Thread: converting lycra costume to bedlah

Has anyone converted a 2-piece lycra costume into a bra & belt set?

I have a pretty lycra costume -- love the bra, but want to convert the lycra skirt into a more belt-ish piece; something I can wear w/ a chiffon skirt. Or maybe just cut off the bottom part of the skirt and wear the top part over a different skirt.

I'm not an expert seamstress. And I hesitate to take the scissors to a lovely costume, but still. . . Thoughts? Warnings? Is this just foolishness?

Do you have any pictures, so we can see what the potential is?

I haven't done it, but I saw Anaheed of Los Angeles in a beautiful red costume she made in this way. It was really pretty, but I don't know exactly what was involved to make such a thing. She made it sound very simple though, and I don't think it was backed with a hard material or anything. It looked stretchy.

Here are some photos -- good idea beafarhana.

*cries* But it's so pretty the way it is!

I would say you could just chop the top off. Where does it zip/fasten? Split down that seam and replace with hooks, with perhaps some kind of flap underneath to handle the overlap, if there isn't any already in it.

It will probably need some kind of unstretchy tape around the bottom hemline to help it hold its shape, if you want to leave it very stretchy, or - if it doesn't really need its stretch - you could sew it onto a firm base.

You could also think about adding more gores of chiffon to the skirt, if a different silhouette is what you are after. The skirt could theoretically be as big and swoopy as you desire.

I'm thinking of doing this with a costume, I just like having a little more bulk on my hips (shaddup you) and while I love the sleek lycra look, it's not the most flattering for those of us not blessed in this de[artment.

Great suggestions everyone, I really appreciate the input. It's always been a bit too short for me. It zips in the back and the zipper is beginning to show its wear -- it will need to be replaced or subbed w/ hooks (great idea!) before too long.

In the end I might be too chicken to futz with it. I never thought when I started belly dancing that I'd need to become a seamstress, too!

And I never thought I'd become a bellhop! Yet every weekend, there I am, hauling luggage...

Now..as stated elsewhere..I have noassatall...so I am able to sew the zippers shut and wriggle my way in by pulling up the skirt. I would to a Samia Gamal mermaid for this one and shirr (?) the front so that it has a deep gather for a v down at the belly button and an inverted v at the ah hem...and then attach a full chiffon skirt to that. The back of the lycra skirt would stop just under the cheeks at the back of the thighs, and the very full skirt would spring from there.

I don't think you should drastically alter that, because it is lovely, but if you want to see a major lycra to bedlah tale I've unlocked some of my journal entries on one such thing I did:

Bug Girl's Tokyo Story

I think that unless you have excellent skills and experience with fitting and alterations you will end up being less than pleased with the results. What you could do is get some red lycra to match the bra and make a sarong belt that you could wear with chiffon skirts. Then you would have two costumes in one. It would be a good learning experience for you in sewing and beading. Or just sell the costume and buy what you are looking for.

Souzan

I almost did it and my plan wasn't to change it into a belt. I wanted to cut it off, leave it as stretch top and then add the permanent chiffon to the top stretch skirt/belt whatever you would call it!
does this make sense? is that possible? If it fits you okay, this would minimize your work!

after looking at pictures it looks like you could use the left over lycra for sleeves! How cool is that!?
good luck

Ozma, nice work! The belt looks amazing.

Originally Posted by bananarchy

Ozma, nice work! The belt looks amazing.

Thanks, but after all that work it turned out that problem #two was the fact that blue isn't my color. It belongs to another Bhuzzer now.

Originally Posted by Souzan

Or just sell the costume and buy what you are looking for.

In the end, that's what I did. Thanks for all the suggestions, and I'm glad I didn't take the scissors to it. Now it's getting use from another dancer, and I get to start shopping!