I know we're not supposed to laugh at costumes any more....

[Lauren_]

Ummmm...Pharaonics? Really? False advertising?
http://cgi.ebay.com/belly-dance-phar...3741QQihZ003QQ

[mish_mish]

You don't think it is? It looks like the real deal to me.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Ummmm...Pharaonics? Really? False advertising?
http://cgi.ebay.com/belly-dance-phar...3741QQihZ003QQ

I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

[tamrahennatx]

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Ummmm...Pharaonics? Really? False advertising?
http://cgi.ebay.com/belly-dance-phar...3741QQihZ003QQ

Zahara was selling that here on Bhuz - that's a remake of a Pharaonics costume.

[SummerSahar]

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

haha, you said merkin haven't heard that in a long time!

isn't there something just wrong about the crotch-fish association thing?

i hope it is still ok to laugh @ costumes. it doesn't hurt anyone if they are on mannequins...does it? we are not laughing @ people.

Did somebody say "merkin?" HA! I just found this (make sure you click that you're 17 or over and agree to the terms....it's NOT work safe, but damn funny):
http://www.kontraband.com/show/show.asp?ID=4535

The peacock merkin at the end is my fave.

[ouroboros]

Originally Posted by *maria*

those are almost as bad as the costume I saw once on a turkish site with a snake coming up out of the nether regions.
I used to have the graphic saved for it, but I can't find it. I will search -
It literally looked like a penis ....
It was unbelievable.

Here ya go, Maria! It's a total classic with me...

[Samirah-NH]

O.... M.... G!!!

[jilyan]

maybe it's just my monitor

but in addition to the horrid use of the snake motif ...

they look disturbingly like doggy poo

Originally Posted by ouroboros

Here ya go, Maria! It's a total classic with me...

That's IT! Thank you, thank you, thank you....

It IS a classic!

[naiyahayal]

Originally Posted by ssipes

It looks like she farted a blackbird.

I know I'm relatively new to Bhuz, and I haven't "met" most of you yet, but I really need to put in a few thoughts here. I thought I was more thick-skinned, and I have done my fair share of snickering and shaking my head at some obviously obscene costumes--my taste for the most part stays in the arena of classic Bellas, the elegant and simple Sahars and the EARLY Emans.....but I am surprised at how hurt I feel. I would not normally buy a design like this, and my first reaction was not positive--but I kept going back to the pictures and finally ended up buying this design--not from Dahlal, but from Shaunte who had a slightly simpler version for $500. I was surprised that in person, it is actually elegant in a crazy kind of way. It's not a vulgar costume (I plan on altering it so it doesn't have the sheer mesh on thee sides, I can't pull that off) Of course, the venue for this is extremely limited, and I bought it for those few occasions where it would be appropriate and fun to wear it. I can definitely see how many dancers would find it not suited to their taste....and I respect everyone's opinion, in fact, I think it is essential that we express these differences--it would be sad if we all ended up in cookie-cutter costumes (that's another thread!). But I was truly surprised at some of the comments. It's going to be difficult to wear this costume and not remember the "farting blackbirds". It may have been meant to be funny, but it came across as something else -- an attack on someone else's taste. I understand about the cutouts that make a costume vulgar, and I agree. I also agree about the boobs spilling out and wondering whether someone is wearing underwear. But this is attacking a design --- and unwittingly hurting someone who actually bought it. It reminded me of being a kid in grade school and being laughed at because I wore the wrong clothes, and the other kids joking and laughing. Mostly, I was surprised because the comment itself was very coarse, much more vulgar than at least that costume. Everything I've read so far on Bhuz has been an interesting and much-needed sharing of opinions, observations, differences. Sorry, but this kinda hurt......

[mariyah13]

It's okay, I bought this one too
I bought mine from Little Egypt and it is a really pretty dusky purple.
I was actually drawn to it right away, then wondered if it was weird, then decided that I Loved it.
I do think it looks better in a softer color and I don't think that the yellow and black work for this one.
I have not yet worn in because I was also planning to alter the cut outs and the right occasion hasn't come up, but I can't wait to wear it. I think it's fun!

[Lauren_]

See THAT'S why we're not supposed to laugh at costumes any more. Tanya, I'm genuinely sorry your feelings were hurt.

Of course, a really unique costume is always going to generate strong feelings, positive or negative. You have to know when you buy such a costume that some people are not going to like it.

I've personally been singled out & had my picture posted in one of these threads, so I do know that feeling of shock & surprise when you see your own costume -- or even one you love -- singled out.

It's easy to pay lip service to the idea that everyone's tastes are different, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, etc. It's much harder to live with it when people's opinions are being openly expressed. Sometimes jarring, even.

[naiyahayal]

Thanks, Lauren -- absolutely, I was ready for a lot of people not liking it -- in fact, dancers who know me will be shocked when I wear it, it's so not like anything I've ever bought--like from a different universe--I shocked myself, actually, when I got it--I was drawn to it for some strange reason and just thought why not just once stray away from the simple and elegant and go for crazy/fun/but not vulgar. I welcome opposition--I love ANY discussion of costuming--how do you know how you feel if you don't discuss it--I wasn't surprised that almost no one liked it, I was only surprised at the way it was expressed--I laughed myself when someone called it an "exploding canary" when Shaunte showed it on her site. I agreed, thought that was funny, and bought it anyway, still respecting others' opinions to the contrary. But farting blackbirds, the image of someome sitting on a blackbird and parts of a dead bird sticking to your bum--that's a bit much...(IMHO). I guess that's where the smilies help! Gotta get a thicker skin,that's all -- maybe Eman will come out with an elephant design--I get dibs on that one! (If I'm honest, I think my ego was hurt--my sense of taste was attacked--I'm okay now, my BF reminds me not to take myself so seriously. Probably a bit of Karma biting me, too, for all the times I thought something about someone else's costume.

Hope no one's mad at me. .......just had to get it out.... everyone, as you were......

[naiyahayal]

Originally Posted by mariyah13

It's okay, I bought this one too
I bought mine from Little Egypt and it is a really pretty dusky purple.
I was actually drawn to it right away, then wondered if it was weird, then decided that I Loved it.
I do think it looks better in a softer color and I don't think that the yellow and black work for this one.
I have not yet worn in because I was also planning to alter the cut outs and the right occasion hasn't come up, but I can't wait to wear it. I think it's fun!

Really??????????????? We could do a duet -- ballet -- call it "Canary Lake".

Actually, my very first thought when I saw it was, oh,that would work in another color, maybe blue........but all the horror stories about custom orders, and I haven't had luck myself with them, so I got what was available, and it really grew on me. I agree the yellow is not the best color for the design, and I altering the cutouts, too, to take as much of the "shock" out of it.

Thanks -- feel better already.

[Lauren_]

Originally Posted by naiyahayal

maybe Eman will come out with an elephant design--I get dibs on that one!

Hmmm...it's not an Eman but you can have dibs if you like.

http://cgi.ebay.com/OOAK-BELLY-DANCE...7382QQihZ009QQ

[Gwoofer]

Originally Posted by kharis_UK

Someone with a shorter torso!!!!? How about someone with no minge.

Kharis ... what is "minge"

I've been known to wear my pony tail gathered in a fake chicken with a bobbing head, so, I really have no valid thing to say about tacky

[firefly5]

Originally Posted by Gwoofer

Kharis ... what is "minge"

I've been known to wear my pony tail gathered in a fake chicken with a bobbing head, so, I really have no valid thing to say about tacky

Minge is pubic hair. Great word, I love it!

[Bellydancingcaroline]

You know, I'd rather hear this stuff on a forum, than have people whispering at a hafla, if you know what people thing, you can still do exactly what you like, but have an insightful amount of irony & humour that you can pull out if required.

Also, sometimes people can pull things off in the moment, on the stage, with the music etc. Sort of like how Parisian women can wear cammo netting capri pants, and somehow make it look chic or like how abba looked great in their clothes and everyone else following that fashion looked awful. If i owned the canary yellow dress, I would wear it with yellow feathers in my hair, studded with diamontes :-)

[lizajuk]

I love the new all politically correct and apologetic title for this (UGBD) thread. I thought it meant you'd gone all sensitive...Wrong!!

Having said that, my friends and I were looking at the Dahlal "Inside the Harem" and everyone loved the yellow and feathered Eman..so there!!!

[sumayasaahir]

more like crassel sprouting! Egads, the starfish is a horror!

Originally Posted by kina