Thread: Tribal costuming for cold

I've been searching in the forum for this and I haven't found what I needed.

I'm planning to do a tribal oriented performance for a parade in january. I want some ideas and inspirations for easy costumes that keep us warm, specially in the belly. I'm thinking of vest or something like that, but easy to make, leggings under harem pants under skirt.

¿Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

How about layering a couple of body stockings or leotards under the costume, especially if one of them has long sleeves? Plus all the other stuff you mentioned. Turbans and/or wigs help keep your head warm, too.

edited to add: gauntlets and/or half-gloves to cover part of your hand but leave the fingers out for zill playing.

How about a Ghawazee coat with the bustline cut away to expose the coin bra? You can wear a blouse underneath for extra warmth, such as those shown in the old paintings by Gerome. Team it with opaque harem pants, under which you can wear leggings for warmth.

I second what everyone above has said so far

You can also double up skirts, if your doing more ATS style costuming you can double up on cholis as well, one long sleeved under a short sleeved choli can look really awesome!

Those are really great ideas! Thank you everyone.

okey-doke. A subject I actually have experience in, lol! Our troupe was a mix & our sub zero performances were more towards the oriental end of the spectrum, but here's what we found. We ordered nude thermal body suits and absolutely didn't use them. long johns under chiffon harem pants with a 25 yard skirt & a chiffon skirt were almost too warm, and some of us ditched the body stocking version of belly covers too. We had costume bras with the chiffon underbust/long sleeve vests on, under which we could hide arm warmers which could be easily removed if they got too warm. That would be pretty easy to swap the over vests out for a long or 3/4 sleeve choli either under or instead of the costume bra, or just use some of the cool fusion-y arm warmers that are out there right nowon their own (depending on what look you are going for!) Swap the chiffon pants for cotton, leave off the chiffon skirt layer.

layers on most of the body we didn't find it mattered too much what they were, as long as there was something. What *REALLY* made a difference was foot gear and gloves, and a complete lack of coins, beads or jewelry touching the skin *anywhere* but especially at the chest/neckline. We used cheap jazz boots a size or so too big so we could fit a good pair of wool socks in there, and it still bordered on too cold. I would honestly look for something with a thicker sole, or maybe a rubber sole if I did it again. Of course, you might not be dealing with the same level of cold we were! We also nixed any zill or sword work. One year it was warm enough we ditched the gloves (mostly the cheap knit ones you can pick up in a million colors seasonally at places like Joann's) when we were actually dancing, another year we kept them on. We also found that wrapping up in our veils really helped keep the heat in. One year we used headbands to attach the veils in the hair & tucked the edges in at the hip on the side, so it tented in back leaving the front open and that worked great.

Yup thermal leggings. Bloomers hide everything!Some of the "nude" vests are a horrible colour and black might be a good alternative.
Yes we have velvet Ghawazee style coats which are very warm and cover your back (essential for us old birds)
fingerless gloves can look very stylish .Full turbans. High necked costumes
To tell truth dancing tribal in "traditional" costuming style is more of problem in the summer

I've always love the ghawazee coat look and the veils draping from the head and tucked at the hips.

funtimes!