Thread: Altering a Bella = A Lesson In Haute Couture

Oh man.

So, I have this gorgeous thing and the top is too big, I decide to fix it.

What a lesson in skill, truly it's a work of art, humbling just to work on it.

I hadn't realized even the straps are wired. And every stitch inside the lining, where nobody would ever see it, is perfect.

Anybody wonders why these things are expensive - we're lucky they don't cost triple.

Plus, I learned a lot, I've been making my own costumes since 1973 and this was a SCHOOLING.

Thank you Bella!

I hear you! I altered a Bella to make the skirt/belt bigger for me. She puts forethought into what she beads and when. She did all the embellishments and fringe BEFORE sewing on the skirt, so that you could take on the stitching that held the skirt on without having to take out beading (she didn't do this with the zipper however which was a pain, but that's because she was fitting it to the original owner before sewing on the embellishments and wanted to make sure that it would zip up and fit well). This all emphasized in me the need to think about what you sew on and when so that it is easier for a future dancer to make adjustments and changes without having to re-bead everything. I keep this in mind whenever I construct a costume.

The wiring on the bra is a big help too because it allows a perfect fit regardless of whether you have to pad or what.

I'm going to start doing that, maybe; we all change sizes for one thing.

For the straps, maybe it isn't necessary but this is one that's practically a vest, so to hold the shape of the edges it makes sense.

Also of course doing fringes separately allows them to be removed/replaced if they get nasty so that makes sense too - I was taught to do this by a Turkish dancer I worked with, Semira Semir. She was an expert seamstress in her own right.

Relatively speaking, costumes are much less expensive than they used to be, by the way- we became adept at making our own for that reason. A used bra/belt set could set you back a month's rent or more.

I had to change a Bella costume from time to time too and examined them well for working on my selfmades later.
I once ripped a large hole into the chiffon part of the skirt of a Bella and found the same: first beadwork, then chiffon sewn to it. It's the same with arm drapes, you can take the chiffon part of the princess sleeves off for making upper arm decorations out of them and resew the chiffon as often as you like.

Interesting as well, how motives are beaded: mostly you find a line in the middle of the motive that was sewn first and then other lines are beaded to surround it and finish the motive. I already blinged up lots of costumes with rhinestone chain by replacing that first line without redoing any of the other beadwork.

Only thing I noticed within the years: My first Bella had separately sewn bra straps, I adjusted the length by stuffing the leftover into the bra cups.
On all the latest models the straps were sewn to the bra cups before beading and I had to redo some beadwork when adjusting them. I hate the look of dangling leftover bra straps in the back, I wish Bella would make them still separate.

I had sent the wrong measurements to Bella on an order and the bras were huge when I got them back.

I realized it was my mistake, so I took it to a local costumer (who is amazing in her own right) to remake them for me, she actually thanked me for the opportunity to work on them and gave me a little off the price.

She did an amazing job as well

Oh, Kina, please post a picture of your madeover Bella! I'm dying to see that...

Love, Sahira.

Originally Posted by Sahira_Tu_Farach

Oh, Kina, please post a picture of your madeover Bella! I'm dying to see that...

Love, Sahira.

Certainly,

there is another where I can't find the picture on this computer, when I do, I'll upload it.