Thread: $1895??? Seriously???

Price-wise I don't find it that outrageous, it's like haute couture - so the designer's name/reputation is important.

I'm not saying I am madly in love with the costume - agree with Zamora about the color scheme - I could see it or something similar though in a more monochromatic scheme - say - imagine this in all nude or all gold on black mesh, just ideas -

Regardless - it's very unusual and the work - omg - people who make their own have to admit this is a TON of work.

So of course are the beaded costumes, they are just an awful lot of time/effort, no wonder people buy fringes and appliques - but the materials are also expensive and spangles are not - still - they are way effective.

PS that bra makes me a little nervous.

I guess the clear material works though, back in the day I used to crochet the cups together with nude color crochet thread and nothing ever fell off or burst apart - still -

If you don't value a thing as much as the artist who made it does, then don't buy it. It's that simple.

You aren't buying potatoes, you're buying art.

Originally Posted by beafarhana

If you don't value a thing as much as the artist who made it does, then don't buy it. It's that simple.

You aren't buying potatoes, you're buying art.

I guess we all agree with that. But one thing is the value, another thing is the price.

I love it, too. It actually reminds me of the pailette costumes from the '80's. But aren't belly dancers supposed to own one costume which looks like bubble gum factory exploded?

Side bar: at that price, it's not going into my closet even if I win Mega Millions tomorrow night.

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

I guess we all agree with that. But one thing is the value, another thing is the price.

I'd have to refer you back to my previous comment on a fair wage... I don't think anyone could say that at a European wage that costume does not deliver value.

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

I guess we all agree with that. But one thing is the value, another thing is the price.

It's like looking in the shops where they don't put a price-tag... If you have to ask, you can't afford it!

Originally Posted by beafarhana

It's like looking in the shops where they don't put a price-tag... If you have to ask, you can't afford it!

Not necessarily! I just don't like big surprises

FTW, I want this!!!! Looks sooooo pretty in the spin!!! Must be gorgeous under the spotlight!!!

Originally Posted by beafarhana

It's like looking in the shops where they don't put a price-tag... If you have to ask, you can't afford it!

Sadly I can't , I think carolinebellydancer has the all silver version of this. Maybe she'll think of me when it's time to sell second hand!

I love it

Ah mah Gah. If I had $1895 lying around, I would buy that thing in a red hot second.

DO WANT.

I personally LOVE it. Like Tahira said, the "candy explosion" costume is an essential in any BDer's wardrobe, and I pretty much have a closet full of 'em!

While I'd normally agree that Sahars are pretty overpriced, this particular costume has some impressive workmanship. It's a major PITA to cover an entire garment with sequins, one by one. Just to give you an idea, it took me over 2 months to replace the paillettes just on my Nadia Gamal bra and belt - and I haven't even finished the gauntlets yet! I can only imagine how much labor goes into covering an entire bra and skirt with paillettes. Combine Sahar's top-shelf pricing with labor-intensive details....and there ya go.

I guess if you like it and you can afford it, then that's all that matters. Also, I doubt those photos do the costume ANY justice

That's gorgeous. I would totally buy it if I had a dance career and personal income to justify it.

As it is, I rate a hip scarf and a half. ;)

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Also, I doubt those photos do the costume ANY justice

I have to say, it's hard to imagine ANY costume looking better than it does on Samira. What do think would be an improvement?

Yes, you are missing something... the brand name. People will pay a lot of money for that.

On one hand, I agree that the price is outrageous. I would never pay that much money for that costume... I can get full paillette skirts with way more paillettes than that costume for a much more affordable price.

On the other hand, as much as a lot of belly dance costumes are not affordable to me, they are indeed on the low end of prices in comparison to costumes for other dances. Ballroom costumes with little decoration will sell for that much money.

So I can see both sides of the coin. Designers who can command a higher price will charge that higher price, but I am not rich and as long as there are designers who make beautiful, custom-fit costumes with way nicer and fancier designs for a price I can swallow, I will go for the latter instead of Sahar. And the day *all* designers start charging as much as ballroom designers do is the day I will begin to make *all* my costumes as opposed to just a few here and there.

Originally Posted by Suzana

I have to say, it's hard to imagine ANY costume looking better than it does on Samira. What do think would be an improvement?

True! I've considered buying several costumes off BDStore in hopes that they'd make me look like Samira. My only complaint is that paillettes don't always photograph well and I don't have Sparklevision Version 2.0 installed in my computer to show just how sparkly that costume really is! I am dying to see how it looks under stage lights, because I bet the bling is blinding.

Originally Posted by zamora

ah, to me...that costume looks like mardi gras threw up...i'm glad i make my own stuff!

I was thinking, she looks like she fell naked into a pile of confetti and a bunch of it stuck when she got back out...

Hehe, I'm still not convinced. Yes, I know all about haute couture, paying for the brand, and that we're paying nothing compared to ballroom dancers (one of my best friends is currently the country's top Latin ballroom dancer) but the price tag still astonishes me.

wow I had no idea ballroom costumes were sooo expensive. I guess we are lucky that even the fanciest most gorgeous Bella, or Sahar costs less than half of what they do. I think that most bellydance costumes look like they take more work and are more sturdily constructed. I won't complain. I wouldn't buy this (don't have the body for it) but I totally understand the pricing. I would LOVE to see it in person. I bet it's amazing.

Same here! It's so fun.


I'm pretty sure there's a video clip somewhere of a dancer performing in a silver Sahar very similar to this one. Disco ball! (And I like that. )

Originally Posted by Samira

Ah mah Gah. If I had $1895 lying around, I would buy that thing in a red hot second.

DO WANT.

Hmmm, now I know what to do with my powernet bellbottom jumpsuit!

For a dancer who needs a "showstopper" costume- a large theater production, a huge New Year's Eve event, or something else big- I think that this would be stunning. I don't have a venue that would require something like this, nor do I perform enough to warrant it (nor do I have the body to pull this off, really), but I think it's stunning. That said, I think that the bare spots around the center of the cups and the crotch are unfortunate- I personally would not buy this based on that alone- if I ever were to drop this kind of cash on a costume (I never would, but let's pretend), it would have to be absolutely perfect.

Originally Posted by Sarahamh

Sadly I can't , I think carolinebellydancer has the all silver version of this. Maybe she'll think of me when it's time to sell second hand!

She does, it's STUNNING. Dina has one too!

I sure would love to see a video clip of this costume or the silver version in action. I have an all silver paillette beledi dress and under the right lighting it's blinding.

Originally Posted by norma

I sure would love to see a video clip of this costume or the silver version in action. I have an all silver paillette beledi dress and under the right lighting it's blinding.

I'd like to see that too.

I like unconventional dresses, even though I personally could not afford this one.

I personally would not buy this based on that alone

Ditto, those "windows" are most unfortunate.

Originally Posted by beafarhana

If you don't value a thing as much as the artist who made it does, then don't buy it. It's that simple.

You aren't buying potatoes, you're buying art.

It also depends on what you consider art and what art you like. For example, if I had the money, I'd pay the millions for an original John William Waterhouse...but not a Picasso.

Originally Posted by Elibelinde

Price-wise I don't find it that outrageous, it's like haute couture - so the designer's name/reputation is important.

I'm not saying I am madly in love with the costume - agree with Zamora about the color scheme - I could see it or something similar though in a more monochromatic scheme - say - imagine this in all nude or all gold on black mesh, just ideas -

Regardless - it's very unusual and the work - omg - people who make their own have to admit this is a TON of work.

So of course are the beaded costumes, they are just an awful lot of time/effort, no wonder people buy fringes and appliques - but the materials are also expensive and spangles are not - still - they are way effective.

PS that bra makes me a little nervous.

I guess the clear material works though, back in the day I used to crochet the cups together with nude color crochet thread and nothing ever fell off or burst apart - still -

actually, i had a dancer who had a costume not only with plastic between the cups..clear plastic straps too! hey...when they got warn from her body heat, they stretched!!!! yep...it was a mess !

I LOVE IT. I think it's over the top in a way that totally makes me giddy. If I had the body and the ducats, I'd buy it in a heartbeat and rock the hell out of it!

If they find a way to engineer one of these for us, Miz Makeda, I will split it with you!