime green. I wonder where we can find some pics! ..g.:

My friend got one of these paillette outfits from ShimmyShimmy.com and they're actually quite cute in person! Not exactly couture material, but for a one-off show, you can't beat it:

http://www.shimmyshimmy.com/costumes...5PurpleBra.jpg

You might even be able to wear the "belt" as a mini skirt, depending on the fit and your comfort level

I think one of those fringe-covered long dresses would work well, the kind made of a clingy material. Or a pailette dress along the same lines, like these at shimmyshimmy.com:


I don't think anything two piece would work so well, when I think of Motown singers I think of that long elegant shape (unless mini-skirted).

another option would be to use a fairly neutral design for the pants and top, but use vintage fabric in color palette from the era and go bat**** with accessories.

Not from the 60's, but:
The Contours – Do You Love Me – Video, listening & stats at Last.fm

Oh, that is a fun song, and it has more of a rock 'n roll vibe than Motown to me, so I can see where you got the rockabilly idea.

I think whatever you do, just have fun with it. I can see the paillettes or the fringe dress, but go-go boots and a miniskirt might work too. The fashions from then don't exactly scream "belly dance," do they.

Egyption costume.

wow, were the 60's that different ? this is all my mothers stuff from the 40, 50's. 60's was hippie!....(where i was in the 60's, must write that or get called a lier, lol.)
there are a lot of vintage stuff on gilded serpent from the north beach years.

you should talk to Shahzaadee.....she always has good ideas regarding costuming.

you know what i like, is your stash buster cossie.. i think that would be cute with the theme!

For that song...what about the jeans and button down shirt look?
The shirt could be tied and the jeans could be rolled capri length?

(I've seen leggings that look like denim, might be more comfy).

What decade was that?

Originally Posted by Basta

Egyption costume.

I love it, love it, love it!

Fab before Ab Fab Joanan Lumley[/QUOTE]

OMG I LOVE Joanan Lumley! This pic is awesome! (she had a boxy figure like me, too! Yay!)

Don't know if this is giving the asker costume ideas, but I am am sure loving the '60's fashion show! ;-)