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Dani brought me back to a report I once made on a "Designer" costuming thread. So I'll repeat it here not on the choreography thread:
I was a approached at a hafla by a girl who more or less asked me why I thought I needed the quality of costume I was wearing seeing as I was "only a hafla dancer". So my comment was about the amatuer scene in the UK and I don't really need to explain why a girl needs clothes/costumes do I, ladies?
As to the pro. scene in the UK, I have no idea as to wether or not there is backbiting regarding what another dancer is wearing.
I've only climbed to the dizzy heights of dancing at a wedding,dancing on stage, doing the odd corporate venture, dancing on TV and doing a commercial pop video but mostly yes I'm a hafla dancer. It seems this girl thought that because I don't restaurant dance, I shouldn't wear ( in that case)a Pharoanics brought back in someone's suitcase which cost less than any nice dress on the trader's stall at said hafla and no more than the UK designer's wear on the back of another dancer from her class.
Actually if I did restaurant dance no way would I have worn that dress.

My answer in this case was I wear what I like and if you think it's not appropriate.... Tough and double TOUGH.

I have bought 2 nice costumes by way of a UK trader and I am sure she and the others would not make a living selling only to the "pro" dancers in the UK. She will have to sell to rank amateurs and teachers and the occasionally paid like myself.
As I say ,I have no notion about Kharis's comment re "being no one without an Eman" as I don't move in the exalted heirarchy of UK bellydance. I am sure she is right that there will be folks in that community who are sniffy about "pro" dancers wearing "last year's fashion" in costume.
On the other hand I have always been impressed by all the costumes worn by our top dancers. They are not necessarily to my taste but they all seem to make the effort to look good wether it be in an Eman, Pharoanics, Abla, Bella , "trad" long fringe Turkish bedlah or their own splendid invention.
And more and more at halfas, teachers and more experienced soloists and now even groups are paying lovely gear to enhance their dance and please their audience and why shouldn't they?.
Our local and excellent young dancer for example deserves to wear all the beautiful "Designer" sparkle she puts on her back should she so wish even if she is just gracing the floor at a local platform or my humble hafla.
As to the "pros" they really have to look their best but I don't think UK audiences are any more impressed by a slinky Eman than the creations of our UK genius Mandy(Wellie) or a glorious personal creation of the dancer herself.
The costumes that blew me away in equal measure at JOY just past were Sara Farouk's (I know not which) Designer? costume and Michelle Pender's fantastic ensemble. (both on my photobucket site). And I know the audience admired the effort all the "pros" had gone to and would all have had different preferences. So if there are pros out there lauding over others then they need to realise that many of their audience don't know an Eman from a Bella even if they can tell a thoughtfully put together home creation or well chosen costumier's delight from a piece of tat.
K