Thread: So when do you just say.... Enough?

So I've got a few costumes right now, and one being made (that one will be very versatile...)

I am not dancing more than 3-4 times a year right now, because I'm just so busy and have huge problems getting anyone to watch my kids enough to get to any more. Also, I'm not exactly rolling in $$ right now. We own our own business and are struggling to pay for the extras... or maybe I just feel guilty having $$ tied up in costumes I'm not even using.

So when do you just say ... I don't need a teal GL with no skirt, a Red/Silver sim -- neither of which I've worn...

I'm making 2 costumes myself, though very VERY slowly. Hoping 2 on the Swap page will sell soon, and just don't know what to do with myself. I've danced once since the beginning of the year (longer than that, but at least...) and the only thing I've worn is my coin dress.

Anyone in a similar situation??

I have a really, really hard time letting go of costumes, so I try to emulate a couple of friends who are much more hard-nosed and less sentimental about it. My current plan is not to have anything I can't wear right now or haven't worn in the past six months. It's hard, though!

It's especially hard because now I really need to ask you to e-mail me the sizing on your skirtless teal GL. ;)

I'm sort of in that situation. I'm dancing about once a month. I have way more costumes than I need for that amount, but I look at it this way. I like to have a variety of colors/styles/sizes so that when I do dance, I have several costumes to choose from. A day or two before my gig, I try on the different costumes to see which one looks best on me at the time given my current shape, skin color, etc and which one is most suitable for the event.

I make alot of my own costumes because I enjoy doing that. I'm not selling much of my overstock at the moment because the market is flooded with used costumes that aren't selling and it's not worth it for me to give them away for almost nothing. Even new ones aren't selling well here.

Keep your costumes and enjoy them when you can.

Originally Posted by Suzana

It's especially hard because now I really need to ask you to e-mail me the sizing on your skirtless teal GL. ;)

Actually, the belt would be perfect for you. It's too big on me, and I should really redo all the hooks... but with no skirt and no dancing, I'm not even going to bother doing it right now.
If you want more info, I can email it to you.

Originally Posted by shahla

I'm sort of in that situation. I'm dancing about once a month. I have way more costumes than I need for that amount, but I look at it this way. I like to have a variety of colors/styles/sizes so that when I do dance, I have several costumes to choose from. A day or two before my gig, I try on the different costumes to see which one looks best on me at the time given my current shape, skin color, etc and which one is most suitable for the event.

I make alot of my own costumes because I enjoy doing that. I'm not selling much of my overstock at the moment because the market is flooded with used costumes that aren't selling and it's not worth it for me to give them away for almost nothing. Even new ones aren't selling well here.

Keep your costumes and enjoy them when you can.

Hey, at least you dance that often. I can't even get to events let alone time to practice for them.
And there is certainly the issue of a flooded market too. AND my hubby keeps telling me I'm going to have time again and I'm going to want to have costumes on hand, but then he complains that they're taking up room. Thanks hon! you're so helpful.

Thanks for sharing, ladies. Feeling better.

When you find that point, let me know. When is it hoarding ... and when is it collecting - or creating - art?

I'm in the same club!

I'm embarrassed to say that the main point I'm getting from your post is this: ooh, Salsabelly may be selling a Sim! I have way way waaaay more than I need, but I still find myself wanting more. If you do decide to sell the Sim, I may be interested lol.

I'm there- complicated by the fact that I'm still trying to lose pregnancy weight and I don't know if this child will *ever* wean, so there are several costumes that haven't fit for over a year, but my boobs, at least, should shrink again, so maybe... meanwhile all I can actually wear at the moment are my baladi/saidi dresses- need to see if one of the bedlahs can be remade to fit the ladies, but do I really want to bother if I will have to undo it all in another 6 months? Sigh. and yet I keep trolling the swap pages, and there are about 5 projects on my work table (not all for me, thank goodness!)

Originally Posted by khalisah

I'm embarrassed to say that the main point I'm getting from your post is this: ooh, Salsabelly may be selling a Sim! I have way way waaaay more than I need, but I still find myself wanting more. If you do decide to sell the Sim, I may be interested lol.

ROF LMAO!!!!!

Originally Posted by Qamar60

I'm in the same club!

hmmm maybe a glass of wine will help my outlook.... but perhaps I should wait until after work, since I do have to go to my studio tonight.

Khalisah - That was my first thought too!!!!!

I am going through this too - I recently bought a few new costumes and try to have a "one in, one out" policy but I get so attached to them.

I dance in restaurants frequently, but I tend to buy costumes that are more for performing for other dancers and I really don't need a bunch of Emans or Sahars that I'm only going to wear once a year if that.

But they are soooooooo pretty and sparkly. They are like my pets - I can't just sell my pets!

I am in a similar situation... I have way more costumes than I need to wear... I purchased 3 costumes, traded one, and made one between the end of last year and now, and I have only worn one of these new costumes, and only once. I also have a few "new" skirts (one which I got as early as last September) which I've never worn.

This happens because I like to "debut" my new costumes only at dance events, for performances that will be recorded and seen by other dancers. So for all the performances and gigs in between, I wear something I've already worn.

On the bright side, though, if I don't buy a single costume for the rest of the year (and I am not planning on buying any) I still have something new to wear at almost every dance event in the forseeable future.

I do think I have more costumes than I need, so I've been selling off some older costumes. I also haven't been buying anything, I've been avoiding looking at costume websites and stores... I do need new veils and other props, though. /sigh
This hobby is a constant money sink.

Originally Posted by yameyameyame

This hobby is a constant money sink.

try owning a horse :(

My two cents here:

When I first started posting costumes on Bhuz about three years ago, I really built up a lot, then started paring down due to money problems. I perform a good deal and in varied locales - festivals, faires, haflas and events - so I like a variety of styles (gypsy ren, tribal to super sparkle). My only regret is there is a few costumes floating about that were mine and I miss them a lot. They were unique and fit me well - more than "expensive", though a few weren't low priced.

You kinda "know" which ones are your keepers.

Twice now, I have taken my purple/gold Sim to a swap meet -and both times I repacked it as I started to stress out thinking of never seeing it again! To this day, I haven't seen one exactly like it - and I just can't part with it. Same with my Silver Legend, when I wear that one people love it and I feel like a million dollars in it (kinda like a Bellydance Liberace! lol) To me, those two pretties are something I want to save for my girlies if I ever retire!

You can bet I'll be the ninety three year old lady shuffling down her stairs in the silver Legend to stun my grandkids!!!



Great Loops are fairly common and you can easily get one again on here, Dahlal or Bellydancestore. That red Sim however, Miss salsa, I know you've been wanting for a long while. Really think about "not having them around' and which stands out that you "can't sell" - don't think on the money you need right now either - that's where I regretted a few I parted with.

Oh, I hear you. I try to buy only things I know I will use, but it's hard to resist sometimes. For instance, last fall, I bought a gorgeous, apple-green Sim from a local dancer who was retiring, knowing I'll probably never use it. Sigh. I dance with troupes, and although I occasionally have the opportunity to solo, I don't really like it. Also, one of our troupe costumes is a neon lime green--not exactly the colour of my Sim, but close enough that I probably wouldn't want to appear in two green costumes in the same show, if you KWIM.

There's one on the Swap Meet right now I'm trying very hard to resist, but I'm afraid I'm going to break down and buy it anyway--it's so gorgeous.

It's an addiction.

You can bet I'll be the ninety three year old lady shuffling down her stairs in the silver Legend to stun my grandkids!!!


Ditto!

I haven't danced in a year. I have gone through anxiety attacks thinking about selling costumes. I want my White Pharonix back! And I want more costumes! When will I have enough? No idea. But when I can afford them again, you had best believe I'll start buying again!

{{{HUGS}}}

Thank you ladies for all your input. To be honest, I was at the point where really I was wondering when to say enough dancing for now... but it's always there... nagging... so I guess I'm not ready to do that.


So I tried on everything in my costume bins. The only thing looking remotely good on me is the teal GL, even though with the hooks where they are, the belt totally falls right off.

The red sim... even after lengthening the skirt - which is still too short for me, and moving the swags of fringe on the bra so it's more flattering for my shape... Not liking it.

BIG sigh... There may very well be another red sim on the market soon..

For anyone interested, the red and silver sim will be up on the swap soon.

Originally Posted by Basha

try owning a horse :(

Ha ha so true. I had a show horse in my teen years and it was a struggle to keep winning money so I could afford to feed, shoe, transport just to ... keep winning money. What a treadmill. At least costumes can sit and look pretty with no maintenance.

I also have way more costumes than I need. Just as my dancing picked up I got a great job, but it puts me out of action every weekend. Bye bye haflas, shows and workshops. Poor costumes! We will meet again.