what do you do to save the life of your Amira costumes?

sha-ri · 06-17-2007, 07:18 AM

As I am the proud owner of 2 Amira costumes now, I wonder what other dancers do to save their lifes.

Also they are so lovely and rich beaded it seems to me they fall apart quite fast (well compared to the turkish ones I am used to.

My first Amira was the enchanted bouquet

.
When it arrived, several of the flowers on the skirt were already loose or even gone so I sewed all of the left ones down.
After the first performance with it there was that much tear on the chiffon of the sleeves I wouldn't dare to wear them again with the costume. The rhinestone chains on the costume rippeled them of pretty bad.
I replaced some of them in the most critical places by beadings.
Still the rhinestone chains were constantly snatching the sleeves. I "sealed" all rhinestone chains on the bra with some clear glue.

So I wonder, do all the other dancers out there wear their Amira costumes without sleeves? Or do you do something to prevent the rhinestones rippeling up the sleeves or am I just too peaky about that?

sha-ri · 06-17-2007, 07:22 AM

BTW, here is my second Amira costume:

An orange Tempest one. Loooove it!

I'm just a bit frustrated of the look of my 5th month pregnant belly, the pics which show me in profile are really pretty obvious

bintbeled · 06-17-2007, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sha-ri

BTW, here is my second Amira costume:

An orange Tempest one. Loooove it!

I'm just a bit frustrated of the look of my 5th month pregnant belly, the pics which show me in profile are really pretty obvious

Your belly looks wonderful.

Lauren_ · 06-17-2007, 08:50 AM

You're talking about Amira El Kattan, Pharonics of Egypt, right?

I've only owned a couple, but they've been very durable, rock-solid. I thought their reputation was for strong, well-made costumes. I wonder if a newer seamstress worked on yours, or if it got beat up on the showroom floor or something?

I think big sleeves are often a problem. They're SO lovely, but they catch on every sequin and rhinestone!

06-17-2007, 11:04 AM

I own tons of amiras ( I'm assuming you are talking about pharonics of egypt?)
and like lauren said, maybe a newer seamstress worked on it?
I've had occassional things come off, as they do on all costumes, but not to a degree that concerned me.
Anyway, I use crazy glue to put sequins and rhinestones back on and it works like a charm!
edited to add: Just dancing in costumes, they get beat up, but that's natural. those flowy arms always catch on stuff.....

mekyria · 06-17-2007, 11:49 AM

with the use of more and more rhinestones, there are also a lot of rhinestone settings that hook into all kinds of fabric

Not only do they rip the fabric it catches on, it also causes the settings to loose their stones.

I put my yasser-amira like costume on a large piece of bubblewrap/cotton towel, then roll it up gently so the settings can't damage the fabric of the skirt.

You look fabulous, after 5 months of pregnancy your belly is relative small. Besides, there's nothing wrong with a beautiful big belly!

weese17 · 06-17-2007, 01:31 PM

I've never had a problem with my Amiras either -- never had fringe come off or anything. The only thing that happens is the rhinestone prongs catch on things, come loose, and then the stones fall out, but I'm pretty good at noticing and then fixing them later. How do you seal your stones in? Sounds like something I should do!

weese17 · 06-17-2007, 01:32 PM

Oh - and your belly looks beautiful. Then again, you always look beautiful. :)

sha-ri · 06-17-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weese17

I've never had a problem with my Amiras either -- never had fringe come off or anything. The only thing that happens is the rhinestone prongs catch on things, come loose, and then the stones fall out, but I'm pretty good at noticing and then fixing them later. How do you seal your stones in? Sounds like something I should do!

I use a glue that is sold here as "rhinestones and sequins glue" - it looks very similar to wood glue, white when fluid and becoming cristal clear when dry. It becomes a bit rubbery when dried and you can still wash it out with warm water and rubbing or peel it of when it ended up somewhere you don't want. I place a large drop of it over the whole rhinestone with setting on critical areas (specially bra) when I notice it's constantly snatching the sleeves.
The rhinestones loose a bit of their sparkle but I feel better with not so sparkly rhinestones than with tattered chiffon sleeves.

I always owned turkish style costumes (Bella and SIM) before and there the rhinestone settings are not at all catching the fabric.

Hmm, maybe there was really someone new working on my Enchanted bouquet. After a gig there are always some beads and sequins from the skirt lying on the floor and some I find here and there at home just from carrying it around, with the Tempest one it's different also it has lots of beading on the skirt as well.

sha-ri · 06-17-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weese17

Oh - and your belly looks beautiful. Then again, you always look beautiful. :)

That's because I don't put every pic to the internet. I can look awful as well, especially without make-up

sha-ri · 06-17-2007, 02:07 PM

And thanks for the compliments

but this was definitively my last gig for this season. From all the pics my hubby took this was the only one on which I was not obviously showing.

ChristinaRizkallah · 06-18-2007, 02:37 PM

I am sorry to hear that your Amira costumes are falling apart! I have been buying costumes from her for many years and own more than I count and I have never had that problem before! I wonder why you are having this problem? My recommendation would be too store them in a dry place, loosely folded and in pillow cases. That is how I store all my costumes. Regarding the stones and crystals, I would use a rhinestone glue to glue them back on. Regading the flowers that fell off, I would sew them back. Everytime you were the costumes, before you pack them away, check them and just re-sew and re-glue any stones and beads that fall off.

lilya · 06-19-2007, 11:56 AM

The main problem I've had with Pharaonics costumes is that some of the chunky beads lose their color fairly quickly - the color actually flakes off. I've tried roughing up the beads with sandpaper and then using nail polish to re-color them, but that comes off quickly as well. The solution that works best seems to be re-coloring them with a permanent marker that approximates the original color.

I've also lost some crystals, and I'm beginning to wonder why Pharaonics uses crystals with prong settings when the sew-on ones used by Sim and Bella seem so much more sensible for costumes!

ChristinaRizkallah · 06-19-2007, 12:58 PM

Yes, you are correct, Pharaonics uses a lot of crystals that have the prong settings. Those tend to loosen. I have had some costumes from Eman in which the entire prong with crystal has fallen off. Even the flat sew on ones that you Sim and Bella use (and Amira uses those, too) are suseptible to falling off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilya

The main problem I've had with Pharaonics costumes is that some of the chunky beads lose their color fairly quickly - the color actually flakes off. I've tried roughing up the beads with sandpaper and then using nail polish to re-color them, but that comes off quickly as well. The solution that works best seems to be re-coloring them with a permanent marker that approximates the original color.

I've also lost some crystals, and I'm beginning to wonder why Pharaonics uses crystals with prong settings when the sew-on ones used by Sim and Bella seem so much more sensible for costumes!

palmier · 06-20-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilya

I've also lost some crystals, and I'm beginning to wonder why Pharaonics uses crystals with prong settings when the sew-on ones used by Sim and Bella seem so much more sensible for costumes!

I agree with you. Amira should start using sew-on crystals.
the prong settings catch in the lycra and chiffon skirts . I have a costume from Amira with large crystals that i love but it destroyed one of my favourite Akai veils

My other Pharaonics is a Lycra skirt and the skirt is a little damaged just because of those prong settings. I now roll up the costume in a towel when i carry it in a bag , it protects the skirt a little.
Some frimge came of my lycra pharaonics , but my other one is rock solid .

ChristinaRizkallah · 06-20-2007, 01:04 PM

Yes, that is another thing, the prong setting snag the lycra. All my Pharaonics are lycra costumes. I don't have any chiffons one left as I sold all those in the past. I think she uses the prong setting because it sits well in her bead work designs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by palmier

I agree with you. Amira should start using sew-on crystals.
the prong settings catch in the lycra and chiffon skirts . I have a costume from Amira with large crystals that i love but it destroyed one of my favourite Akai veils

My other Pharaonics is a Lycra skirt and the skirt is a little damaged just because of those prong settings. I now roll up the costume in a towel when i carry it in a bag , it protects the skirt a little.
Some frimge came of my lycra pharaonics , but my other one is rock solid .

Khaleela · 06-20-2007, 02:27 PM

Whenever I get a new Pharonic I go over every crystal and plastic bead with clear nail polish to create a smooth surface. It's something I have to do every now and then for each costume over time but it's well worth the trouble since the costumes will last a real long time and I don't get any snags. Also for some lovely reason, clear nail polish makes the crystals seem shinier.