Bella or not part 3

[sha-ri]

O.k., all this discussion about Bella costumes brought me to think.

What makes a Bella costume but the tag? And if it has a tag or no tag what does it say about the costume?

Just some points:
Bella has several seamstresses working for them. they get sketch of what the costume should look like and some remarks but what it finally turns out depends on them. Does anything make one seamstress more Bella than another? Are they all Bella? Cause you may find a bit of an individual style by one or the other.

Deniz from Bella told me a seamstress needs about 4 years until they really manage to do the Bella look. What happens to the costume they had sewn in those 4 years? Are they sold as no-name? And when can you say they really got it? Is a 75% bella-like costume already sold as Bella?

The look from Bella changes over the time. Bella didn't invent those delicate cutouts and artistic motives all in one day.
What do you think of these costumes:
http://www.sibel-nefa.de/pictures/ga...ages/sn016.jpg
http://www.sibel-nefa.de/pictures/ga...s/sn04_d05.jpg
http://www.bauchtanzinfo.de/kostuem-...%20Djamila.jpg
http://www.ayascha.de/Bilder%20live/...pinkbella1.jpg
http://www.ayascha.de/Bilder/live_mosbach_a.jpg
http://www.shirin-yasar.de/bilder/rosa-ok.jpg
http://www.naima-1001.de/Fotogalerie...it%20gross.jpg ?
Well, they all are Bella costumes! Just most of them are 10 years and older!

Sometimes seamstresses leave Bella and work on their own or for some other boutique. So those are not Bella costumes but still look like them.
http://www.bauchtanz-bedarf.com/images/kost0541.jpg
http://www.bauchtanz-bedarf.com/images/kost0521.jpg

and now the top of it all (I hope I won't get into any trouble for stealing pics but to show you I have to upload them somewhere new):
This costume was sold by the bellydance shop as Bella.
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/1840.jpg
This one by some other turkish designer.
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/1841.jpg
Similar? Identical! I have detail pics of the bra, there is no doubt (because of the blue beads in the looped fringes) it is the same costume.
I asked the turkish designer of it how this could be and she told me she was working for Bella and still has a close contact to them but now her own little lable.

[amulya]

I really like the old style Bella look. That orange one from Sibel Nefa is nice. I was really lucky to get one of the last of that type of design just before they changed their style :-)

[Athallia]

Originally Posted by sha-ri

and now the top of it all (I hope I won't get into any trouble for stealing pics but to show you I have to upload them somewhere new):
This costume was sold by the bellydance shop as Bella.
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/1840.jpg
This one by some other turkish designer.
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/1841.jpg
Similar? Identical! I have detail pics of the bra, there is no doubt (because of the blue beads in the looped fringes) it is the same costume.
I asked the turkish designer of it how this could be and she told me she was working for Bella and still has a close contact to them but now her own little lable.

It's for educational purposes so it's not stealing
Did the price on this costume reflect the fact that it didn't come out of Bella's shop?? If so, how do we get it touch with the seller??

[meissoun]

What about this one? I bought it directly from Bella in Istanbul - 1996



MEISSOUN

[meissoun]

And I bought this one second hand, around the same time. It had a Bella tag.

And does anybody remember the goddess costume that I had up for sale here?

I bought it 1996 as well. (I think I never bought as many costumes as that year...)

MEISSOUN

[ChristinaRizkallah]

I love Sibel Nefa's mini green bella costume. She used to have several photos of herself in that costume on her web site, but she has since them taken down many of her pics. The skirt is totally beautiful as its entirely crochet/fishnet all in mint green with mint green paillets. What makes a bella a bella? The fact that is came from Bella's studio, whether the tag is on the costume or whether it got removed.

[ejaghana]

I agree. guys! When I posted my Bella or not question, It was more out of curiosity than anything else. I L-O-V-E that costume no matter who made it. When I saw it the heavens opened up :) So for me, although there is prestige in having Bella costumes, what should matter most is that you love the costume and it looks good on you...All of the costumes on this post are gorgeous by the way. I need another hobby cause this is outta control!

[elisagamal]

how fun to see the classic bellas! I bought my first (and only :( ) bella in instanbul in 1994. it had that same kind of crochet mesh sequin skirt as in the pic of the orange costume. I still love it! it was the very first bella in seattle. and now everybody and their cat seems to have them. sigh.