Thread: Selecting a Swirl- Opinions welcomed!

After taking lessons for a few years now, I'm ready (with the help of some birthday money!) to dive in and get myself a decent costume. Since I'm on a limited budget and want to try a lycra bra/ skirt ensemble, I'm going to start with a good ol' Desert Swirl. Ooh la la, right? ..g.: (Side note- I'm also making myself a lime/ magenta colored bedlah set and will probably also purchase a standard gold or silver bra & belt set soon too- I know those are great starting items I'll use too.)

So here's my dilemma that I need your help with. I'm petite (5'1") with a true A cup bust. I have no problem with the idea of padding a bra for fit and cleavage. I have chestnut brown hair, dark brown eyes, pale-ish skin, spunky personality. I expect that I will have to move around the fringe on any Swirl I get, and I am ok with basic sewing and will add extra embellishments here and there if it needs it.

There are two Swirls I'm looking at that have equal pros and cons and I'm having a terrible time choosing! Thoughts?

The first is this mocha one: Belly Dance Costumes | Belly Dance Store.com: gallery I like the interesting colors of the swirls and the earthy fringe bead colors. It has prominent gold and silver details, making accessorizing easier. The cup size will certainly fit my little "girls" and padding will probably give me good cleavage. The length will be too long by at least 3" I suspect, which I'll have to hem. I worry that if I ever want to pass this on to someone else (wrong color for me, not right fit, want something new, etc) the very small cups will be an issue to find a new owner. Plus I worry that although that the bra will probably fit me, I won't be able to get a nice full bustline look to balance out my 38-40" booty!

The second is this bright pink one: Belly Dance Costumes | Belly Dance Store.com: gallery I like the bright, vibrant color and like the fun one purple swirl on the skirt. The length is much closer to my needed length, if not just right. The bra has a unique figure 8 type shape, which will be new to me, but cool to look at. I worry about the cups just being too darn big and tough to pad with that different shape. Like I said, I'm cool with padding but with a true A, a normal B cup would make me feel better about getting the fit right.

Whatdya think ladies? ..c::

I think the pink one will be much more vibrant with your coloring. And I think you should be able to pad the bra out to what you need. It seems the clear winner, to me. And congrats on your first costume!

I love the pink one, but fear that the skirt will be far too big on you.

I think it would be difficult to hem the mocha skirt, as there is beading along the edge. I like the pink, too, but I can't advise on the padding issue. The cups look pretty large, they might be too big for your frame.

I second the pink for your coloring as well, and I don't think padding will be too difficult, the good thing (in your favor as far as padding goes) is these particular bras are not deep; they are actually very shallow and the sizing difference comes from adding inches around the cup, that is length times width, as opposed to depth. You will just have to pad upwards from the bottom and sides of the bra cups to push your A's upwards and together into some cleavage. And, yes, choosing the larger cup will make this costume a little easier to resell later on. Good luck and congrats on your costume purchase!

I did a search on that website, using Desert Swirl, A cup and 36 in. length. I got one result, in a bright green. I tried to copy the link but it didn't seem to work.

Originally Posted by shahla

I love the pink one, but fear that the skirt will be far too big on you.

I'm around a 34"-35" upper hip (more if I wear the skirt lower to handle the muffin top) and 37"-38" lower with round thighs, so as far as the lower end measurements go, I'm in the range. I obviously don't know much about just how the stretching goes with these skirts to know just where I should be in the range for a good fit. You've at least seen me in person though and know costumes, so I certainly appreciate your thoughts!

Originally Posted by dunyah

I did a search on that website, using Desert Swirl, A cup and 36 in. length. I got one result, in a bright green. I tried to copy the link but it didn't seem to work.

I saw some green ones too that could work- they are cute, but since I'm making a pretty bright green bedlah myself, I thought I should probably steer clear of something else that is in the same color family since my costume closet is empty now, ya know? There was both a light green and a lime green that probably would have worked, if it weren't for the color being so close to what I've got going already.

Maya:

Your thread reminded me that I've been meaning to pose an inquiry to the bhuz collective knowledge base about Desert Swirl costumes. I started a new thread so as not to throw yours off track, but the answers I get might affect your decision as to which costume to choose.

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...tml#post736068

Originally Posted by ssipes

Maya:

Your thread reminded me that I've been meaning to pose an inquiry to the bhuz collective knowledge base about Desert Swirl costumes. I started a new thread so as not to throw yours off track, but the answers I get might affect your decision as to which costume to choose.

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...tml#post736068

LOL, yup I just replied there! I am VERY curious about what folks think for sure.

Originally Posted by MaineMaya

I'm around a 34"-35" upper hip (more if I wear the skirt lower to handle the muffin top) and 37"-38" lower with round thighs, so as far as the lower end measurements go, I'm in the range. I obviously don't know much about just how the stretching goes with these skirts to know just where I should be in the range for a good fit. You've at least seen me in person though and know costumes, so I certainly appreciate your thoughts!

I'm 36" upper/40" lower and I wouldn't buy that skirt. It would be too big on me. With the lycra style costumes, you need them to hug you a little to look right. Otherwise, they look like they're just hanging on you. I also think the bra shape is too wide for your frame. You'd probably find the cups on that would end up in your arms pits. There are lots of petite dancers like you here on Bhuz. You might be better off buying a nice used costume with the correct proportions. I suggest posting a thread in the ISO forum and see what you get. Be specific about style, measurements, price range and color choices to get the best responses.

I agree with Shahla that having those skirts too loose is not a good thing, particularly if you are sort of cylindrically shaped through the hip and butt as i am. If you have junk in the trunk, then the straight skirts slipping down might not be such a problem.

Also, my advice would be don't compromise fit for your fear of not having a re-sellable costume -- e.g. if an A cup bra will fit you best, go with an A cup bra. Depending on your actual shape, and the shape of the cups, you may or may not be able to pad up 1-2 cup sizes. If you can't try the costume on, you are better off going with the A cup.

It is no fun dealing with bra cups that are too big. I lost weight and with it two cup sizes. I thought I could adjust the straps and pad my costume bras, but it wasn't working for me. A picture is worth a thousand words:



and

You know the belly dance store is great with returns. I think the mocha would look gorgeous on you, especially with a smokey brown eye and a full face of make up. I saw you when I saw the mocha.The pink is cute, bright, playful but it doesn't say "you" to me. You're right that the tiny cup size and color may make it more difficult to sell but if you get it and like it enough to keep it, there's always a sentimental attachment to your first "real" costume. You'll probably hold on to it and wear it often. If you get it and go "eh....", just return it!

In case it helps to know, for a frame of reference - The model for those costumes is an A cup herself.
I'm not comfortable padding up more than one cup size- but it also depends upon the shape of the cup. I think both are lovely.
No matter what costume you buy there will be adjustments. Thread casing elastic will likely be needed on a Desert Swirl, even if it feels like a perfect fit, just for good sturdiness in staying up.
Hemming is very common in costumes- difficult when the bottom is beaded. You can either do a pleat and retain the bottom hem, or cut, hem and re-bead.
Both colors are lovely. I'm partial to brighter and richer colors.