Sahar pics

[ChristinaRizkallah]

In her defense, not all her costumes are sleezy and trashy looking. Many of them have built in mesh nylon or spandex undershorts that you cannot see in the photographs. Also, they are loaded in crystals (unlike plastic and acrylic beads, stones and sequences that all the other designers use). You just need to see one in person. Well, I own 12 of them and they are all magnificent. I do not find them trashy. I don't think I have ever seen a trashy one. Some of them are revealing but they are so well made, comfortable and covered in Swarovski crystals that I must refrain from using the word trashy. She does a better job with these costumes then when she was exclusively working for Dina only. They are expensive, but again, the crystals and the accessories cost more money than the plastic work that other designers use.

Originally Posted by Sashy

I don`t consider myself conservative nor prude,and i did not like any of this Sahar`s.I`ll repeat:found them sleazy looking and trashy!

...and have to add that i don`t have any problem to admire those dancers looking great and hot in their gorgeous costumes.

[antimony]

I don't think it's the quality of the workmanship that people object to.

Take for example the green one you posted. It doesn't look like a skirt with a waist strap, the proportion of the design makes it look like a low-slung skirt over crystal-encrusted underwear. No matter how beautiful the crystals, it still looks like her skirt is falling off, and is about to show off her bikini wax!

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Yes, its quite low in the photo. I think if we were to see the costume in person it wouldn't look so low but I think I would be embarrassed to wear that style, unless I hiked it up my hips!

Originally Posted by antimony

I don't think it's the quality of the workmanship that people object to.

Take for example the green one you posted. It doesn't look like a skirt with a waist strap, the proportion of the design makes it look like a low-slung skirt over crystal-encrusted underwear. No matter how beautiful the crystals, it still looks like her skirt is falling off, and is about to show off her bikini wax!

[antimony]

Even hiked up, I think the suggestion of revealed underwear is unmistakeable.

[vivi]

I like some Sahar costumes for the delicated bead work, and the design, And I think the dancer is the one who will decide how the costume will look, since we have the choice of wearing a small bra, too tight skirt..or to pick the right size...and I think Sahar would work with you, if you order something more of your taste...to me those costumes are too revealing, but again, I think she would change a few things if you ask her.

Soraya did improove her look since the old days back in Brazil...The new look is too sexy, almost scary sexy to me, and she doesn't need to show that much skin...sometimes I look at her, and she doesn't look brazilian anymore.. but she is in Egypt and if that works there..This is why I admire Noor, she is so elegant in her dance and costume choices, but I love Soraya, she has a killer shimmy and I am super proud of her!

[tamrahennatx]

While I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from buying whatever they want, I wonder how well some of the trendier and more outrageous models of these very expensive costumes will retain their resale value. Quality of materials and workmanship notwithstanding, many of these designs will be out of fashion in a very short amount of time. It seems a bit of a waste to spend $1200 on a costume that's going to be too dated to sell in a year.

It would be nice to look at some of the more classic Sahar designs, though. The red one that Dahlal had on her website a few months ago was just stunning.

[danidance]

That white Sahar is beautiful. It's the new weirder ones that are objectionable. but, they reminded me of something - and I remembered what today - here
style is fine for sexy lingerie, IMO - just not as a bd costume

[kenya]

I think those Sahar costumes are trendy and the designs are original. However, I cannot for the life of me see how they are worth over $1000.

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

You won't be able to buy this on Safti anymore. I don't think you could buy it from Shop Like An Egyptian either. But e-mail them and find out. My guess is that its unavailable (and unavailable at that price) from the above places. You will probably have to custom order it directly and it will probably cost at least $1,000, but you should e-mail SLAE and Sahar to be sure.

So a costume that was $540 six months ago is $750 a month ago and now is probably over $1000?

I'm not terribly interested in labels (and the people I dance for even less so). I won't pay twice as much for the SAME costume because the designer is suddenly a 'hot' name.

That's meaningless to me.

[danidance]

Hey Los Angeles people (Christina, et al ) or others who can identify dancers in the pics:

Isn't that Amy who used to dance at Marrakesh in the 4th picture down - butterfly costume with floweredy skirt? I didn't know she was headed to Egypt. If that's not her - she has a twin!

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Being an owner of some of her costumes, I don't think they will go out of fashion any faster than any of Eman's costumes or other designers. I think they will have a long life. Some of her costumes are a bit outrageous in the design (I have one covered in gigantic open faced swarovski poker cards with huge black spades and red diamonds all in crystal work on the skirt) but even those outlandish styles-I don't think they will go out of fashion. Another "out-there" style that I have is spandex fabric with Marilyn Monroe's face all over the fabric and huge swarovski red rhinestone lips pins all over the bra and skirt. I also have one covered in peacock feathers and crystals. Yes, these designs are a-typical and unusual but I plan to wear them for a long time and I don't think they will go out of fashion. In fact, I don't think that is the proper way to describe them since they are on the periphals of fashion never having become mainstream and over-worn or over-exposed like the Pharaonics great loop for example (even that wouldn't go out of fashion since its classical in design); therefore, they can't go out of fashion. Some of Eman's costumes are more likely to go out of fashion sooner because she created so many of them and so many dancers wear them, such as the costumes with all the scarabs. But even so, I still don't think they will go out of fashion and if they do, it will be many, many years until then. That is something that I thought about before I bought these costumes. When the spandex skirts came out, we all thought that the classical silhouette of the heavily fringed bra and detatched belt would go out of fashion, but most Americans still wear that and do not necessarily look "dated" all the time.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

While I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from buying whatever they want, I wonder how well some of the trendier and more outrageous models of these very expensive costumes will retain their resale value. Quality of materials and workmanship notwithstanding, many of these designs will be out of fashion in a very short amount of time. It seems a bit of a waste to spend $1200 on a costume that's going to be too dated to sell in a year.

It would be nice to look at some of the more classic Sahar designs, though. The red one that Dahlal had on her website a few months ago was just stunning.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

The girl in the flowery butterfly costume is Turkish. Her name is Halle Sultan. She has her own web site. I can't remember the address at the moment. She used to be the model for Sim Moda Evi and Marta the Legendary Line (she is still on that web site). So she gets around! Those photos were taken at Ahlan Wa Sahlan 2004. They probably came for the festival and met up with Sahar and she needed models and they were there. That is how Amira El Kattan is. If you tell her in advance you are coming and you want to be a model, she will put you in her fashion show.

Originally Posted by danidance

Hey Los Angeles people (Christina, et al ) or others who can identify dancers in the pics:

Isn't that Amy who used to dance at Marrakesh in the 4th picture down - butterfly costume with floweredy skirt? I didn't know she was headed to Egypt. If that's not her - she has a twin!

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Yes, that is correct. I'm not sure why her prices jumped, she probably wants to make more money and perhaps she thinks she is a hot commodity since she is in a lot of demand now.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

So a costume that was $540 six months ago is $750 a month ago and now is probably over $1000?

I'm not terribly interested in labels (and the people I dance for even less so). I won't pay twice as much for the SAME costume because the designer is suddenly a 'hot' name.

That's meaningless to me.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

The costumes look much better in person. To each his own!

Originally Posted by kenya

I think those Sahar costumes are trendy and the designs are original. However, I cannot for the life of me see how they are worth over $1000.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

One more thing: you are right, these costumes probably won't retain much in terms of re-sale value and that is something that I also had to consider when buying them. So hopefully, I won't gain too much weight or tire of them cuz if I do, I think I will have a hard time trying to sell them for a decent price.

Originally Posted by tamrahennatx

While I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from buying whatever they want, I wonder how well some of the trendier and more outrageous models of these very expensive costumes will retain their resale value. Quality of materials and workmanship notwithstanding, many of these designs will be out of fashion in a very short amount of time. It seems a bit of a waste to spend $1200 on a costume that's going to be too dated to sell in a year.

It would be nice to look at some of the more classic Sahar designs, though. The red one that Dahlal had on her website a few months ago was just stunning.

[tamrahennatx]

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

Being an owner of some of her costumes, I don't think they will go out of fashion any faster than any of Eman's costumes or other designers. I think they will have a long life. Some of her costumes are a bit outrageous in the design (I have one covered in gigantic open faced swarovski poker cards with huge black spades and red diamonds all in crystal work on the skirt) but even those outlandish styles-I don't think they will go out of fashion. Another "out-there" style that I have is spandex fabric with Marilyn Monroe's face all over the fabric and huge swarovski red rhinestone lips pins all over the bra and skirt. I also have one covered in peacock feathers and crystals. Yes, these designs are a-typical and unusual but I plan to wear them for a long time and I don't think they will go out of fashion. In fact, I don't think that is the proper way to describe them since they are on the periphals of fashion never having become mainstream and over-worn or over-exposed like the Pharaonics great loop for example (even that wouldn't go out of fashion since its classical in design); therefore, they can't go out of fashion. Some of Eman's costumes are more likely to go out of fashion sooner because she created so many of them and so many dancers wear them, such as the costumes with all the scarabs. But even so, I still don't think they will go out of fashion and if they do, it will be many, many years until then. That is something that I thought about before I bought these costumes. When the spandex skirts came out, we all thought that the classical silhouette of the heavily fringed bra and detatched belt would go out of fashion, but most Americans still wear that and do not necessarily look "dated" all the time.

It's not unusual motifs that I think will go out of fashion necessarily - I really like the unusual in costuming (the poker costume sounds AWESOME). But I do think the "exploding melons" look will go out of style, as will some of the mini-skirt and g-string costumes.

By "classic" I don't necessarily meant bra/belt/skirt, but I mean a more mainstream silhouette.

I, too think that some of the Emans will have a short shelf-life (such as the scarab costumes and the saidi sets with the bell bottom pants (btw, I have one of those myself). HOWEVER, they don't cost over a thousand dollars a pop either.

[danidance]

I think they will go out of style quickly. They are too odd to have any kind of "classic" retention value and even the ones that aren't as adventurous are gimicky. That doesn't mean they aren't swell - but they aren't classics in any way shape or form IMO.

Actually I would say the ridiculous pricing is very much a part of that super trendy burn out thing.

[Monica]

Some of these are nice, some are absurd...like couture in general I am not convinced these are all designed for the, erm, everyday working belly dancer. I can see where for an international level or Cairo based dancer some of these would be perfect for standing out from the crowd, getting your picture out there, etc.

For me the prices are way too high. I remember when getting a pro costume could be paid for with one gig. Now for imports it is two gigs to pay off a costume, not a bad ratio if you are working regularly. But for me and many dancers I know and work with most of these would just not pass any cost benefit analysis I can think of!

I am glad to see them, though, and thanks for sharing the pics. That g-string one is out of control!

[Sashy]

< But I do think the "exploding melons" look will go out of style, as will some and g-string costumes>


This ones are the sleaziest

[LILI GAMAL]

I'm about to place an order and the Tigress costumes is $2350. The other ones range from 750 and on.The green dress is $1250 on my list too

[ChristinaRizkallah]

Yes, I remember he quoted me for the green costume a while ago. $1,250 sounds about right. The one for $2,350 must be pretty magnificent. I actually do have a costume from Sahar that was $2,350, but totally different costume (just coincidence