Thread: Ideas for class wear - goddess size

I've just started taking classes for the first time in over 20 years, for exercise, for flexibility and to help my body image. I'm the oldest in my class and I'm certainly the heaviest...and I feel like a rusted bolt! Anyway, I'm looking for ideas about what to wear. My teacher is wonderfully easy-going about that...no restrictions, and she is encouraging us to wear a variety of outfits.

I'm looking for ideas for light-weight stuff that will cover my belly, midriff, and bra that will help me feel beautiful (and not ridiculous).

1. I wore a long crinkle cotton skirt to the first class, and I'm considering making a little hankerchief-linen peasant blouse with elastic under the bust and maybe some sort of vest out of a second velvet coin scarf. I can either do a structured and lined turkish vest with a modified keyhole neck to cover the bra, or an unstructured one, which might be cooler and easier to fit.

2. I'm also thinking of sewing together two thin cotton/lurex scarves into a type of tunic, cropped tank underneath and cotton harem pants.

I did buy a body stocking, but it isn't tight enough to do much. I might try taking it in a bit.

Any other ideas?

Oh, I'm around a US 16/UK 18, short-waisted and a 38 GG/J. I've done historic costuming so I have some sewing skills, but I have only my husband to help me with fitting and he doesn't always understand what I need him to do. (so a full gawazee coat would be a big challenge)

Originally Posted by Milaandra

I'm looking for ideas for light-weight stuff that will cover my belly, midriff, and bra that will help me feel beautiful (and not ridiculous).

I personally wear a tank top (or snug sleeved shirt if I want something warmer) with yoga pants, and a hip scarf over that. Sometimes I'll wear a leotard instead of the tank top, but still with yoga pants.

The tank top that I wear is a full-length one, NOT cropped under the bust so it covers my midriff. I wear a sports bra under it for support, and I buy the sports bras in colors that coordinate with the tanks and give a layered look. Experiment with interesting fabrics - I love wearing my stretch crushed velvet tank tops! I also have a really pretty one in twilight velvet.

If you can get onto facebook, this photo gallery shows the ideas I offer to my own students for class attire: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...6112386&type=3

You can get plus-sized unitards or leotards from Sugar Petals at > Sugar Petals Dance Accessories Mesh Middle Leotards . The mesh midriff is optional - if you like it you can have it made that way, but if you prefer to have the entire leotard made from the opaque fabric, that's also possible.

Or, you can buy a commercial pattern for leotards or tanks to make your own and structure the neckline to allow a supportive bra to be worn underneath. Again, there are some really nice stretch fabrics to consider. You can use a rhinestone setter or fabric paint to decorate it.

Another idea is to make the tank top or leotard from 4-way stretch lace, and then wear a sports bra in a pretty fabric like twilight velvet underneath.

For the pants, try experimenting with fun stretch fabrics such as crushed velvet, twilight velvet, velour, foil in a hologram design, etc. Or, if you want to buy them, Welcome to L. Rose Designs offers custom-made tank tops, sports bras, and yoga pants in some really great fabrics.

I can vouch for L Rose pants, as I have a pair. They are wonderfully comfortable and I think the flared design is so flattering on all bodies.

I should add that if you're not a big fan of the rounded neckline of a tank top or leotard, you can modify it by using an effect that L Rose Designs refers to as "pinched". By gathering it up a bit in center front, you can achieve a V neckline effect, or by putting 3 gathers (1 center front, and one on each side of center) you can achieve a sweetheart neckline. Or, by putting 2 gathers, one on either side of center front, you can get a square neckline. Browse around the L Rose web site and you're sure to find photos of these three different neckline treatments.

You might also want to explore my web site that's intended specifically to help plus-sized women find their comfort zone with belly dancing: www.bellydanceplus.com . That site doesn't talk specifically about practice attire, but it has a lot of resources that may inspire when in the future when you're ready to think about performing.

I've had success with items from Shimmyhome and Moondance, Bellydance. As the other two stated, I typically some sort of yoga/flare pant with either a t-shirt or tank top, and a silent hip scarf. It's all about what makes *you* feel comfy and fabulous! Good luck!

Originally Posted by luvnafctn

It's all about what makes *you* feel comfy and fabulous! Good luck!

if your instructor gives the green light - go for what makes you happy!

Hi!

For me (UK size 16), leotards are the best and most comfortable things.

And they have a big advantage towards blouses, harem pants etc.: Your instructor can see what you do concerning posture, movements,...
A blouse would cover things up so that she might not realize when something is not done the proper way - which can be painful for you sooner or later.

Just wanted to mention that.

Love, Sahira.

Sahira is right. So many goddess-sized ladies tend to wear big, blousy tops which hide all the "lumps and bumps" - but also hide your movements from your teacher.
As a student and a teacher, and as a big lady, I found leotards really useful. Not only were they comfortable and showed all my movements, I also found that instead of highlighting my "bumps and lumps", they smoothed them out and made me look a lot sleeker than I thought they would. It also meant that I wasn't worried about my top becoming untucked or showing too much belly.
What I did with a lot of my leotards was create drapey chiffon sleeves from the elbow and match them with a tie skirt over pants or a plain skirt. I got a lot of compliments whenever I wore them.
When I started dancing tribal, I would wear leotards with one of my fantastic tops (), comfortable stretchy pants (also mine ), and big chunky tribal belts.
Really, you want something that is going to be comfortable in class, but trust me, you will definately want something that you can put on and feel lovely. It will get you in the mood to dance.

Hi Milaandra!
As another UK based goddess-sized dancer I usually wear a vest/tank top to class - one that's long enough to cover my belly and close-fitting enough (without being too tight!) that it doesn't hide the movements of my body as I dance. I prefer vests with broad straps so that my bra straps are covered - but also usually wear either some sort of shrug or a ballet-style wrap top on top that I can peel off if I get too hot!
Sometimes I wear a full skirt, usually with a shawl or hip belt. However most of the time I wear dance pants (I get mine either from Aladdin's Cave here in the UK - my Sharifwear from them have lasted years!) or from Pauline Qu in Nottingham. You'll find her on Facebook; she normally has quite a few pairs for sale or will make you a pair at very reasonable prices. I usually throw a little stretchy overskirt over that - I make my own using a metre of stretchy fabric with a slit cut in the middle for my waist!
Basically it's whatever you feel comfortable and good in - as long as your teacher can see what your body's doing so she can correct you if needs be!

In the past, teachers encouraged students to wear costume-y attire to class, but within the last decade or so, the emphasis has shifted more to practicality, which doesn't mean what you wear can't still be interesting or special, but you're going to class to learn how to dance. Very few teachers want students in voluminous bottoms like skirts and harem pants anymore. They obscure what your legs are doing and the teacher needs to be able to monitor your understanding of the movements. (I know of one studio that even goes so far as to not recommend black pants because of visibility, but that's fairly unusual.) By the same thinking, most teachers don't want baggy tops, either. You don't have to wear things that fit as tightly as a second skin, but choose garments that skim your shape. If temperature is an issue, layer. Think in terms of comfort and functionality.

Originally Posted by Milaandra

I did buy a body stocking, but it isn't tight enough to do much. I might try taking it in a bit.

If the body stocking doesn't fit properly, then it needs to be altered or replaced. Don't worry about whether it "does much." What it needs to do is let the teacher see that you're understanding. Regardless of your ultimate goals, all the cool clothes in the world mean nothing if you're learning wrong and/or dangerous technique. It wastes your time and money to not receive necessary feedback if the teacher can't see what you're doing, and while this dance is generally very safe and low impact, it's still possible to employ bad posture or incorrect muscular engagement that can lead to injury. Make the most of your class time by wearing the clothes that help you learn the best. If you want a closet full of costumes because you like them and you just have to have them, that's fine, but if you do stay with the dance, you'll probably have to buy different costume pieces for a troupe at some point. Unless you've got money to burn, it's not a bad idea to pace yourself on the costume acquisition.

I wear a unitard with Sharifwear pants for teaching. As a student, I usually wore T-shirts and stretch capri pants. I prefer students to not wear skirts so I can see their feet and knees. If they need them for comfort reasons, I just have them take the hems at the edge and tuck it into the waistband.

From a teacher's perspective, I prefer that my students wear pants instead of skirts so I can easily see their knee angles, weight placement, etc. I prefer that they wear snug tops (and it's okay for those to cover the midriff) so I can see angle of their pelvis and rib cage.

If someone wears a skirt, I can usually deal with it even though it's not what I recommend. So I usually don't ask students who want to wear a skirt to wear something else next time.

But if someone wears a baggy top, I usually make her pull it up to let me see what's underneath, and I"ll ask her to wear something more form-fitting next time. Some of those baggy tops are so long that they come down to hip level and make it impossible to see what the student is doing with her torso. For that reason, I would object to a student wearing any sort of tunic.

I don't need to see skin, but I do need to see body angles.

Dang! Obviously NOT what I wanted to hear. But it does make sense.

So, if I have to outline my lumps in fine knit, lets figure out how to minimize the damage to my psyche.

Cotton is best. I produce a lot of heat and don't sweat well, so synthetics can be too warm, even when I was younger and slimmer.

If I found a tshirt with ruching, would that still allow my teacher to see my movements? I'll have to buy one two sizes too small for my bust if it needs to cling at all to the rest of me. Is that too obscene? Would a little vest help?

Can I get away with swathing a little scarf over my belly, tucked into the hip band of my leggings? The coin scarves I have now don't provide much coverage at the front, though I have ordered a rectangular one.

Originally Posted by Milaandra

Cotton is best. I produce a lot of heat and don't sweat well, so synthetics can be too warm, even when I was younger and slimmer.

There are a lot of nice cotton knit fabrics - ie, T-shirt fabric. If heat is an issue for you, a cotton knit tank top with a cotton-fabric sports bra underneath might be the most comfortable way to go.

You could always dress it up a bit with a rhinestone setter or fabric paint if you like. If you choose to decorate it, you could focus the decorations on areas that DON'T make you feel self conscious, such as over the shoulders. Or, use the decorations to create lines that you think would be flattering to your body, such as vertical lines.

Another possibility that may strike a nice balance between your desire to cover up, your desire to feel pretty, and your need to avoid overheating - a mesh top (either tank-style or T-shirt style) worn over a cotton sports bra. Although meshes are rarely made of cotton, the large holes can provide enough ventilation to achieve the comfort you're looking for. Since you can sew, here are some ideas for fabrics to inspire you: http://www.spandexhouse.com/search-r...=98&searchKye=

Originally Posted by Milaandra

If I found a tshirt with ruching, would that still allow my teacher to see my movements?

I'm not sure exactly what you're referring to. Do you have a link to something resembling what you have in mind? Are you referring to a gathered effect under the best like an empire waist, or something different?

Originally Posted by Milaandra

I'll have to buy one two sizes too small for my bust if it needs to cling at all to the rest of me. Is that too obscene? Would a little vest help?

If you were my student, I'd probably suggest that you try one that fits your bust, then tuck it into your pants. Tucking it in is usually sufficient for me to see what I need to see. I'd probably tell you that the vest is unnecessary, considering that overheating is one of your concerns, but it would be okay with me if you wanted to wear one.

Originally Posted by Milaandra

I'll have to buy one two sizes too small for my bust if it needs to cling at all to the rest of me.

Can you get a t-shirt that fits in the bust and take in the lower part of it so it will fit?

Ruching: Caslon® Ruched Side Tee | Nordstrom

The gathering at least seems to distract a bit from lumps.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I'm not sure exactly what you're referring to. Do you have a link to something resembling what you have in mind? Are you referring to a gathered effect under the best like an empire waist, or something different?

If you were my student, I'd probably suggest that you try one that fits your bust, then tuck it into your pants. Tucking it in is usually sufficient for me to see what I need to see. I'd probably tell you that the vest is unnecessary, considering that overheating is one of your concerns, but it would be okay with me if you wanted to wear one.

I'm a little confused now. What parts do you need to see? Hips, legs, ribcage...do you need to see the actual midriff?

Originally Posted by Milaandra

Ruching: Caslon® Ruched Side Tee | Nordstrom

The gathering at least seems to distract a bit from lumps.

That's a cute shirt! I can't speak for other teachers, but if one of my students showed up wearing a shirt that fit like that I'd be fine with it. I'd feel it would enable me to see what I need to see.

For me, I don't spend a lot of class time on belly rolls and flutters, and therefore I don't need to see the muscle definition of the abs. Your teacher may be different, though.

I look for:

• How the angle of the rib cage aligns over the pelvis.
• I need to see the angles of the pelvis itself.
• I need to see the angle of the spine.
• I need to see whether the rib cage and pelvis are moving in the directions I'm telling students to move them.

Originally Posted by Milaandra

Ruching: Caslon® Ruched Side Tee | Nordstrom

I wouldn't think that shirt should be a problem, either.

I'm a little confused now. What parts do you need to see? Hips, legs, ribcage...do you need to see the actual midriff?

Usually teachers are looking for overall alignment (head/shoulders/hips/knees/feet), how much the back is/isn't arched (in regard to pelvic tilt and chest lift), and where your weight is (evenly distributed across both feet or shifted to the side). Actual midriff typically only comes up in abdominal work and some advanced discussions about technique, and even then, a snug-fitting, light-colored shirt or leotard may avoid the need to see bare skin. Some of this might not even be covered in your class, depending on the style and your teacher's personal preference.

The gathering at least seems to distract a bit from lumps.

Yes, there's a point where lumps can be distracting. If a student can't focus to learn because she's staring at herself in the studio mirror and getting overwhelmed by the chatter in her head about how hard-bodied and fantastic she doesn't look, that's a problem. In that case, the standard clothing advice may have to be revised, or perhaps that student would be more comfortable with private lessons than a group class. Otherwise, relax. Very few of your fellow students have perfect bodies, and who knows what's going on in their heads. Maybe they're highly self conscious about stuff you don't even notice about them. You're there to learn, they're there to learn, and you're all supposed to be concentrating on what's being taught. If they can't do that to the point where they make you feel unwelcome and embarrassed, that's: (a) their deficiency, not yours, and (b) a sign that you need to find a different teacher who runs a dance class for adequately socialized adults, instead of recess for middle-school bullies.

Milaandra,

I'm a little heavier than you are and also one of the oldest in my class. I started this dance form back in 2003.

It was extremely difficult (and sometimes still is) to watch myself in the mirror. I do not look as I might wish to (though I am slowly learning not to beat myself up over that).

There is a tendency for people new in class to get super-enthused about what they are wearing, getting excited about bigger and jinglier hip scarves and sparklier tops. It's fun! I did that too. My teacher required no skirts in lower classes so she could check knee alignment and didn't care what top you wore so long as it wasn't voluminous. I went through many permutations.

Here is my advice... don't put too much effort into this question until you have been dancing for a while. Ask your teacher what she requires. Maybe buy yourself a pair of very comfy cotton yoga pants and find a knit top that fits without being too confining. After you dance for a while, you might find you really want to bare your midriff so you can "free" your ribcage... or not. Or you might find you prefer a 3/4 sleeve... or a tank top. When you get "more informed" about what is comfortable to dance in, that's the time to break out the sewing machine (or break the piggy bank).

Much dance love,

TigerB

One more idea - if you can find some nice see-through drapey fabric(such as a light chiffon), you could make a knee-length tunic that can be worn over a fitted singlet top/leotard and pants. Tie your hip scarf over the tunic. That'll give you some drape and colour, while still showing some definition of your moves.

I have a basic pattern at Jewel Bellydance - Belly dance classes melbourne Australia ::: Articles to see what I mean. Scroll down to 'Basic Bellydance Costumes'.