Thread: Strange design... Hum, wonder why they put that "thing" in the middle of the skirt!

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Yes the long piece in the center with the rounded end looks odd to me and . . . almost phallic? If it was mine I would cut that back so it ends at the bottom edge of the section that goes around the hips and doesn't have that appendage/flap hanging down from there. That would fix it.
Rosette

Egypt has had many changing decency laws over the years. At one point (and this may still be the case) it was illegal for the belly button to be visible. These odd appendages were added to designs to follow the law. At this point they may just be a legacy thing. People don't know what they are for and assume they are "authentic" or "traditiona".

I think they look silly, personally. But some people like them.

I don't mind that the upper design is hiding the belly button, but as Rossette mentioned the lower part is almost phallic indeed.

Well at least it doesn't look like this one:

OH Qamar! Did you have that second costume in reserve so you could spring it on us at the right moment as the discussion progressed?

That is just . . . just . . .

R

Man, that blue costume is putting an awful lot of trust in a strip of plastic - it looks like a costume malfunction just waiting to happen. That plus the phallic design makes this a truly thought-provoking belly dance costume (to borrow a title from a long-running thread on orientaldancer.net)

I wouldn't be brave enough to wear this one. I just don't have the cojones.

Originally Posted by dunyah

Man, that blue costume is putting an awful lot of trust in a strip of plastic - it looks like a costume malfunction just waiting to happen. That plus the phallic design makes this a truly thought-provoking belly dance costume (to borrow a title from a long-running thread on orientaldancer.net)

I wouldn't be brave enough to wear this one. I just don't have the cojones.

So to speak.

The first one, not my liking, but not too shocking. The second costume, my jaw dropped. Oh my. I need brain bleach.

Liberace's necktie comes to mind....on the first one.

The second? Flat comic relief! What was supposed to be a graceful flourish turned into something so very unfortunate.

Qamar, where do you find these things?

The first on looks as though they were taking an element from a classic Abla and using it. you know, like this one.



Obviously, it didn't work.

The second one could be turned around and worn with the beads cupping the butt. Then the dancer could do lots of glut shimmies. ;-)

{{{HUGS}}}

Yes Tahira, that's just what I thought. Such a strange marriage of a classic from a couple of decades ago with an attempt at a "floating bra"..it's sunk wheras the Abla whilst not the latest fashion still looks so right.Lizajuk.

Bit like a commoner marrying into Royalty really....

Originally Posted by lplmuk

Bit like a commoner marrying into Royalty really....

Well, we'll see how well that goes over in other arenas soon.

{{{HUGS}}}

I think the waistbands can be flattering though - as in the more classic costume; they lengthen the leg and flatter an hourglass or even help create the illusion of one. I didn't think I'd like them at all until I tried a thin waist chain and now I love them.

Some of the other design ideas, well...

Maybe I just "look at things" to much! Like this one, the lotus flower in the middle: Well, I see a African mask... right on the hooha!

Yup, I see the African mask too.

I once tore apart a costume I was working on making because the beadwork that was supposed to look like flowers looked like alien space ships. Other people told me it looked fine, but I knew I'd never get over the space ship thing in my head. I removed the beadwork I had done and went in a completely different direction and loved the end design.

I see the mask too!

This is my favorite costume (which I made) and I could kick my husband for telling me that the bead pattern looked like fallopian tubes.



Sometimes looking at costume designs is like staring up at clouds...

"That one looks like a..."

Originally Posted by lunascura

I see the mask too!

This is my favorite costume (which I made) and I could kick my husband for telling me that the bead pattern looked like fallopian tubes.



Sometimes looking at costume designs is like staring up at clouds...

"That one looks like a..."

Hey, fallopian tubes are fashionable today anyway, right? * runs away *

Seriously, even after hearing that, it still doesn't jump out at me, and I think it's a lovely costume!

But being picky and looking at something from various perspectives is sometimes good. My husband fussed and fussed with my Tunisian costume (melia) the first few times I practiced putting it on, so that I looked "more like a dancer, less like a hobo". Thanks, sweetheart.....

Originally Posted by lunascura

I see the mask too!

This is my favorite costume (which I made) and I could kick my husband for telling me that the bead pattern looked like fallopian tubes.



Sometimes looking at costume designs is like staring up at clouds...

"That one looks like a..."

I can see it now that you mention it, but wouldn't otherwise. I wonder if it's the color contributing to his mental image? Slightly OT, but when I came home the night after my most recent daughter was born, hubby had purchased a new bean bag for me (we stuff it with batting & treat it like an enormous pillow) It was one of those pear shaped ones, and his color choices at the store were green or this nice, dark red. Keep in mind, I had just given birth. He was not terribly amused when I told him why I burst out laughing.

While I am not a big fan of the "sanitary napkin belt" look, I can see why some dancers would wear this because they may not feel good enough about themselves to expose the whole belly but would feel more comfortable exposing just parts of it. That is not to say that dancers will fuller bellies should not show their bellies, just saying that maybe some women who have stretch marks and personally don't want to show them would feel better with a strip covering the navel. Or even some dancers don't like their navels - you know, some of us are "innies" and some of us are "outies."

Maybe it's just me, but I'm kinda wondering why they place the fringe where they place it sometimes... It's a different story if they have fringe several places, but to just place it here...

Hehe crassel...

Originally Posted by shahla

Yup, I see the African mask too.

I once tore apart a costume I was working on making because the beadwork that was supposed to look like flowers looked like alien space ships. Other people told me it looked fine, but I knew I'd never get over the space ship thing in my head. I removed the beadwork I had done and went in a completely different direction and loved the end design.

what has once be seen... cannot be unseen!!!

*warning- if you liked Tron for a more serious movie- don't read this)
























my friend said Tron was serious but became instantly a comedy when you realized that everyone has an angry face on their butt- and now she can't watch it without cracking up.

I'm pretty sure she ruined the movie for me- but I am going to watch it anyway LOL