bellydance costume
Making Your First Belly Dance Costume
Me, a long time ago, in my 1st handmade costume
Making Your First Belly Dance Costume
Written by Mellilah
Need a costume for your first performance, recital or student troupe or just to wear to class for fun? Low on cash? Making your own costume can be rewarding, inexpensive, and you don’t have to know how to sew. Some basic sewing is involved but there are a lot of pieces that just require gluing and cutting. Below are a few ideas to help you get started on your first costume.
Start Collecting
Search thrift shops, consignment shops, and garage sales for the following:
~Brass bangles and large hoop earrings
~Shiny/sparkly clothing of any kind- these can be used as is or if large enough, you can just use the fabric to create something new
~Mid-drift tops- yoga, exercise or other – they can be cut; sequins, coins or fringe can be added
~Large, flowing long skirts, preferably a half or full circle skirt
~Used rhinestone jewelry and beaded necklaces – broaches can be used as a focal point on a bra or hip belt. Necklaces can be worn as is or used as a drape for a bra or hip belt. Stones can be taken out of jewelry and glued onto fabric
~Well-made bras with full coverage- These can be covered w/ fabric and decorated w/ beading, sequins, stones, ribbon, etc… (FYI: There’s nothing worse than a bra that is left as is, augmented w/ only sequins, stones, and/or ribbon. It looks tacky in my opinion. So, please fully cover the bra w/ fabric, so people can’t tell you’re just wearing an undergarment.)
~Costume and Supply Stores- Sewing shops as well as costume and supply shops usually sell coins, beaded fringe and other types of trims. These can be added to the bottom hem of an exercise top or other mid-drift top. Beads and trim can be draped and attached to the top of a skirt waistband.
Glue
Forget fabric glue. You’ll want to get a tube of Amazing E-6000. They sell it at most fabric and craft shops. I use a drop of this to glue rhinestones directly onto the fabric of some of my $600-800 costumes. It works!
Accessories to Purchase
Don’t care to sew too much and just want to piece things together? I suggest checking out L. Rose Designs. They make beautiful skirts, tops, headbands and gloves in many colors and fabrics. You can add these to your homemade costume for a finished look. (I recommend the gauntlet gloves, and definitely pay the extra $2 and get them banded. There’s a big difference.)
Resources
You’ll want to learn from Dina the Costume Goddess. She’s written a few books on how to make your own belly dance hip belt, bra, and accessories.
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There’s nothing like the pride you’ll feel when you wear a costume that you created! I still have one of my very first homemade costumes. I’m not sure I will ever part with it. Good luck!
For more info about the author, Mellilah, please visit www.mellilah.com
