Where do you find costume basics?

[lenaregina]

I want to buy a bra/belt and/or spandex skirt that is not embellished. I'd like to try my hand at embellishing a costume. Where do I find a costume already made with no embellishments? I'd like a tight spandex type of skirt.......or a pattern to make one?

Thanks.

[CareyDances]

Sugar Petals Dance Accessories Home Page
The have the forms for the bras and belts

Welcome to L. Rose Designs
The have the skirts, dresses, pants.......

[CareyDances]

Good Luck! I'd love to see what you come up with!

[kiyaana]

If you already have a costume skirt that you love it's not too difficult to draft a pattern from it. I use lightweight interfacing to trace onto for my own patterns.

Next time one of the fabric stores has patterns for $1-$2, check out the "special occasion" section of the pattern book. While few patterns will be exactly like (or even close to!) what you're looking for, you can find a slight A-line skirt. Cut it out and baste the seams. Then try it on inside out, pinch and pin wherever you want it tighter, baste again, until you get it just right. Then stitch and trim the seam allowance. And, of course, you'll lower the "waist" of the pattern to your top hip.

Originally Posted by lenaregina

I'd like a tight spandex type of skirt.......or a pattern to make one?

Thanks.

[MorganaBellydance]

Back when I was teaching, I would show my students how to cover a bra and make a belt (and circle skirt and veil). For a belt, make a pattern with newspaper. Take a regular folded sheet of newspaper - the folded edge is the middle of the belt. Measure your hips where the belt will lie - add 4 inches, then divide by half, then divide by half again - now you have 1/4 of your full belt width (and a little extra). From the fold, measure out this width and mark it on the newspaper. Now freehand a belt pattern, cut it out, then open up and now you have half of the belt done, If you mess up - for example, when you hold it up to your hips and maybe you gave it too much of a slope, make another! Newspaper is cheap! Trace a matching one for the back, but make it a little wider for the back, hold them up to your hips again as though you were wearing it. If it looks the way you want, you can use this as your pattern. Take an old sheet or other thin cotton material and layer it several times (5 layers deep?) and then lay the newspaper on top, pin it on and cut like a pattern. Baste these layers together around the edges. Next, find material that you want to use to cover it, cover it by pinning fabric in place allowing about an inch to fold over every side and baste down. After you decorate it, you can line it with satin (or other desired material) and then sew one side of the belts together, or leave both sides open and add hooks on both sides.
For a bra - well harder to describe. The bra that you cover will lose its elasticity, so find one that fits you well as a regular bra, you will earn the plunge as it loses its elasticity. Hard to describe how to cover a bra in writing - I use 2 small pieces of material on the cup, and then make straps using gros grain ribbon, or enhance the straps it already has (if you are happy with their placement) with the same ribbon. Cover the ribbon with the same material and sew on to bra. You will need to extend the back strap with ribbon as it loses its elasticity. Decorate the bra, line the bra and straps with satin, add hooks. Soooooo impossible to describe online. I wish I could show you in person!
I sell basic bra/belt sets - they are fully sequined and have fringe, but nothing else. $145 - they are from Joharah International (not handmade)
Someone somewhere has to have basic sets - but making your own is fun, too!

[BellyDanceByKalilah]

I just posted a basic bra/belt set with a coordinating skirt. Maybe this could work for you?

Here's the thread and a photo: