Thread: Strategies for building a dance wardrobe?

I'm going to start restaurant dancing next week (yipes!) and REALLY need to build a more professional dance wardrobe. I've got one nice-and-versatile bedlah and one bra-skirt set, but that's about it. I have more money than time at the moment, but I can't decide on a strategy: buy another bedlah? a dress? What should I splurge on?

The Question: How do you decide what to add to your wardrobe when it needs to be more professional and yet not be the same outfit night after night?

Check with the restaurants where you dance. A lot of places I dance at don't want me to wear dresses. Two piece only!

I'd go with another bedlah and tons of different colored and patterned skirts/arm bands to mix and match.

Bedlah - in silver, gold or bronze and lots of different skirts.

{{{HUGS}}}

Another question I have is how many nights are you dancing and how many sets and are you expected to change costumes between sets? Obviously if you are only dancing one set a week, you have more time / flexibility to build your wardrobe.

But I stand by my earlier statement. Gold, silver or bronze bedlahs are good neutrals to start with. You can add other colours as you go along to expand your wardrobe. Then start adding in two pieced, dresses, etc.

{{{HUGS}}}

Buy a Pharaonics Great Loops and get different color and silhouette skirts to go with it.

I think it's harder to buid a dance wardrobe now that bra/skirt sets are so popular. I still look for mostly bra/belts and skirts for restaurants.

I say buy more skirts - not just different colors, but different styles/silhouettes. Then another bedlah.

The manager at the restaurant where I danced was complimenting me on my dance wardrobe once. She said 'you have so many costumes! The orange one... the blue one..' she listed them off and they were different SKIRTS I'd worn with the same two bra/belt sets!

A circle skirt, an L. Rose trumpet skirt, something fringy or sequinny, all look wildly different to your audience, even when you're wearing the same bra/belt set.

I agree with finding out what your clients are expecting

I'd also encourage you to get something really nice that you really like rather than settling for something 'in the right price range & available now' I've unfortunately spent way too much on costumes that I just don't wear, when something perfect for me generally shows up a month later & I have to pinch pennies for it since I wasted it on the then-available one. I totally understand needing to find something quickly- just be careful that it is actually something you want to put on night after night!

bedlah with a variety of skirts is definitely a good starting point- vests & sleeves can help change up a look too.

Lauren is right. Audiences are easily distracted. The same bra and belt with a red skirt looks like a totally different costume to them when you pair it with blue harem pants or a green trumpet skirt. Get a couple of bra and belt sets in solid colors, and swap the other pieces around: trumpet skirt, circle skirt and sleeves, straight skirt and gauntlets, harem pants and vest, etc. If you can sew, you can knock out skirts and harem pants and easily fool your audiences into thinking you have a closet full of different outfits without breaking the bank.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I think it's harder to buid a dance wardrobe now that bra/skirt sets are so popular. I still look for mostly bra/belts and skirts for restaurants.

I say buy more skirts - not just different colors, but different styles/silhouettes. Then another bedlah.

The manager at the restaurant where I danced was complimenting me on my dance wardrobe once. She said 'you have so many costumes! The orange one... the blue one..' she listed them off and they were different SKIRTS I'd worn with the same two bra/belt sets!

A circle skirt, an L. Rose trumpet skirt, something fringy or sequinny, all look wildly different to your audience, even when you're wearing the same bra/belt set.

Absolutely agree with the above!

It is an excellent point that general audiences are easily distracted! And it helped ALOT to hear that.

Additional question: what do you about colors for skirts and accessories? Did you start off with things mostly in a neutral color (black, metallic, etc.) and then start adding color?

I'm not sure how often I'm going to be dancing at this venue yet: I'm new, but on the other hand some dancers have left town or are out for parts of the summer. It won't be every week, so I am probably worrying more than I should! Our shows are 2 15-minute sets, and we're expected to have different costumes.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I think it's harder to buid a dance wardrobe now that bra/skirt sets are so popular. I still look for mostly bra/belts and skirts for restaurants.

I say buy more skirts - not just different colors, but different styles/silhouettes. Then another bedlah.

The manager at the restaurant where I danced was complimenting me on my dance wardrobe once. She said 'you have so many costumes! The orange one... the blue one..' she listed them off and they were different SKIRTS I'd worn with the same two bra/belt sets!

A circle skirt, an L. Rose trumpet skirt, something fringy or sequinny, all look wildly different to your audience, even when you're wearing the same bra/belt set.

agree. and 3rd the don't bother with a dress for a restaurant.
you can do things to a skirt set to change the look up, but not as much. i have a red skirt set and i made a detachable waist band and chiffon insert for the slit, add the arm bands and i can change 3 pieces in 3 levels to put a different color in and still get a unified look. (right now i have matching red, and a black set to also go with it.)

another thing for changing the looks, for each skirt set you get for your bedlah pick a different style of arm accessory. twirly bits (like Bella makes, they're just spirals hanging from their end) full sleeves, just a ruffle on some elastic, from the elbow, from the bicep (don't do that if you want to de-emphasize your chest/shoulders), bands, bracelets.....
i'd also try to avoid skirts with a metalic edging, unless only one metal works for you. if you get a red skirt with a silver edging and then switch your bedlah for gold.... too bad! if you get a red skirt with red sequins along the hem, you can wear it with anything ^_^

Originally Posted by Amberdamber

It is an excellent point that general audiences are easily distracted! And it helped ALOT to hear that.

Additional question: what do you about colors for skirts and accessories? Did you start off with things mostly in a neutral color (black, metallic, etc.) and then start adding color?

I'm not sure how often I'm going to be dancing at this venue yet: I'm new, but on the other hand some dancers have left town or are out for parts of the summer. It won't be every week, so I am probably worrying more than I should! Our shows are 2 15-minute sets, and we're expected to have different costumes.

Amber, you are going to ROCK THE HOUSE. Will it make you crazy if I come to see your debut?

What is going to make your costumes look the MOST different from each other is color, and lots of it. I wouldn't bother with neutral skirts and arm accents, and definitely not black knowing the dimness of the venue. You need a royal purple 1 1/2 skirt, a turquoise L rose mermaid skirt, a royal blue straight skirt with panels... oh, the SHOPPING!

My advice on color is this: A bra/belt set in solid gold or solid silver (whichever suits you) is your most basic and neutral piece. You can pair that with virtually ANYTHING.

I wouldn't worry, then, about neutral colors in the skirts. Go right for brights, and in different shapes and styles so they look *completely* different to a casual observer. Again, whatever you like that suits you. a slinky red trumpet skirt, a fluffy lavender chiffon circle skirt, a straight purple velvet skirt, green harem pants with a little vest.. all going to look completely different . Trust me, no one but you and *maybe* another dancer will ever realize it's the same bra/belt set.

Originally Posted by tigerb

Amber, you are going to ROCK THE HOUSE. Will it make you crazy if I come to see your debut?
...You need a royal purple 1 1/2 skirt, a turquoise L rose mermaid skirt, a royal blue straight skirt with panels... oh, the SHOPPING!

Oh Tracy you've made my evening! I would love for you to be there. And indeed, oh the shopping since I'm not finding alot of time for sewing right now ,r:; hence the need for strategy!

The classic advice is to start with two sets--gold and silver, but other colors work just as well. A lot of dancers like black because it goes with almost all other colors, but black also goes with invisibility in ill-lit restaurants and in front of black stage draping, so some dancers avoid it. There's no reason why you can't go with solid design sets in other colors, though. A crowd is going to see a blue bedlah with a white skirt as a different costume from a blue bedlah and a green skirt. If you like lighter colors, it usually isn't too hard to find sets with pearlized or AB white sequins, and they go with almost all pastels equally well. (The main problem with light colors is that they get dirtier faster, but if you pick washable skirts/pants, you can usually keep up with the problem.)

One trick that dancers in the old days used to do to stretch their costume wardrobes was tucking extra pieces of fabric (scarves or veils) into the costume to make another layer. Sometimes they pulled the pieces out while they were on stage and used them as dance props, but other times they were just there for decoration. You can do a lot to change the effect of a costume by playing around with layering and accessories.

I agree, I'd go with other colors besides gold or silver, they're so overdone especially at 'beginning' level

Don't forget that sleeve effects & stuff like hair accessories, accent skirts & different types of veils help change the look too -

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

The classic advice is to start with two sets--gold and silver, but other colors work just as well. A lot of dancers like black because it goes with almost all other colors, but black also goes with invisibility in ill-lit restaurants and in front of black stage draping, so some dancers avoid it. There's no reason why you can't go with solid design sets in other colors, though. A crowd is going to see a blue bedlah with a white skirt as a different costume from a blue bedlah and a green skirt. If you like lighter colors, it usually isn't too hard to find sets with pearlized or AB white sequins, and they go with almost all pastels equally well. (The main problem with light colors is that they get dirtier faster, but if you pick washable skirts/pants, you can usually keep up with the problem.)

One trick that dancers in the old days used to do to stretch their costume wardrobes was tucking extra pieces of fabric (scarves or veils) into the costume to make another layer. Sometimes they pulled the pieces out while they were on stage and used them as dance props, but other times they were just there for decoration. You can do a lot to change the effect of a costume by playing around with layering and accessories.

I'd keep in mind the color of the background. I saw a restaurant show once where the dancer had a bronze color costume and the walls were a deep terra cotta. With the lights being what they were, her beautiful costume was blending with the walls.

oh hey, what about coins? A coin bedlah will go with anything and can look very rich (esp. those sets with crystals on the medallions)

Yes to all of the above. Different color and styles in skirts and sleeves are the way to go.
If you're thinking long-term investment- the Pharaonics bedleh are built for wear.
If you're wanting to move beyond "neutral metallic"- a multi-color set- with a strong background color and two accent colors can give you nice options.
For a budget minded set- I think this is lovely:
Belly Dance Costumes | Belly Dance Store.com: gallery
They've got it in other sizes and it would look great with lots of colors.

Samira, thanks for posting that link! Gawhguous!

Congrats on your new gig! Thank you for posting, I am starting in the Fall as well and have the same dilemma. Great suggestions.

Once again, thank you all for the wonderful advice. Made it through my first gig alive, and ordered a swath of skirts and accessories from Lrose to jazz up my black-gold-silver-iridescent bedlah workhorse. If only I could afford a great loop :)

You could try setting aside a percentage of all your restaurant income in a Costume Fund. It would soon mount up.

Don't forget the jewelry. Flashy chunky costume jewelry is really in right now and you can find lots of great pieces to mix and match at dept store sale tables.

Color color color! You are performing and should stand out in both dance and look.

Originally Posted by Amberdamber

If only I could afford a great loop :)

OMG if you see one on swap in your size JUMP ON IT! i love mine^_^ that is a fabulous set! (maybe not for for-dancer shows, since so many dancers have it and have seen it, but it's such a good bedlah and delivers for the GP)
ok, done gushing now^_^

Well, I realized I'd saved a bit of money AND my birthday is coming up, so I decided a gold great loop set was a good investment, especially since they get snapped up on Bhuz in an instant! Still the most expensive costume piece I've bought, but in gold it's gonna go with tons of things. Whee!..l;,

I would also recommend selecting most of your new skirts and sleeves, veils etc in colours that can theoretically go with each other. Then, if you add a second bedleh that involves a couple of colours, go for a couple of your favourite and most flattering shades from the wardrobe you already have. This way, you have a TON of options for mixing and matching. I would say alternative colours that really don't go with your "colourway" are a third choice.

If you're like me and tend to make skirts/accessories or have them made, it would be a good idea to make a little card with clippings of the fabrics attached (and samples of bead colours etc) to keep in your bag, so you can always test it next to any potential purchase.

Originally Posted by Souzan

Don't forget the jewelry. Flashy chunky costume jewelry is really in right now and you can find lots of great pieces to mix and match at dept store sale tables.

Yeah! Different jewelry makes whole different looks. And hair treatments, decorated clips, hairpieces, headbands, etc.
Mentioned earlier: an "old school" look using veils or material hip drapes for layering changes up the look too.