Would you...Or...

[Gia al Qamar]

OK...so...I have this Eman. It's a favorite and one that's easily identifiable...one black one red cup...it's the photo on my website's main page, on my business cards, on my...everything.
I love it, the bra fits well and I LOVE the two different color gloves.
HOWEVER...
When I bought this costume, the skirt BARELY fit. I have NEVER worn it in a performance (way too long too and I never finished altering the hem).
I've worn the bra 3-4 times with different skirt combos...very fusion-cabaret. It's ok...works for me.
But I think about this a lot and can't make a decision.
Would you take apart the skirt...insert fabric to make it fit and wear it til it was dust...or...
Keep the skirt pristine and just re-sell the whole costume at a later date?
I realize that once I cut the skirt apart to make it work for me, it's no longer going to be re-sellable as an Eman original. It'll be like a G-man.
So...what would ya do?
Gia

[tamrahennatx]

As someone who rarely leaves any costume unaltered, I recommend that you make it fit you and wear the heck out of it.

[resullivan]

I would take apart the skirt. I can never leave any costume alone.

[Lauren_]

Nope, you'll never be able to make the skirt fit. I think you should sell it to me. Really really cheap.

[phillyraqs]

*pushes Lauren outta da way*

No way, sell it to ME!

Seriously, though, I would probably sell it. I have seen a similar Eman in that color combo, and if the skirts are the same (straight lycra skirt?), it would be a lot of work to insert more fabric and then add beading to blend in.

I guess it depends - do you feel you could do the costume justice by making the alterations yourself? Do you have a dependable seamstress that could do the work?

[Gia al Qamar]

Originally Posted by phillyraqs

*pushes Lauren outta da way*

No way, sell it to ME!

Seriously, though, I would probably sell it. I have seen a similar Eman in that color combo, and if the skirts are the same (straight lycra skirt?), it would be a lot of work to insert more fabric and then add beading to blend in.

I guess it depends - do you feel you could do the costume justice by making the alterations yourself? Do you have a dependable seamstress that could do the work?

I am actually a dependable seamstress and do many alterations for my dance community and always alter my own stuff.
I am actually leaning towards a full redesign of the straight lycra skirt...using more than 10" of the material at the bottom that needs to be removed for my lack-of-height purposes and use that to really go to town on the fit, add waist straps...a real redesign.
I guess I feel 'funny' about taking a valuable garment and really changing it...like repainting the Mona Lisa to match my couch .
But I love this costume and it's VERY much a "Gia" design...colors...
Thanks everyone for your opinion...it's really helped!
Gia

[Gia al Qamar]

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Nope, you'll never be able to make the skirt fit. I think you should sell it to me. Really really cheap.

You're a caution. And you have no shame. I like that in a dame!
Gia

[cindy_]

i alter wedding dresses for a salon. so, i have ripped into expensive valentino and vera wang dresses. i think if you LOVE it, alter it to fit! if you don't really care about it, then sell it to lauren! hee, hee!

[phillyraqs]

Since it sounds like you have the mad seamstress skillz - then go for it!

By all means...cut away (and post pics in progress/when you are done!)

[shahravar]

Don't fear the scissors!

[cassiopeia]

I'd like to see before and after pics too!!

[artemisia_danst]

cut it up and make it fit.

i wish i had the skills for that!

[Bellydancingcaroline]

I like to shop in charity shops, often I buy things that people "kept for best" that I find sometimes still in the bags they came in. I guess the original owners died after keeping it for best their whole lives. Don't let this happen to you. You bought it, you love it. Use it till it falls apart.

[mekyria]

Alter it and wear it. It sounds like you too attached to this costume to sell it anyway

[Egyptianangel]

If you really 100% don't want to sell it, then I think you should alter it. Make it fit to how you want it to.

[Gia al Qamar]

You guys are the best.
Sorry Lauren...lol...it's staying in my stash...
I'm going to start...take photos along the way and show you the results of my handiwork...god help me...
Gia