fixing a costume/making a dress

[CareyDances]

I need a little help.
I bought this costume om Bhuz last month.. I LOVE it!!! Love, love, love.
But it is too tight arround the hips. I didn't realize it at the time, but I think the straight skirt is not flattering on me. I'm almost embarassed to post pictures of me in it, I don't feel good in it. I think it does nothing for my body. But I will post pictures so you all can help me.
I ordered a red L Rose skirt Trumpet (which I know I look good in) that I should have by mid-January.
I feel like I should be able to cut all the design off the costume and resew it on the L. Rose skirt. Also there is a wierd gapping at the side of the bra. I'm guessing I just need to adjust the bra. Oh, also, I feel like I would like to sew an underwire bra into the bra that is there. Doesn't quite feel like I have enough support.
Am I out of my mind? I'm pretty good a sewing......
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/5722.jpg
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/5721.jpg

NEXT!

I am planning a retirement party for my Mom, and will be dancing for it. I'm not really feeling up to dancing for my family in a bra and belt, so I'd like to jazz up this L. Rose Beledi dress. I know it is a little big on me. Do you think it is possible to add a huge cut out over one side, insert a body stocking and lots of sequin appliques/fringe?
Will I spend more money fixing this than I would to just buy a dress? So far I haven't found a dress that I think would look good on me.
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/5723.jpg
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/5724.jpg
http://www.bhuz.com/file/pic/gallery/5725.jpg

Thank you for your input!!!!!!!!!!!

[tahiradancer]

Yes, I think you would spend more money trying to fix the dress than simply buying or making one which would fit.

And I really don't think the first dress can be altered the way you are thinking. That is a major overhaul and would most likely damage the dress as to make it pretty unsalvageable.

{{{HUGS}}}

[dunyah]

I think the first costume pix look gorgeous! I think you have great booty, which is a good asset for a belly dancer. At least judging by the pix, you look fantastic in that costume.

For the L Rose dress, you could always sell it on bhuz and order another one cut out under the bust. You can get the cut out just under the bust or all the way to your waist.

I don't know enough about sewing to know if the huge side cut out thing would be feasible. I know I wouldn't attempt that myself. But maybe you could do the under-bust cut out yourself?

[Surida]

I'm sorry to see that the costume isn't quite perfect for you. I would agree with tahiradancer that what you are thinking is incredibly ambitious and difficult - your best bet is to resell and find something that makes you feel great! I do think that it looks wonderful on you in the pics - but what is more important is that YOU need to feel gorgeous in it - if you don't, out it goes.

[NajlaHalem]

I agree...it's a beautful costume, but what you want to do will take so much work and in the end it will still look like you altered it. Not what you want when you've spent so much $$$ on it.

[Asra*]

I think the first costume looks very good on you, but if you don't feel good in it I agree with others that have said you might be better off selling it for something you like better.

What if you buy some matching beads and sequins and bead and decorate the L. Rose skirt? I have done the same with velvet skirts I make myself, it's not hard. Then you will have a pretty decoated skirt you feel good in AND a costume you can resell when you're ready for something else.

As for the dress - I am an amateur seamstress. Very amateur. I have tried making cutouts on a pre-made dress and it's not easy to get them right. It's not impossible but if you've never done it before you might end up with a ruined dress. It also depends how much time you have.

If you consider the time and money in materials you'd be putting in, it might be easier to keep looking for a sexy balady dress. The thing about self-made costumes is they usually have very little resale value. If you spend a bit more and buy something well-made you can get a healthy percentage of your money back if you decide to sell it.

I wonder if L. Rose would make a dress with a hip cutout if you asked? They have done other custom-work for people that wasn't stuff they advertised in their catalogue.

[CareyDances]

Wow! Thank you guys so much. I had a feeling that I was getting in over my head.
Gosh, maybe I look better in the red than I thought......
I love the red costume. It is stunning. I think I'll hang on to it. I got it for $250 (maybe it was 230... can't remember) which I thought was an amazing deal for that costume. I just can't bear to sell it just yet.

As for the L.Rose. I think I'll post in on Bhuz later today! I could use that money toward a dress that I really love.

Thank you all so much! It is a wonderful feeling to know that I can post anyquestion here and have a bunch of answers in an hour or two! What a fantastic resource!

[leylalanty]

You look GREAT in the red costume just the way it is!!!!!! I hope you can make yourself see that and feel comfortable in it!

As for altering the red dress, you would first have to make it fit your body tightly and smoothly in order for a cutout to work. Then you would have to be very careful of the placement and size of the cutout in order not to ruin the fit and the way the dress "hangs". The cutout, especially if bigger than about 3 inches diameter, would have to be supported by mesh, net, something else which is "see-through" sewn to the inside of the dress behind the cutout. As others have said, this is not for the feint hearted!

[CareyDances]

Well, I just put the fucshia beledi up on the swap page. If I can't sell it, the I will try to put a mesh cut out in it. Maybe I'll be a little braver if I feel like I can't get my money back !!!!

I'm going to hang on to the red. Maybe it needs me to dance in it a few times. Maybe it's like driving a new car, got to get adjusted to it!

Thank you everyone!

[shems]

If you feel like you need a more full skirt for the red costume there is another option. Have you considered putting chiffon inserts in it like this?




It isn't hard to do and wont effect the bead work or the rest of the design.

Sewing a bra inside a bra seems reasonable to me. If the sides gap you can also sew elastic on the inside of the bra to make it more snug.

[CareyDances]

ooooh!!! I didn't think of that! Fantastic idea, and I won't need to spent alot of extra $$!
Your the best Shems!

[Souzan]

Cut outs will not make the LRose beledi dress fit more snugly--just the opposite. It will have more "give." What you can do is take in the side seams or add long torso darts in the front and back. A simple way to add a little flash would be to sew sequin and beaded trim around the neck, arm holes, hem and side slits. Then wear it with a really fancy hip scarf.

The other costume looks lovely on you. And I agree with everyone else that you may be less than satisfied if you try to cut it up to add to an LRose skirt. The LRose trumpet skirts are so nice just on their own with bra and belt. They don't need any other adornment.


Souzan

[khalima]

Are you tired of reading about how good the red looks on you yet? Because I'm going to say it again...
From the photo, it looks like the neck strap needs to be made longer and the chest strap needs to be tightened to fix that gap? And I know several girls that sew bras into their dance bras, that shouldn't be a problem...
From your comments, I was not expecting anything like the pic you posted- I think it looks really good!

[CareyDances]

Thanks Khalima!
The top need a bit of altering. I guess I am worried most about it being a bit tight over the hips. I'm getting that rippling in the front. But it wasn't the right time of the month to try it, combined with holiday cookies......