Thread: Arm and leg laces?

I have no idea what else to call these, and I can't find any pictures to show you, but Sandra's Bella has them that she wears in her performance in the 'Combination Nation 2' DVD. I think they're on one arm and one leg in that instance, I think that Bella was actually up for sale recently in the swap forum.

I love that lacing that criss-crosses up legs or arms, and I'm wondering if I can make that at home? Or is there a source for them already made? It doesn't seem like it would be all that expensive.

*runs to look at arm laces on her Bella*

On mine, she used the same fabric that she used to make the base for my bra and belt - it's a shiny gold stretchy lycra-like fabric but thinner...and for the bands, she folded them together to create a long stretchy strip and sewed sequins on it. You can probably do the same with beads too. It doesn't look that hard to make...just use a stretchy base.

can someone please post a picture? sounds intriguing.

You might be able to adapt some of the technique discussion here for longer strands. http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...s-anklets.html

I found a picture of one on her arm:
Red Lace-Up bella

Edit to add this pic shows a little of the leg lacing:
Fuschia Lace-Up Bella

I actually think that second pic is the very costume I was talking about. You can see it in the first few seconds of this video Sandra mentioned:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KVMARVv5R8"]YouTube- By Dancers For Dancers #4 DVD trailer[/ame]

Staying tuned to this thread. I need something to match my purple Bella that's not an arm floofy. I'm sick of smacking myself in the face with my own chiffon! ,r:;.w.:

I'll try to post a picture of my laces tomorrow...they seriously don't look hard to make at all...just time consuming unless you bead like an angel...

Aw, I saw them not long ago on a site that sells roller derby stuff, but naturally I can't remember what site now and can't find it. Grrr.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Staying tuned to this thread. I need something to match my purple Bella that's not an arm floofy. I'm sick of smacking myself in the face with my own chiffon! ,r:;.w.:

and then trying to get the lipstick off it! (related, i've decided im only going to wear red when i have to do veilwork outside, so that you can't see my lipstick when the wind smacks me in the face with the veil ^_~)

i've never had a bella :sigh: but the few non-stretchy lace up things i've tried to wear were incredibly uncomfortable, cutting into tendons and circulation, or falling down. the stretch should fix that, but i'd also suggest making them wide enough for body tape to go under them, and keeping some on hand when you wear them.
not bella, but she's rocking the lace-up [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S57x3LGS4Wc&fmt=18"]YouTube- JU Marconato Belly Dance[/ame]

Everyone I saw wearing similar lace-ups had muffin-top everywhere, even the heavily toned dancers. Biceps, calves, etc - muffin-top.

Originally Posted by raqFariha

i've never had a bella :sigh: but the few non-stretchy lace up things i've tried to wear were incredibly uncomfortable, cutting into tendons and circulation, or falling down. the stretch should fix that, but i'd also suggest making them wide enough for body tape to go under them, and keeping some on hand when you wear them.

I think you want to just graze the skin with the laces--use the elasticity of the fabric to give you ease and double-stick tape to keep the critical locations (ends and approaching joints) from slipping around. The problem with fitting straps like these on your arms and legs is that unless you are ripped like Madonna, it won't take too much tension to turn your limbs into blinged-out sausages, and even if you are that toned, you don't want to look like you're going to blow a gasket when your muscles flex. "Binding" really isn't a look you want associated with a costume, because the eye naturally seems to gravitate toward things that look painful or flabby.