Thread: Ideas for a simple costume for my troupe?

Hiya there,

I'm in a bit of a costume crisis. I'm in a small troupe (it's more of a regular workshop led by my teacher, to perform in September) for zilling and we'll be performing this autumn. Now, we still need costumes.

Everyone else in the troupe wants a sort-of tribal fusionesque look, with melodias and a long-sleeved lace top and such. All in all, the costume idea is really nice in itself - but I seem to be the only one who notices is doesn't fit our dance at all! The music is oriental/arabic (though not a classical piece), our movements are not fusion-y at all, it's a bright and forceful piece with slower bits in between. All in all it just seems AmCab (to use that term cautiously) to me. I don't feel comfortable at all thinking we're going to do that in black lace or mainly in black of any sort, it just doesn't fit!

The problem is that we don't want to spend massive amounts of money on new costumes, I'm a poor student and can't afford something like that. We're definitely a student troupe, so no one expects Bella costumes or something, but do you have any nice, quick ideas that I can bring up before we really end up looking like a TF troupe? Simple, coloured wrap tops with melodias and blingy hip scarves are already done by another beginners' troupe at the same studio show and we want to look different.

Not that there's anything wrong with TF but I just don't want to dance this piece in that costume...

Love,
Kjesta

Something which I have seen pulled off well by Jenna is a magic wrap skirt worn at the hips with a coin belt - either a regular hip scarf or an actual inexpensive coin belt - and a cute top. Can be made from sari fabric or a fabric which picks out one of the colours from the skirt.

You can get the skirts on e-bay for about $10 each if you buy them in a lot of 5 or 10. there is a supplier here in LA who I can vouch for. The tops may be a little harder.

Of course, if you want to bling things up a little but still go with this skirt, which you could then add to your wardrobe, you can always have a stitch and ***** and make very simple bras and belts. These can later be added to and made into either tribal or AmCab.

I have my camera back. If you want photos of this idea, let me know.

{{{HUGS}}}

I've never heard of a "magic wrap skirt" - it sounds nice though, I'd be very grateful if you could show me a picture! Thanks for the advice already.

here is a link to the seller I know here in LA. He's on E-bay.

Wholesale lot 10 Vintage Sari Magic Wrap Skirts Dresses | eBay

Here is a listing for an individual skirt which shows more detail.

VINTAGE SARI WRAP MULTI WEAR SKIRT DRESS 95cm 8-16+DVD | eBay

{{{HUGS}}}

For cheap, you could all do black pants (workout pants or melodias since most everyone at least has a pair of black workout pants) or harem pants, a black crop top (sports bra or folded up tank top, etc.), colorful hip scarves, and home made wide colorful panel skirts.

Harem pants are really easy to make even without a pattern and there are tutorials on the web about that. You only need 2.5 yards of fabric for mildly poofly ones (3 to 4 yards for really full ones). You could get cheap satin for them at a fabric store... maybe do them all in silver or all in gold for unity.

For the panel skirts, you'd just need 1 to 1.5 yards (depending on fabric width) and do wide rectangular panels... one in front and one in back and completely open on the side. You can even just take pre-made veils, cut them in half (or smaller) and sew elastic on the top. This looks really good over the poofly harem pants or even over the black pants. Joann fabrics has a big selection of sari fabrics in all colors. I'd go there and get the chiffon (instead of the satin "sari" fabric) in different colors for each troupe mate. The fabrics have nice borders on the edges that would be great as panel skirts. Just hem the edges and sew onto some elastic.

With this whole ensemble, it would cost about $20 to $30 per person to get the materials to make the harem pants and panel skirts and would give you all a unified look at the same time as some individuality in color. You would also be able to layer these items with future costume pieces.


ETA:
Here's a video of my friend who made a panel skirt out of a veil and wore it over harem pants... it's a nice look I think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97M9F_W5Cgc

And a picture that you may or may not be able to see of it paired w/ gold harem pants:

can't go wrong with LRose
(altough its a bit more expensive...)

Welcome to L. Rose Designs

(check out some of their "fan" pictures, there are some really neat ideas on there!)

I've never bought from the vendor in LA, but I bought a vintage sari fabric skirt from a shop on The Strand in Galveston TX that seems to be about the same thing. It is a two layer, vintage silk, wrap-around wide a-line skirt that I just love. When worn around the hips, it hits about ankle length. I wore it to drum jam this past Friday with a simple camisole top and long, coined hip scarf. Received admiring looks and felt great. Sounds like this would be a good look for a gypsy or turkish type number. Might be too casual for a classic Egyptian performance.

Anina

Originally Posted by Lesedi

For the panel skirts, you'd just need 1 to 1.5 yards (depending on fabric width) and do wide rectangular panels... one in front and one in back and completely open on the side. You can even just take pre-made veils, cut them in half (or smaller) and sew elastic on the top. This looks really good over the poofly harem pants or even over the black pants. Joann fabrics has a big selection of sari fabrics in all colors. I'd go there and get the chiffon (instead of the satin "sari" fabric) in different colors for each troupe mate. The fabrics have nice borders on the edges that would be great as panel skirts. Just hem the edges and sew onto some elastic.

With this whole ensemble, it would cost about $20 to $30 per person to get the materials to make the harem pants and panel skirts and would give you all a unified look at the same time as some individuality in color. You would also be able to layer these items with future costume pieces.


ETA:

And a picture that you may or may not be able to see of it paired w/ gold harem pants:

I have done this with table runners and Indian Dupattas. Very simple and can be pretty inexpensive.

{{{HUGS}}}

You can spark up the tribal fusion look just by swapping in a different color scheme. For example, Blue Lotus Tribe once wore these cool brown and ivory costumes:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/...c9e378f27e.jpg

So you could consider keeping the same basic silhouette but bling it up a bit and choose a spectacular color.

Kjesta, you say you're the only one in the troupe that objects to the TF style costuming, and that it's a student troupe and no-one wants to spend a lot of money on a costume. So sure you can make suggestions based on the ideas you get here, but in the end you may have to accept the majority decision! That's the thing about being in a troupe.

Well this might not be "simple" enough but I think it's really nice
Pink Paillette Retro Bellydance Costume
you can find this kind of belts on ebay, e.g. here
belly dance*Bauchtanz Kostüm*Hüfttuch*Gürtel*11 Farbes | eBay

I would guess (from the impression I get here and in a German forum) Kjesta is a pretty thoughtful person and will accept the majority's decision. Nevertheless, she's got a point about the style and the music not being a perfect match, and making suggestions doesn't hurt

Thank you for the suggestions, everyone! I'll be sure to run them past my troupemates when we meet to practice again.

beafarhana, I never said I wasn't going to accept the majority. However, I still feel that a very tribal/gothic outfit does not match a performance that has not a single element of TF technique/movement/feeling/music and I'd feel extremely uncomfortable wearing it. I would if I absolutely have to, but making other suggestions does not mean I'm all out to ruin everyone else's fun and put myself in the spotlight!

I'm the instructor of a troupe of eight ladies and we bit the bullet last fall and ordered crushed velvet trumpet skirts and matching half tops from LRose. We LOVE our sets. We can bling them up with a sparkly belt or a coin belt for more casual performances. We all got the same style but in different colors.

How about adding triangles of plain or glitter-shot cloth over the melodias? You could add matching ribbon strips to the sleeves and/or neckline of the tops.

My students danced recently in black skirts, black crop tops (each had one slightly different) and colorful hip scarves of their choice. For one number they wore veils on their heads, each a different color. It worked, I did ask that they all wear full skirts, not a mix of straight, trumpet, etc.

The student troupe I'm in ordered dresses with high necklines from L. Rose this year, and I can't wait to get mine! Because we have the high necks, we won't have to make/buy matching tops. Usually, we make our costumes so it's nice not to have to sew something this year.

I've actually seen these in person they aren't bad looking and inexpensive, they usually come in different colors Belly Dance Costume Set Bra&Belt Top&scarf Gold Yellow | eBay that was you can use them again with pants or skirt

also, I'v ehad friends of troupes get these, again, I think they come in 4 different color options �GD】New belly dance 4 pics costume bra skirt armbands | eBay

For an inexpensive troupe costume, we used these (sorry can't seem to find the link that has the set sold together, but I hope you get the idea), again they come in different colors TMS BLACK Skirt Top Belly Dance TRIBAL Costume Dress NW | eBay you can use a regualr coin belt or hipscarf

Originally Posted by SaNoorah

I've actually seen these in person they aren't bad looking and inexpensive, they usually come in different colors Belly Dance Costume Set Bra&Belt Top&scarf Gold Yellow | eBay that was you can use them again with pants or skirt

also, I'v ehad friends of troupes get these, again, I think they come in 4 different color options �GD】New belly dance 4 pics costume bra skirt armbands | eBay

For an inexpensive troupe costume, we used these (sorry can't seem to find the link that has the set sold together, but I hope you get the idea), again they come in different colors TMS BLACK Skirt Top Belly Dance TRIBAL Costume Dress NW | eBay you can use a regualr coin belt or hipscarf

I agree... I've seen the first set you posted at a few haflas and they look great on stage. The sequins used are pretty big, and the bra itself is just a covered street bra, but a good beginner costume. The only problem is that the bras are one size fits all... mostly good for a B or C gal. An A would need padding and a big C or normal D wouldn't be able to wear these at all.

I have one of the bra's Sa'noora posted as part of my costuming workshop. If a student troupe is only planning on wearing them a handful of times, they are fine as is. If they plan on wearing them more than that, they straps should be replaced at the minimum.

I am a costume snob in that I expect costumes to fit properly and be supportive. There are many costumes - especially beginner costumes - which I like in theory but I know in practice will take work in order to make a truly usable part of a working wardrobe. If someone is willing to do the work, fantastic! But many people don't even know what kind of work they are getting into when they buy.

Here is an example:

KAIMONO-MISE NEW ARRIVAL PEACOCK BELLY DANCE COSTUME 53 | eBay

(I have the We3 version of this.)

To make this wearable for most people, you have to build a bra in or wear it over a top of some kind. building a bra in doesn't simply mean adding cups for most of us. It means gros grain ribbon and beading side straps as well as engineering halter straps so they don't show. Taking darts in at the side so that they fit your bustline instead of simply laying on top and potentially flashing people. And chances are you'll have to go through and glue the ends of all the fringe, because these are notorious for shedding.

Now, if none of that deters you because you like the look and the price is right, and you have more time than money, it's not a bad choice.

But, keep in mind that when I was younger and fitter, I had been known to do 4th sets in a butterfly top and long hip scarf over satin harem pants!

{{{HUGS}}}

Yes, thank you Lesedi and Tahira, I agree 100%. It was late and I posted rather than wiriting.

the first bra/belt sets usually are a covered bra so the back usually has "bra hooks" and should IMO be covered, either with an applique or by wear a vest or shirt over. and the straps are "stretchy" like bras straps. Also I think we looked into them a while back and they come in a "stantdard" size.

The "standard" size theme holds true with the second link too.

If I can find a picture of the (3rd) top/skirt set from our troupe I will post it.

I would suggest something like the (3rd) top/skirt set or L Rose (similiar)

If you go to Dahlal.com......they have a catagory Dancers Designs which are usually pretty nice to make yourself....

I've just come back from troupe practice (we only meet once or twice a month) and the problem has been resolved! A fellow dancer had, on her own, sewn a very simple costume of a long-sleeved top and hip scarf in a sort of brown/pink/something lace fabric, decorated with some pink fabric and a little bling. We were all very excited about it and it's TF-y enough for the others (because of the lace) but I'm happy too that it's so colourful and has a little sparkle.

Want to make use of this opportunity too to say that my troupemates are really the sweetest people ever. I'm recovering from being sick and so I was a little cranky today, which is also because I'm having big financial trouble trying to save up for art school, and our seamstress said she'd make me the costume for free as a gift for my good graduation marks! Wow, I'm still speechless Really made my so-far-****ty day.

That's really sweet! You gotta post pictures when you get your costume.