Thread: Which Costuming "Rules" do You Break?

We've all heard some popular costuming adages through the years. "Redheads shouldn't wear red." "Tall dancers shouldn't wear heels." "Full-figured women shouldn't do bedleh."

Sometimes, the "rules" apply, and sometimes, they don't. I want to hear which rules you break on a quasi-regular basis.

Personally, I like to disobey the "law" that petite dancers should only wear tight, minimalistic costumes in understated hues, with no fringe or embellishments on them. My reasoning: why? Sometimes, a tasteful amount of fluff or fringe in the right spots can make your body look curvier, add extra "oomph" to your movements, and make you appear larger than life onstage. Plus, I find that a lot of modern Egyptian costumes just hang lifelessly on my narrow hips like clothes on a hanger and don't add any illusion of bulk or movement.

I just bought a costume with Chiquita Banana ruffles all over it and damn it, I'm gonna rock that costume no matter what the Fashion Police have to say ..l;,

I know there are other rule breakers out there. 'Fess up!!! ..l;,

[raises hand]

Yep - I'm a rule breaker! ..g.:

I'm a plus size gal, and I wear two-piece costumes -- so there!!! In fact, I just got my first "pro-ish" costume this week that's a Desert Swirl!

Granted, I'm just a hobbyist right now, but I found that as my confidence grew, bearing my belly (within the right group - namely at haflas where I'm surrounded by dancers that I've known for quite awhile now), isn't as big of a deal as I first thought.

I do think, though, that if I would ever be asked to perform for payment for the GP, I'd probably do a dress of some sort.

Well, I still like fringe, so I wear fringed bedlah a lot even though they are not "fashion forward." I wear colors I like and don't worry about "skin tone" very much, I figure I can get away with more different colors on stage with stage make up and lighting than I could in real life.

<raises hand>
i've been wearing "out of style" bedlah & fringe monsters for so long, they are now "vintage cool" again. but the gp prefers them ime (regional?) and my tip differential proves it time and time again.

i was very very late to the lycra party and still reach for a traditional bedlah for most shows. guess the lycras have to be cut just so or they "hang lifelessly" on me too. not just a size thing. its a cut and fit thing.

also, i wear glitter for daytime shows. guess i sparkle in the sunlight like certain vampires ;)
eta: i've also been known to use a veil in a show without road testing it. yeah, i know. livin dangerously. haha

I also tend to go for "bargains" and modify or fix them up to suit my own taste, makes them more personalized. I don't own a lycra bra and skirt combo, I have avoided them because I don't think they would look good on my body type and I haven't had the chance to try one on. Also, I think there will be no "vintage" lycra costumes in the future because they won't hold up.

So interesting about the fringemonsters, because that's another rule I break happily. (Though I generally wear shorter fringe to flatter my figure).

The Northeast generally lags behind about 5 years on fashion and hairstyles, so fringemonsters just went out of style here and Lycra's only gained popularity very recently. So I don't know if my vintage pieces are tacky or cutting-edge. But ask me if I care

Overall, I think so many of us love classic looks that they will never go out of style. Think of how big that bad-ass vintage costumes thread got, or the popularity of "new classics" like Bellas. I think many of us just miss looking like belly dancers.

I'm not a super redhead, but there is red in my hair and I wear bright cherry red costumes and dark red costumes and wine colored costumes.

I am also ghost white and wear black costumes.

Love ruffles! I'm sure it'll look great on you!

I "break the so-called rules" all the time. I'm VERY curvy and wear mostly bedlah and BIG, bull 1.5 circle skirts with poofy harems. I even tuck my skirt or veil on my hips on occasion, even though I don't need the extra oompf, just cause I like the movement of it. I rarely ever wear those fitted mermaid type costumes... I think they make my butt look bigger instead of flattering my figure.

I also love fringe monsters and the vintage look... it seems like most of the GP like the fringe bedlah look instead of the lycra look around here. Revealing lycra costumes scream vegas to people around here and not exotic middle eastern dancer. I only own one lycra costume now... sold the rest!

Originally Posted by dunyah

I also tend to go for "bargains" and modify or fix them up to suit my own taste, makes them more personalized. I don't own a lycra bra and skirt combo, I have avoided them because I don't think they would look good on my body type and I haven't had the chance to try one on. Also, I think there will be no "vintage" lycra costumes in the future because they won't hold up.

Agreed! I couldn't see any of my lycra costumes past or present lasting more than a few more years.

They are also hard to alter if your weight changes, so you have to sell them, and then they'll only sell to a very small group of people w/ just the right measurements. So from a resale position, I also don't like them.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I just bought a costume with Chiquita Banana ruffles all over it and damn it, I'm gonna rock that costume no matter what the Fashion Police have to say ..l;,
:

I totally want to see a pic of this costume, founds to die for ;)

Some rules are just meant to be broken ;)

I think its most important to wear what you like because then you feel the best, look the best and have the most fun. :)

Originally Posted by crystalllized

I'm not a super redhead, but there is red in my hair and I wear bright cherry red costumes and dark red costumes and wine colored costumes.
I am also ghost white and wear black costumes.

Redhead here, too, breaking all the redhead rules! I also wear orange *gasp*!

Satin- in "fashion" and bathing suits petites are encouraged to wear ruffles and "extras" because it adds to curves... The trick is proportion. TOO much and it will overwhelm.

I eschew the faux-tan-for-stage rule. I may be reflective under stage lights, but so be it! I am pale and proud.

Another petite person who like to break the fringe rule. I love it! I'm only 5'2" tall so I wear fringy bedlahs with 6" or less fringe on it, but I still loves me some fringe!

I wear two pieces and those that don't like a curvy gal wearing them can look the other way when I shimmy. I like dresses as well. I don't wear trends in my everyday, why follow them for expensive outfits I plan on owning for years to come?

I break the 'fringe' rule too. I'm in the shortie group, and LOVE my fringey old school bedlahs; with very full skirts! I think the lycra costumes look beautiful on some dancers--SamiraShuruk I'm lookin at you! but they are so elegant, and there is just nothing elegant about my personality! I'm just a playful, flirty dancer, and my costuming choices reflect that.

Well...I'm a red head now and I totally still wear red! I love it, I think it looks very sexy (Jessica Rabbit did it..g.:). I also have an ancient reflections set and even though it seems like so much for lil ole me, I also still love it! I wear the chiffon skirts...but I'm still unsure on them. I still feel like a cake decoration.

Costuming rules should be more like the Pirate's Code. More like "Guidelines".

There are a few that I won't break though. Like wearing a lingerie bra and trying to pass it off as a costume bra. Or, the whole underwear thing. I always wear something, even if it's just a thong. I know dancer's that don't, but it freaks me out.

{raises hand}
I am only 5' with shoes on and love circle skirts {GASP!}
And I love how fringe hides my stretchmarks.

I must have missed the memo on what the "Rules" are. I'm a curvy gal and wear 2 piece costumes, I have red hair and one of my fav cossies is orange (looking for a red one), and probably "worse" of all is I have several different skin tones. I know, sounds really weird. My arms and cleavage area are generally tanner than the rest of me. During the winter my belly is the whitest and legs slightly darker. Just don't have the patience to do the self-tanner thing and my upper body stays darker from the summer. Oh, I also don't follwo trends. I buy what I like and that's that!

I love orange. Love it!! I don't care who says I "need the right shade" or "need a tan." I love it and I'm wearing it! And I detest lycra on my figure, even though I am very petite. Give me a nice full skirt, or velvet if you must, but keep the lycra away from me. Lycra looks better on everyone else!

There are costuming rules like that? I must have missed the memo! But then, I also missed the memo on fashion in general ;-) My guidelines are simple - a costume should flatter me in the particular performance, make me feel awesome, and it has to be 100% functional (i.e., support my movement and my body and not display anything I do not want to be seen).

Originally Posted by dunyah

Also, I think there will be no "vintage" lycra costumes in the future because they won't hold up.

this^ !!!!!

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Redhead here, too, breaking all the redhead rules! I also wear orange *gasp*!

Satin- in "fashion" and bathing suits petites are encouraged to wear ruffles and "extras" because it adds to curves... The trick is proportion. TOO much and it will overwhelm.

Oh yeah, I have very red hair and totally rock orange. Actually I get a lot of compliments when I wear it. And I like red too.

Now, I guess I will be completely in the dog house for saying this: If lycra costumes were flattering and suitable for me, I'd totally wear them! I'd wear a floating bra if it looked great on me dancing. Heck, I wish it looked great on me.

More seriously, many rules are good for starting us to think and for helping us avoid the most obvious mistakes, and that's good. So, here is a thumbs-up for the common-sense behind some of the rules that when taken too literally can become a wee bit silly!!!!!

Originally Posted by SamiraShuruk

Satin- in "fashion" and bathing suits petites are encouraged to wear ruffles and "extras" because it adds to curves... The trick is proportion. TOO much and it will overwhelm.

This, my friend, is why I'm addicted to Bellas. They're like the Goldilocks of embellishment for me.

"This Sim V-belt has toooooo much fringe! This Eman doesn't have ANY fringe! This Bella is juuuuuust right!" ..l;,

Originally Posted by shahla

Costuming rules should be more like the Pirate's Code. More like "Guidelines".

There are a few that I won't break though. Like wearing a lingerie bra and trying to pass it off as a costume bra. Or, the whole underwear thing. I always wear something, even if it's just a thong. I know dancer's that don't, but it freaks me out.

Seriously. Some costuming rules should be ironclad.

ALWAYS wear underwear. ALWAYS cover a lingerie bra. NEVER wear a black thong under a white skirt. (Can you say "whale tail?") NEVER wear pasties or a Frederick's of Hollywood sexy genie outfit to a gig.

Then there's other stuff, which I guess can be broken/followed at your discretion

I agree, SatinWorship!

Originally Posted by Lesedi

I'm VERY curvy and wear mostly bedlah and BIG, bull 1.5 circle skirts with poofy harems. I even tuck my skirt or veil on my hips on occasion, even though I don't need the extra oompf, just cause I like the movement of it. I rarely ever wear those fitted mermaid type costumes... I think they make my butt look bigger instead of flattering my figure.

I love the big skirts! I love the swirl, the twirl, the tuck and poofy harems, and my dance totally changes when I wear the skirts, so ...

Originally Posted by Linnyg

I wear two pieces and those that don't like a curvy gal wearing them can look the other way when I shimmy. ... I don't wear trends in my everyday, why follow them for expensive outfits I plan on owning for years to come?

Amen. In fact, anyone who doesn't want to look at a curvy dancer, or a round one, or one with extreme bootiliciousness? Yes they can look the other way, or sit there on their cell phones and be rude. I'm clearly not there for them.

Originally Posted by poohbear

I must have missed the memo on what the "Rules" are. ... and probably "worst" of all is I have several different skin tones. I know, sounds really weird. My arms and cleavage area are generally tanner than the rest of me. During the winter my belly is the whitest and legs slightly darker. Just don't have the patience to do the self-tanner thing and my upper body stays darker from the summer. Oh, I also don't follow trends. I buy what I like and that's that!

I think I knew the rules that Satin Worship mentioned, the rest not so much.

I have a farmer tan. Arms, face and cleavage TAN! Belly? fish-belly colored. Legs? Slightly tan. Sorry, I'm not self-tanning. I'll put makeup on, but self-tanning is just too much. Hopefully I dance well enough that no one notices my farmer tan. If someone has the ovarios to mention it, I'll just laugh.

Trends? We are usually 10-15 years behind the coasts, so who knows what's popular?! Our GP barely knows what belly dancers are. Many think of a pole when I say I am a bellydancer. Sigh.

well....there is one big rule that i break....

most of my costumes are on safety pins. shock...gasp....

i just never have the time or the energy to properly attach hooks. plus after the baby my weight (and boobs) have fluctuated so much that i would spend half my life re-sewing hooks.

and yes....i have done four shows in one night...back to back....driving...all in a costume held together on safety pins...

how's that for risky breaking the rules?

I am with Stephi, there are rules? Well. aside for the one that says well made, fitted and looks good on the dancer. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

*sheepishly raising a hand*

I like glitterdot.

*ducks and runs*