Thread: Costuming Question

I was wondering, when is it appropriate to wear a coined costume and a crochet dress, not together? I don't think I've seen anyone perform in either of those belly dance attires.

Thanks,

Azeeza

Really? I've worn the crochet beaded dresses a few times this past year, once for an outdoor show where I wanted to be both modest and warm. I wore it with a colored body stocking underneath, plus leggings and two skirts. I wore another one, (which I have since sold and have regrets about) at a show mostly attended by GP families. I wanted to be a bit more covered but didn't wear a body stocking, just a beaded bedlah with a skirt and an overskirt, it ended up looking very mermaid-y. Since it was for a Christmas show, I called it the Christmas Mermaid costume.

I often dance to non-Egyptian music and I would wear coins to dance to Turkish or American Cabaret style music. I have a gold Turkish coin set with beaded fringe that I like a lot. I also have an old Cost Less coin set that I need to refurbish. I would like to wear it with an assiut panel skirt and vest.

Maybe dancers in your area are mostly modern Egyptian style and wear lycra bra/skirt combos?

Originally Posted by dunyah

Maybe dancers in your area are mostly modern Egyptian style and wear lycra bra/skirt combos?

Yes, you are correct.

Thank you!

Azeeza

The traditional look for a coin costume was either "historical" (often "historical fakelore") or "ethnic nightclub" (as opposed to "glitzy nightclub," although there are some coin costumes out there that feel more glitzy than ethnic). Crochet dresses aren't quite either. I tend to think of crochet dresses as a fashion aberration from around the turn of the century that were worn mostly by lower- and mid-level pros who were looking for something different during the transition from the older costuming style (bra/belt/circle skirt for nightclub; caftans/ethnic dresses/"genie costumes" for folklore), and the newer style (softer, minimalist two-piece costumes for nightclub; Lycra galabeyas or researched ethnic costumes for folklore). I haven't seen anyone wear a crochet dress (in person at a show) in years. Basically, I think of either of those costumes as falling in the space between "full-on glamour and sequins" and "full-on authentic and ethnic," which is why you tend to see them for routines like AmCab-y sword and cane, where the dancer isn't fully committed to a culturally pure style.

I've never seen the two together, and I'd think coins would catch in a crochet dress.

Tourbeau:

Thank you for your help as well.

I hope I didn't sound like I was asking if the two were worn together, ..l;,, I DO think they would catch and clash, but who knows, I've never been to a performance where either were worn.

Hey, we could start a new costuming style, IF they didn't catch on each other ..g.:

Azeeza

I mentioned the two together because it sounds like something someone might try. People often wear coin bras/belts/hip scarves with dresses to do cane, and when the crochet dresses first came out, they wore them to do cane, too. I know I've seen the crochet dress worn with a hip scarf in the past (with corresponding complaining about the bottom row catching...). I just haven't personally seen them with a coin bedlah. I guess in some ways, the crochet dress was a poor girl's assuit, back in the day when the only assuit you could get was the antique stuff (before they started making the modern fabrics).

I wear coins all the time. But remember my style is American Cab (Vintage Oriental for those who don't like the AmCab word.) Although I do tend to save the coins for things such as sword and George Abdo!

{{{HUGS}}}

COOL! I never thought about swords and George Abdo and coins! What a perfect match!

Thanks!

Azeeza

What does a crochet dress look like? I absolutely LOVE that vintage stuff.

The style Dahlal carries has a square bottom, but you can also find them as a "V" hem with the same loopy fringe trim as the red example's hip scarf. They're usually worn that mid-leg tunic length.

https://www.dahlal.com/ctl/showcostu...8_front_lg.jpg
https://www.dahlal.com/ctl/showcostu...8_close_lg.jpg
https://www.dahlal.com/ctl/showcostu...08_back_lg.jpg

Oh, I love that! So gorgeous...