Thread: Online shopping...

Can anyone provide me with little info on the best and worst places to buy costumes on line? I am a completely incompetent seamstress and would like to order a skirt and veil to match my copper bra and belt set...but where to look?

Oooh..and any suggestions on good colours to match with a copper colored bra and belt set? I am a very very light skinned red head so pastels are definitely out!

All of these are highly recommended:

Dahlal Internationale : Welcome!
Belly Dance Costumes | Belly Dance Store.com: Designer Egyptian Costumes at Affordable Prices
Welcome to L. Rose Designs (has some tiger & leopard velvet that would be awesome with copper)

Not to mention the Bhuz swap meet of course!

To go with copper, I'd choose earthy browns or beiges, or soft greens, or shimmery coppery tones, or gold, or animal prints.

Ditto to the vendors above...I love teal with copper

Copper and copper. Like a liquid metal type deal. Not something you see often.

How about a rich dark green, or maybe a turquoise/teal? Can you pull off a cream or white?

I'd favor LRose.

I'd only buy online from Dahlal or the Bellydance stpre (the one whose website ends in ".biz"). Theres another website out that ends in .com with a similar name that just has cheap quality junk that looks nice, but in reality is torn seams and hot-glued crystals for high prices. Never ordered from LRose but you might also try ordering from Akai (if you are looking for a fuller circle skirt)... with a copper bedlah you could really pop with a silk skirt! Otherwise, if you are looking for solid color, I'd suggest either a white/cream, navy, or hunter green. I'd stay away from pastels and anything in the "red family."

I'll second Lauren's list (and Akai Silks) and add:
Belly Dance Costume Boutique - At DancingRahana.com
Sharifwear.com - Bellydance clothing for divas - Salsa Wear, Gypsy, Tribal, Oriental, & Egyptian Belly Dancing (more for separates and practice wear, pricey but very well made!)
Scheherezade Imports (honestly, the website doesn't look the best, but call Lucy, she has tons of stuff she just doesn't have time to list and is *wonderful* to work with!)
Moondance, Bellydance (affordable separates- wouldn't get a bra & belt there necesarily, but they have some good deals on skirts & veils & such)

There are tons more out there, so hard to list even my favorites, so rather than list them all, I have also found this tribe forum helpful, tho it's been more quiet of late:
Bellydancer Boycotts-No mugs required - tribe.net[tribe].Tribe[b1a2c476-2ce2-40ed-9fd9-827cac9ef6a0]

& my first thought with a copper bedlah was an autumn red- I like most muted jewel tones with copper- dark green, garnet, deep amethyst, etc.- yes on the teal too!

I'm Akai's biggest fan.. and any of Jes's work would be gorgeous with copper! But it's (sadly) been a while since she's done any bellydance skirts, I think. I keep hoping she'll give up this silly nursing whim and get back to dying silk for us to drool over!

Originally Posted by Lara L

& my first thought with a copper bedlah was an autumn red- I like most muted jewel tones with copper- dark green, garnet, deep amethyst, etc.- yes on the teal too!

Second this. All those Autumn colors mentioned, and deep orange and rust.

I want to know where you got your bedlah because I'm in the market for a copper one. If I can not find something that really strikes a chord for me, I may get one of the inexpensive ones from Isis Exchange and add to it.

For simple skirts (non-decorated basics) I have to recommend L. Rose Designs. They are friendly, mostly fast (except when six troupes have a deadline :D ), accurate and build the skirt to your measurements. The quality of the sewing really can't be beat. I use them for my troupes and for my solo pieces and have never had an issue with them. They make a beautiful silk circle skirt as well as killer trumpet skirts in velvets and other delicious fabrics. Love teal, turquoise and deep purple with copper! L. Rose has a copper metalskin that would make an incredible trumpet skirt and you could be a metallic goddess. ;p AND she'll send you free swatches so you can match.

I have a crushed velvet trumpet skirt in chocolate from LRose Design that I wear with my copper bra and belt. I also have a bittersweet circle skirt that looks very pretty.

I have pics on flickr but I have no clue how to post them here :(

Thanks for all the feedback ladies!!!! I will feel much more confident ordering online now.

After much consideration I believe I will go with Hunter Green..I have a secret love for it and after all, the better you feel, the better you look and perform (in my opinion at least). Maybe I'll even get around to posting a picture when I get it all assembled

Glad I found this site for all my burning questions!!!

Lauren