Thread: Places to buy Costumes in London

I'll be traveling to London this summer and I am wondering if there are any good stores there where I could try on costumes and purchase them?

I'm from MN and have to buy costumes online right now since bellydance stores are pretty much nonexistent here. I figured there would probably be some decent costume stores in London since it is such a cultural place.

So, any recommendations for London?

As far as I know. London isn't the place.
There are actual shops, as opposed travelling bazaars and web sites, in Manchester: Whirling Dervish, Edinburgh :Hilary Thacker and Forbidden fruits in the Midlands. I think there is also one in Yorkshire.You can get addresses from their websites.
There may be shops on the Edgeware Road that sell a few costumes but probably not what you are looking for.
Londoners may know better, of course. And then again Antwerp ain't that far!

I was in London a few years ago and went went I found out that this huge city with millions of inhabitants doesn't have any decent shops for Oriental dance wear!

So no, this is not the place to make you happy...

Your only chance would be if your stay there collides with the Fantasia festival Fantasia Festival - Britain's Arabic Dance Festival which happens every half year.

MEISSOUN

Honestly? With the exchange rate being what it is I'd try to avoid buying ANYTHING in London when you go. If something is $3.50 here it'll be L3.50 in England - which means it actually costs you $7. There's no point in paying double for a costume.

(I know this exchange rate thing has been discussed before...I'm not trying to reopen the discussion about relative value of things...I'm just saying that $7 for a latte from Starbucks strains my wallet)

Originally Posted by lilya

Honestly? With the exchange rate being what it is I'd try to avoid buying ANYTHING in London when you go. If something is $3.50 here it'll be L3.50 in England - which means it actually costs you $7. There's no point in paying double for a costume.

(I know this exchange rate thing has been discussed before...I'm not trying to reopen the discussion about relative value of things...I'm just saying that $7 for a latte from Starbucks strains my wallet)

Sorry no.... the exchange rate is not that .
If it costs you 7$ it will be £3.50
A latte will be 4$

To order a designer costume here from a site like Farida or Whirling Dervish check the prices there then double for dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by amariem25

I'll be traveling to London this summer and I am wondering if there are any good stores there where I could try on costumes and purchase them?

I'm from MN and have to buy costumes online right now since bellydance stores are pretty much nonexistent here. I figured there would probably be some decent costume stores in London since it is such a cultural place.

So, any recommendations for London?

If you're here, you could consider a trip on the Eurostar to Paris, (another cultural capital!) where there is a store Sharihane
Sharihane

Originally Posted by beafarhana

If you're here, you could consider a trip on the Eurostar to Paris, (another cultural capital!) where there is a store Sharihane
Sharihane

ERm listen yoose. we is de capital of culture this year in Liverpool
actually it's more like the city of contractors...
Expect to see yer all at LAAF (Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival) In July!

Originally Posted by lilya

Honestly? With the exchange rate being what it is I'd try to avoid buying ANYTHING in London when you go.

Exchange rate or not, London is generally expensive!

MEISSOUN

Yup, London is pretty much a dead loss for this sort of thing. However, I did get a fairly reasonably priced and very lovely caftan from a tiny shop in one of the streets around the British Museum. I found it entirely by accident.

This was a couple of years ago so goodness knows if the place is still there. It was called 'Oriental' and had, I think, a Persian owner. He had a huge supply of thobes, galabeyas and cover ups of all sorts, shapes and sizes.

And yes, London is expensive, coming from up north in the UK, I'm always stunned by how big a hole it digs into my pocket everytime I visit. I mean, a pint can cost over £2!! ;)

Originally Posted by khadiya

Yup, London is pretty much a dead loss for this sort of thing. However, I did get a fairly reasonably priced and very lovely caftan from a tiny shop in one of the streets around the British Museum. I found it entirely by accident.

This was a couple of years ago so goodness knows if the place is still there. It was called 'Oriental' and had, I think, a Persian owner. He had a huge supply of thobes, galabeyas and cover ups of all sorts, shapes and sizes.

And yes, London is expensive, coming from up north in the UK, I'm always stunned by how big a hole it digs into my pocket everytime I visit. I mean, a pint can cost over £2!! ;)

You know ladies there are other cities and other very nice places to visit in the UK...infact there is more than 1 country. You get 4 for the price of one 5 if you count the Kingdom of Man.(that's in the Irish Sea)
I actually love London but I know others hate it. For belly dancing try Scotland, Manchester, Leeds, the South West and yes Liverpool this year

There is a shop called kutchi bazaar or kootchi bazaar ( I think) in Sydenham which in South London. That has some good stuff. Make sure you go into the back costume room, the main room just has a few hip scarfs.

Otherwise London is not very good for this.

The UK is very expensive for Americans right now. If you live in MN, you might try to go to one of Cassandra Shore's events, which include vendors. Dahlal is a good friend of hers and she or one of her reps is usually there.

The Southall neighborhood is the "little India" of London. The movie Bend it Like Beckham was partially filmed there. If you like beautiful textiles, they have sari shops up the wazoo. If you are creative, there are lots of costume possibilities with saris.

Southall.co.uk